***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.”

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by lewdog

The fact that quarantining in the same house as someone who’s affected is not showing to be very useful. Especially running AC units all the time here now. It just gets passed throughout the house.

Also having a 2 year old throwing fits and tantrums with doors closed knowing his father is in there. I/we couldn’t manage that for a week+ time.

This is not really true. It can happen when ventilation within a room is low but if you are quarantined to a different room or part of your home there is no reason to expect to contract it.

But I imagine for families needing to see each others face it may be difficult to not be in the same room w them

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by lewdog

The fact that quarantining in the same house as someone who’s affected is not showing to be very useful. Especially running AC units all the time here now. It just gets passed throughout the house.

Also having a 2 year old throwing fits and tantrums with doors closed knowing his father is in there. I/we couldn’t manage that for a week+ time.

Due to my exposure risk at work I have not seen anyone else, including my parents, in the last 2 months. So I am doing my part.

China found that out early on and alot of the Asian countries are now removing the infected person from the household into a quarantine only location. We should be doing that as well.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by BWillie

9/11, OKC bombing and terrorism of any other sort kills on avg less than 300 Americans a yr but ppl still consider it a huge problem. Why would 1.5M deaths be on no consequence?

To put it harshly, those events were more catastrophic in terms of lived trauma than they were purely in terms of deaths. Those events look scary. This one's "just" an invisible thing that kills old people.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

China found that out early on and alot of the Asian countries are now removing the infected person from the household into a quarantine only location. We should be doing that as well.

And do what with them? What if it’s a single mom or something?

I don’t think that’s feasible

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by BWillie

9/11, OKC bombing and terrorism of any other sort kills on avg less than 300 Americans a yr but ppl still consider it a huge problem. Why would 1.5M deaths be on no consequence?

Did I say no consequence? No.

[KC Dan]

Originally Posted by O.city

And do what with them? What if it’s a single mom or something?

I don’t think that’s feasible

It worked in Germany.......






in the 1930's- 1940's

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by DaFace

To put it harshly, those events were more catastrophic in terms of lived trauma than they were purely in terms of deaths. Those events look scary. This one's "just" an invisible thing that kills old people.

To further the invisible bit, with terrorism, there's an enemy there (whether real or imagined is another discussion...) people can point at. A virus is harder to quantify in this 'my team vs your team' nation we live in.

And also with terrorism, you have a little bit of inconvenience with the TSA as your only likely personal impact. It's mostly soldiers you don't know fighting half a world away, and not any sacrifice on the part of everyday americans. Whereas with quarantine, it impacts everyone, and the longer it goes on, the harder it is for people to deal with.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by O.city

And do what with them? What if it’s a single mom or something?

I don’t think that’s feasible

This was proposed by many people early on by using our excess hotel space as place to put quarantined people. The hotels would make money as well.

The government did that for people that they brought back from China and put them in hotel quarantines at Travis AFB. https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/he...239991138.html

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Bowser

You're both right. If we were serious about truly stopping this thing dead in its tracks, they should have locked everything down outside the basic essentials like grocery stores and gas stations. NOBODY goes out or goes to work. However, that just wasn't a feasible option in a country of 330+ million, and that's not even bringing up how it would have truly destroyed not just out economy, but the world's.

That's pretty much what happened in California. Everything, outside of grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and other essential businesses have been closed down for the better part of two months.

The result? 2,172 deaths in a state with more than 40 million people.

Now, whether or not that can continue is a different debate but California did prove that it could happen.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

To further the invisible bit, with terrorism, there's an enemy there (whether real or imagined is another discussion...) people can point at. A virus is harder to quantify in this 'my team vs your team' nation we live in.

And also with terrorism, you have a little bit of inconvenience with the TSA as your only likely personal impact. It's mostly soldiers you don't know fighting half a world away, and not any sacrifice on the part of everyday americans. Whereas with quarantine, it impacts everyone, and the longer it goes on, the harder it is for people to deal with.

People fear what they fear can’t change that, more people die a year from vending machine accidents than shark attacks but one is feared more than the other.

I would rather go swim through a school of reef sharks than go to a wallmart ,

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by DaFace

To put it harshly, those events were more catastrophic in terms of lived trauma than they were purely in terms of deaths. Those events look scary. This one's "just" an invisible thing that kills old people.

I think that is a huge part of it. If people actually saw what was going on in hospitals and how these patients are struggling and dying then I believe they would rethink their position.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I think that is a huge part of it. If people actually saw what was going on in hospitals and how these patients are struggling and dying then I believe they would rethink their position.

It’s just such a big damn country, even as connected as we are.

Like here in our area, there hasn’t been a new case in I believe 10 days now. It’s hard for people in rural areas woth zero cases to feel that way

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

That's pretty much what happened in California. Everything, outside of grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and other essential businesses have been closed down for the better part of two months.

The result? 2,172 deaths in a state with more than 40 million people.

Now, whether or not that can continue is a different debate but California did prove that it could happen.

California has probably done one of the best jobs of most states. They have people that rely on public transportation, but not in same way the east coast does. The amt of people that are wearing masks in California is very good to see.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DaFace

It's mostly been done with the assistance of vaccines as far as I know. But we haven't had anything quite this virulent either.

My personal opinion is that American society needs to move forward with plans that don't include a vaccine.

Social distancing should continue to play a huge role along with staggering children at school in such a way that the kids still spend time in classrooms with their teachers at 1/3 or 1/2 capacity as well as other safeguards which should include mandatory masks in public spaces and the recommendation of gloves.

And if people want to work or participate in public gatherings (concerts, sporting events, etc.), they should be allowed to do while following strict guidelines.

Relying on a vaccine that may never come will only prolong the suffering felt by all Americans, not just those that contract the virus.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

China found that out early on and alot of the Asian countries are now removing the infected person from the household into a quarantine only location. We should be doing that as well.

Jesus ****ing Christ.