***NON-POLITICAL COVID-19 Discussion Thread***

[JakeF]

A couple of reminders...

Originally Posted by Bwana

Once again, don't come in this thread with some kind of political agenda, or you will be shown the door. If you want to go that route, there is a thread about this in DC.

Originally Posted by Dartgod

People, there is a lot of good information in this thread, let's try to keep the petty bickering to a minimum.

We all have varying opinions about the impact of this, the numbers, etc. We will all never agree with each other. But we can all keep it civil.

Thanks!

Click here for the original OP:

Spoiler!

Apparently the CoronaVirus can survive on a inanimate objects, such as door knobs, for 9 days.

California coronavirus case could be first spread within U.S. community, CDC says
By SOUMYA KARLAMANGLA, JACLYN COSGROVE
FEB. 26, 2020 8:04 PM

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating what could be the first case of novel coronavirus in the United States involving a patient in California who neither recently traveled out of the country nor was in contact with someone who did.

“At this time, the patient’s exposure is unknown. It’s possible this could be an instance of community spread of COVID-19, which would be the first time this has happened in the United States,” the CDC said in a statement. “Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. It’s also possible, however, that the patient may have been exposed to a returned traveler who was infected.”

The individual is a resident of Solano County and is receiving medical care in Sacramento County, according to the state Department of Public Health.

The CDC said the “case was detected through the U.S. public health system — picked up by astute clinicians.”

Officials at UC Davis Medical Center expanded on what the federal agency might have meant by that in an email sent Wednesday, as reported by the Davis Enterprise newspaper.

The patient arrived at UC Davis Medical Center from another hospital Feb. 19 and “had already been intubated, was on a ventilator, and given droplet protection orders because of an undiagnosed and suspected viral condition,” according to an email sent by UC Davis officials that was obtained by the Davis Enterprise.

The staff at UC Davis requested COVID-19 testing by the CDC, but because the patient didn’t fit the CDC’s existing criteria for the virus, a test wasn’t immediately administered, according to the email. The CDC then ordered the test Sunday, and results were announced Wednesday. Hospital administrators reportedly said in the email that despite these issues, there has been minimal exposure at the hospital because of safety protocols they have in place.

A UC Davis Health spokesperson declined Wednesday evening to share the email with The Times.

Since Feb. 2, more than 8,400 returning travelers from China have entered California, according to the state health department. They have been advised to self-quarantine for 14 days and limit interactions with others as much as possible, officials said.

“This is a new virus, and while we are still learning about it, there is a lot we already know,” Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a statement. “We have been anticipating the potential for such a case in the U.S., and given our close familial, social and business relationships with China, it is not unexpected that the first case in the U.S. would be in California.”

It is not clear how the person became infected, but public health workers could not identify any contacts with people who had traveled to China or other areas where the virus is widespread. That raises concern that the virus is spreading in the United States, creating a challenge for public health officials, experts say.

“It’s the first signal that we could be having silent transmission in the community,” said Lawrence Gostin, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law. “It probably means there are many more cases out there, and it probably means this individual has infected others, and now it’s a race to try to find out who that person has infected.”

On Tuesday, the CDC offered its most serious warning to date that the United States should expect and prepare for the coronavirus to become a more widespread health issue.

“Ultimately, we expect we will see coronavirus spread in this country,” said Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “It’s not so much a question of if, but a question of when.”

According to the CDC’s latest count Wednesday morning, 59 U.S. residents have tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus — 42 of whom are repatriated citizens from a Diamond Princess cruise. That number has grown by two since Messonnier’s last count Tuesday, although the CDC was not immediately available to offer details on the additional cases.

More than 82,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported globally, and more than 2,700 people have died, with the majority in mainland China, the epicenter of the outbreak.

But public health leaders have repeatedly reminded residents that the health risk from the novel coronavirus to the general public remains low.

“While COVID-19 has a high transmission rate, it has a low mortality rate,” the state Department of Public Health said in a statement Wednesday. “From the international data we have, of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, approximately 80% do not exhibit symptoms that would require hospitalization. There have been no confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 in the United States to date.”

CDC officials have also warned that although the virus is likely to spread in U.S. communities, the flu still poses a greater risk.

Gostin said the news of potential silent transmission does not eliminate the possibility of containing the virus in the U.S. and preventing an outbreak.

“There are few enough cases that we should at least try,” he said. “Most of us are not optimistic that that will be successful, but we’re still in the position to try.”

[O.city]

Originally Posted by notorious

Let's not compare the US to India when it comes to hygene and cleanliness.

Really, it’s health care overload.

That’s what’s gonna lead to this.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Comparing the US to India was as dumb as people comparing low population po dunk countries to the US

[O.city]

Just shows what can happens when things spiral

[O.city]

Thankfully we flexed our muscle as a nation and like usual, worked out shit oit and got out of this mess

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by O.city

Thankfully we flexed our muscle as a nation and like usual, worked out shit oit and got out of this mess

Yup. Now it's time to burn the masks and fully open everything

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Pasta Little Brother

Yup. Now it's time to burn the masks and fully open everything

I’ll never understand the mask thing.

Once you’re vaccinated I think you should be done with the mask but it doesn’t seem like a problem to throw one on.

I think at this point you take your foot off the break for sure but you’ve gotta be mindful of things being imported potentially

[notorious]

Originally Posted by O.city

I’ll never understand the mask thing.

Once you’re vaccinated I think you should be done with the mask but it doesn’t seem like a problem to throw one on.

I think at this point you take your foot off the break for sure but you’ve gotta be mindful of things being imported potentially

We are probably close or at the point we can open up yet severely limit foreign travel.

It's 99% open out here (Menards is the only place still requiring masks) and cases are non-existent.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by O.city

I’ll never understand the mask thing.

Once you’re vaccinated I think you should be done with the mask but it doesn’t seem like a problem to throw one on.

I think at this point you take your foot off the break for sure but you’ve gotta be mindful of things being imported potentially

There is absolutely zero reason for a fully vaccinated person to be forced to wear one. Also, if you haven't been vaccinated at this point,, that and the risk is on you.
No excuse. That's why. Not one damn logical reason.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by notorious

We are probably close or at the point we can open up yet severely limit foreign travel.

It's 99% open out here (Menards is the only place still requiring masks) and cases are non-existent.

Things are pretty much back here. Masking still a thing but that’s just in Springfield and I’m guessing that’s done soon.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Pasta Little Brother

There is absolutely zero reason for a fully vaccinated person to be forced to wear one. Also, if you haven't been vaccinated at this point,, that and the risk is on you.
No excuse. That's why. Not one damn logical reason.

Only thing where it would make sense is in hot spots where not much vaccine has happened I guess

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by O.city

I’ll never understand the mask thing.

Once you’re vaccinated I think you should be done with the mask but it doesn’t seem like a problem to throw one on.

I think at this point you take your foot off the break for sure but you’ve gotta be mindful of things being imported potentially

From a business standpoint, I kind of get the all or nothing approach when it comes to the requirements.... I certainly wouldn't want to check vaccine cards at the door (and the drama that comes with that), plus I could easily print off my own fake card if I wanted, because they're pretty half-assed.

Several places around here are "highly encouraging" mask wearing, which is nice for everyone who's been vaccinated... and there are still plenty of mask wearers in those places.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Denver is no longer requiring restaurant workers to wear masks as long as 85 percent have been vaccinated.

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...-85-vaccinated

I am surprised not because of virus spread but more to do with the amount of spittle than people an produce just by talking .

Subway has a spit guard to protect food from customers , employees must be genetically altered not to produce it I guess.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

From a business standpoint, I kind of get the all or nothing approach when it comes to the requirements.... I certainly wouldn't want to check vaccine cards at the door (and the drama that comes with that), plus I could easily print off my own fake card if I wanted, because they're pretty half-assed.

Several places around here are "highly encouraging" mask wearing, which is nice for everyone who's been vaccinated... and there are still plenty of mask wearers in those places.

I think you’re at or are quickly nearing the point where it’s time to be done with any thing. I get letting them brakes off easy but there’s such a backstop of immunity now and access to vaccines, just roll and let everyone do whatever

[R Clark]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I am surprised not because of virus spread but more to do with the amount of spittle than people an produce just by talking .

Subway has a spit guard to protect food from customers , employees must be genetically altered not to produce it I guess.

So your saying that from now on we should wear masks regardless of Covid ? Because of spittle people produce, silly rabbit tricks are for kids.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Pasta Little Brother

There is absolutely zero reason for a fully vaccinated person to be forced to wear one. Also, if you haven't been vaccinated at this point,, that and the risk is on you.
No excuse. That's why. Not one damn logical reason.

I guess it comes down to the question of whether vaccinated people can still spread the virus. Do we know the answer to that yet?

If so, it seems like the appropriate thing is to wear them until everyone is vaccinated who is willing to get one. Then you let the laggards determine their own fate.

If not, then the only problem is that the laggards will be spreading the virus and even at 95 percent you'll still be having the virus hit some vaccinated people. But that's always going to happen unless we kill the virus, so it shouldn't drive policy.