***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.”

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by jdubya

I agree a stimulus check shouldnt be tied to getting a vaccine. With that said, $1500 is hardly life changing while a vaccine for many people most certainly will be life changing. I am curious though, how was this vaccine "rushed"?

I get one side of it, but getting the population vaccinated while simultaneously putting 1500 in each persons pocket would be quite the shot in the ass to the economy (sort of pun intended).

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I saw an interesting idea floated. You get the vaccine and then you get a $1500 stimulus check.

I'm sure that will go over well when they decide that "rich" people aren't eligible for stimulus like they always do.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I get one side of it, but getting the population vaccinated while simultaneously putting 1500 in each persons pocket would be quite the shot in the ass to the economy (sort of pun intended).

Problem is the people who need the money the most are probably towards the end of the line for the vaccine.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Discuss Thrower]

Probably should go ahead and turn off the utilities for households that don't get the vaccine.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I'm sure that will go over well when they decide that "rich" people aren't eligible for stimulus like they always do.

Depends on how rich I guess. I have a tough time feeling bad for all those that made bank off this while small businesses ate shit.

[jdubya]

I live in Ca. so $1500 gets me some groceries at Costco and a tank of gas for my truck.....meh, not life changing lol

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Depends on how rich I guess. I have a tough time feeling bad for all those that made bank off this while small businesses ate shit.

How much do you think the average small business makes?

And if history holds correct, the government usually treats anybody that makes over $100-150K rich, sometimes $200K. Which means A LOT of your small business owners.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

How much do you think the average small business makes?

And if history holds correct, the government usually treats anybody that makes over $100-150K rich, sometimes $200K. Which means A LOT of your small business owners.

Depends on "small business".

I'd include those guys because i doubt they were close to that this year.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Depends on "small business".

I'd include those guys because i doubt they were close to that this year.

They're selfish people by definition, so..

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by jdubya

I live in Ca. so $1500 gets me some groceries at Costco and a tank of gas for my truck.....meh, not life changing lol

As a SBO, I'll say when we were able to open back up money was pouring in because people were spending their stimulus money they hadn't blown at Mendards, Walmart and Amazon. All those places that made record profits in 2020.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

For someone who has been complaining for days about the speed of the vaccination rollout and was told about the consequences of rushing, you did a wonderful job of proving my point about what happens when you rush to conclusions without understanding the underlying information.

What's the part about 3rd party access? Surely they aren't talking primary care provider only?

What's more, vaccination clinics will also report to their state immunization registries which vaccine was given so that third parties can verify one's vaccination status regardless of what their card says (or if they've lost it).

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

How much do you think the average small business makes?

And if history holds correct, the government usually treats anybody that makes over $100-150K rich, sometimes $200K. Which means A LOT of your small business owners.

I don't think the government has an actual category called "rich" but if you mean anyone making over 150K ends up in the top 20% paying 80% of the taxes then yea.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

What's the part about 3rd party access? Surely they aren't talking primary care provider only?

The 3rd party access they're talking about is the Ticketmaster example we've been discussing here.

The ability for a 3rd party the "needs" your vaccination information to look it up.

Once that happens, the sky is the limit. Data mining, advertising, who knows what else.

And sure, you're can make it explicitly opt-in but when you go to Walmart that one time and give them permission, are they going to give you a 3-page privacy notice that tells you that opting in one time gives them access for 30 days after you leave?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I don't think the government has an actual category called "rich" but if you mean anyone making over 150K ends up in the top 20% paying 80% of the taxes then yea.

It's not an actual classification, no. It's a buzzword they use when the dick with taxes, tax refunds, and other payments.

"The rich need to pay their fair share" as they hand out stimulus checks to everybody that makes $75K or less and leave the rest of us to fend for ourselves.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

As a SBO, I'll say when we were able to open back up money was pouring in because people were spending their stimulus money they hadn't blown at Mendards, Walmart and Amazon. All those places that made record profits in 2020.

I get it. I was mocking the cost of living here in Ca and joking $1500 doesnt get you much. I dont mean to downplay its significance for others in troubling times