***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.”

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

How are we, as Americans, ****ing this up so badly?

We as Americans have spent too long telling ourselves we are exceptional, just because. Taking things for granted. Instead of actually doing exceptional things.

Our bitterly polarized, and largely paralyzed, politics doesn't help. But it isn't the whole story.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

How are we, as Americans, ****ing this up so badly?

The irony is some who think they are helping are ****ing it up. And some who are deemed as ****ing it up are really helping. Then you have those that are straight up ****ing it up and those that are helping.


If I had to try and put my thumb on it I would say it's largely due to bad leadership at the state levels coupled with a willfully ignorant media that loves to stoke fear.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

How are we, as Americans, ****ing this up so badly?

Because everything has been politicized.

People will reject common sense thinking they're making a noble act of rebellion. People will reject facts just because the other side agrees with them, or that they might be seen as helping the other side's argument, instead of caring about what's true or false. It's only what is us vs them.

We have completely lost the ability to think beyond not giving the other side an inch

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

Because everything has been politicized.

People will reject common sense thinking they're making a noble act of rebellion. People will reject facts just because the other side agrees with them.

We have completely lost the ability to think beyond not giving the other side an inch

See you say that but when you blast people for protesting the shelter in place order and tell them "safety trumps your right to protest" then 2 weeks later in some cases literally condone mass protests and riots while at the same time telling people they can't get their hair cut then you have sent a very inconsistent message.

That's all I will say as this will get political quick but what do you expect from people when that kind of shit happens?

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

How are we, as Americans, ****ing this up so badly?

I've thought that a few times. Then I remember who the country voted into office in 2016.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by R Clark

If this country had to pull together like they did in the Second World War we would all be speaking German or Japanese

Definitely German. Japan was already over extended in the territory they gained prior to WWII. Germany would have turned on them without a doubt and prevented any further eastern growth from Japan. They would have considered themselves lucky if Germany let them keep those territories.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by stumppy

I've thought that a few times. Then I remember who the country voted into office in 2016.

And he goes full Mecca/Billay.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

How are we, as Americans, ****ing this up so badly?

We're not ****ing it up, someone is ****ing it up for us.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by petegz28

The irony is some who think they are helping are ****ing it up. And some who are deemed as ****ing it up are really helping. Then you have those that are straight up ****ing it up and those that are helping.


If I had to try and put my thumb on it I would say it's largely due to bad leadership at the state levels coupled with a willfully ignorant media that loves to stoke fear.

The media is making people get sick? The media is forcing people to be stupid/selfish assholes and not wear a mask?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

Because everything has been politicized.

People will reject common sense thinking they're making a noble act of rebellion. People will reject facts just because the other side agrees with them, or that they might be seen as helping the other side's argument, instead of caring about what's true or false. It's only what is us vs them.

We have completely lost the ability to think beyond not giving the other side an inch

I think that's part of it, but I also think that the internet has created this world in which everyone has a take, and their voices hold near equal weight to those who actually are experts. Fifty years ago, all you could really do would be to listen to your government leaders because who the **** else are you going to ask what they think we should be doing. Today, just think about how much information you know about this situation and where it came from. I guarantee a majority of it came from random people who don't have a clue what they're talking about. That's created a world in which conspiracy theories are given way more attention than they deserve, which then creates more distrust in expertise, which then gives more attention to conspiracy theories....

Add in a nice dose of many leaders contradicting each other, and it's a recipe for everyone saying "**** it." That has consequences, as we're seeing now, but it's not hard to see how we got here.

[stevieray]

DOOM and GLOOM

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

The media is making people get sick? The media is forcing people to be stupid/selfish assholes and not wear a mask?

Dude, masks are not some silver bullet against Covid. They help to a degree but just because you wear one doesn't mean you can go do whatever the **** you want. And yes, the media condoning and encouraging mass public gatherings A.K.A. riots, doesn't help anyone.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by TLO

I understand, but for the under 35 group you're more likely to be hospitalised from the flu? According to that info. I think I'm looking at it right.

Which figure leads you to that conclusion?

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

How are we, as Americans, ****ing this up so badly?

We took public health and made it a political issue.

[tk13]

Some of that is just the internet. I mean let's be real, there are people in this thread who are legitimately mentally ill because of politics. They have planted their flag in the ground and they aren't going to move. That's the internet.

It was all fun and games when it first started. Now 125,000 people are dead and people are making the same arguments and think it's not a big deal. You'd say it's unbelievable but I guess it's not. A complete lack of compassion for their country or other people. Only for themselves.