***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.”

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I am working longer hours at home some since I feel like home is the office. Still I don’t want to go back to the office I would miss waking up and just throwing on whatever and working . Plus this is the first year I haven’t been sick in a decade.

Living at work eventually wears on you worse than working at the office in my experience

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Living at work eventually wears on you worse than working at the office in my experience

I worked at home from March last year until March this year. It was ****ing depressing. I like being around people and I ****ing hate being connected by Zoom.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

I worked at home from March last year until March this year. It was ****ing depressing. I like being around people and I ****ing hate being connected by Zoom.

I can understand that side.

I, myself, prefer to work from home. Less distractions. Zoom/Hangouts doesn't bother me too much. Get an additional 30 minutes of sleep before getting up to get ready for work. Saves me gas mileage as well.

Everyone has their preferences of course.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

I worked at home from March last year until March this year. It was ****ing depressing. I like being around people and I ****ing hate being connected by Zoom.

I've worked from home pre-Covid. I'm wired for it, work as a consultant, no kids, no barking ass dog in the background, dedicated ergonomic home office, shower everyday like a professional, etc and I feel a hybrid setup is more sustainable.

There's something about the actual feeling of getting off work and coming home that I find healthy for myself.

[Rain Man]

I went to the office five days a week pre-covid. For a while after the shutdown I worked 100 percent from home (and my office was at the epicenter of the riots last summer, which also kept me at home). I ramped up to one day a week at the office starting in probably August or September, and am now ramping up to two days a week.

For the company overall, we're letting people make their own decisions, though we'll probably have people come in at least two days a month for meetings once we completely open up. Maybe a little more.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

I worked at home from March last year until March this year. It was ****ing depressing. I like being around people and I ****ing hate being connected by Zoom.

Amen

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Living at work eventually wears on you worse than working at the office in my experience

Originally Posted by J Diddy

I worked at home from March last year until March this year. It was ****ing depressing. I like being around people and I ****ing hate being connected by Zoom.

There definitely is pluses and minus for either option.

I work in IT so when I go into the office everything I work on is remote anyway so it makes no difference where I am physically located at. But there is the social aspect of being in the office and having that separation of work and home.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I went to the office five days a week pre-covid. For a while after the shutdown I worked 100 percent from home (and my office was at the epicenter of the riots last summer, which also kept me at home). I ramped up to one day a week at the office starting in probably August or September, and am now ramping up to two days a week.

For the company overall, we're letting people make their own decisions, though we'll probably have people come in at least two days a month for meetings once we completely open up. Maybe a little more.

I think giving employees an option and especially doing a hybrid model is the best path moving forward IMHO. Covid pretty much destroyed the notion that everyone needed to be in the office to be productive as so many companies had their best years ever with most everyone working from home.

Giving them the option like what you are doing is a great thing.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I think giving employees an option and especially doing a hybrid model is the best path moving forward IMHO. Covid pretty much destroyed the notion that everyone needed to be in the office to be productive as so many companies had their best years ever with most everyone working from home.

Giving them the option like what you are doing is a great thing.

The nice thing is that our lease is about to end and we're going to relocate to a smaller place for half the price. When life gives us lemons, we make lemon meringue pie.

[mlyonsd]

I spent a lot of time the last 12 months WFH and didn't like it. Made me worry I can't handle retirement.

My company offered a permanent WFH option for all employees if they took a 10% pay cut. Which is of course completely laughable.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

I spent a lot of time the last 12 months WFH and didn't like it. Made me worry I can't handle retirement.

My company offered a permanent WFH option for all employees if they took a 10% pay cut. Which is of course completely laughable.

A 10 percent pay cut? That's bizarre.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Covid pretty much destroyed the notion that everyone needed to be in the office to be productive

I disagree. It's more than just being productive.

[loochy]

I'm sooooo happy to work from home all the time. It keeps me sane. I don't want to go to the office ever again. What a waste of time and energy.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

A 10 percent pay cut? That's bizarre.

I work for the Oracle of Omaha. When I retire I have some incredible horror stories to share. POS.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Coach

I can understand that side.

I, myself, prefer to work from home. Less distractions. Zoom/Hangouts doesn't bother me too much. Get an additional 30 minutes of sleep before getting up to get ready for work. Saves me gas mileage as well.

Everyone has their preferences of course.

Yeah, I only had a ~10 minute commute when I wasn't working from home full time, but didn't realize how much time I spent getting lunch ready, sitting down with some coffee, putting something on besides pajama pants, etc. I'm not a morning person, so the time saved is great.

I miss some of the socializing in an office setting, but I'm in so many meetings that I don't really notice it. The best thing I did for working from home full time was setting up an office space... I think that separation helps.