***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.”

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I think I do pretty good for typing on my phone most of the time. Especially when it has to be a dissertation to a rube like you!

Yeah, no.....you don't. You suck at it as a matter of fact.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

I can't wait until Pete has surgery. I want to be in the operating theater when he tells everyone to take off their masks because they really don't do anything.....

Originally Posted by petegz28

Yeah cause that's the same thing......

You're so clever

That's what you don't seem to understand: the purpose of a surgical mask in an OR is *exactly* the same reason why health experts are saying to wear them in public during a pandemic: it is intended to reduce the probability of infectious material transfer.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

That's what you don't seem to understand: the purpose of a surgical mask in an OR is *exactly* the same reason why health experts are saying to wear them in public during a pandemic: it is intended to reduce the probability of infectious material transfer.

The purpose of a surgical mask is to prevent the surgeon from hacking a loogie into an open wound.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by petegz28

The purpose of a surgical mask is to prevent the surgeon from hacking a loogie into an open wound.

Considering your judgement, I am not the least bit surprised that "hacking a loogie into an open wound" is an actual valid concern regarding your health care practitioners. So yes, perhaps in your particular instance, that is what a surgical mask in an OR is actually used for....

[srvy]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

That's what you don't seem to understand: the purpose of a surgical mask in an OR is *exactly* the same reason why health experts are saying to wear them in public during a pandemic: it is intended to reduce the probability of infectious material transfer.

Can it stop a Junior Mint falling from your hand from the gallery into the incision?

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Did they all have masks on? To me in that situation it is worthless. It takes so long to cut your hair that you negate the use of the masks. If you could get your hair cut in a few minutes then maybe. But especially for women who can take an hour or more. By that time the mask is just decoration.

It has always been about layers of protection.

Six feet apart is better than closer. Is it foolproof, No
Shorter exposure is better than longer. Is it foolproof, No.
Masks are better than no masks. Is it foolproof? No.
Being exposed to fewer people is better than being exposed to more people. Is it foolproof? No.
Symptom screening is better than not symptom screening. Is it foolproof? No.

I’m not sure how anyone can not understand this after 3 months. This isn’t new information any more.

If you are going to spend an hour in close proximity to someone who you don’t know what they have been doing in the last week, or even if they are running a fever, every public heath official is going to advise you to wear a mask.

If you can’t understand this, no one can help you. Good luck with your life.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by cdcox

It has always been about layers of protection.

Six feet apart is better than closer. Is it foolproof, No
Shorter exposure is better than longer. Is it foolproof, No.
Masks are better than no masks. Is it foolproof? No.
Being exposed to fewer people is better than being exposed to more people. Is it foolproof? No.
Symptom screening is better than not symptom screening. Is it foolproof? No.

I’m not sure how anyone can not understand this after 3 months. This isn’t new information any more.

If you are going to spend an hour in close proximity to someone who you don’t know what they have been doing in the last week, or even if they are running a fever, every public heath official is going to advise you to wear a mask.

If you can’t understand this, no one can help you. Good luck with your life.

Looks like you had to get the crayons out for pete

[Pants]

Originally Posted by petegz28

You don't know that they are spreading it.

But in case they are, wouldn't you want to be on the safe side?

[Pants]

Went to the liquor store yesterday. I think I was the only one wearing a mask. Even the employees manning the registers weren't wearing any.

It ****ing blows my mind that so many people just do not care enough about the well-being of their community to just err on the side of caution. It's disheartening and sad.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Pants

It ****ing blows my mind that so many people just do not care enough about the well-being of their community to just err on the side of caution. It's disheartening and sad.

Yeah the protests and riots were dumb I agree.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

Yeah the protests and riots were dumb I agree.

Why are you quoting me, saying something completely different and then saying you agree?

Are you agreeing with me?

You agree that people should wear masks in public in an attempt to protect their community?

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Pants

Why are you quoting me, saying something completely different and then saying you agree?

Are you agreeing with me?

You agree that people should wear masks in public in an attempt to protect their community?

We seem to both agree alot of selfish people out there.... Blows my mind is all?

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by DaFace

No clue. Just depends on whether the heat is a lot of the reason things have gotten better recently.

Correct answer is "no"

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnb...omy-again.html

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Correct answer is "no"

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnb...omy-again.html

I certainly hope not, but I don't think anyone can say for sure. In 1918, the second wave was roughly 4 times as bad as the first wave, and if we're seeing 8-10k people die per day in the fall, I find it hard to imagine not shutting things back down. Hopefully people are smart and do what they can to reduce the spread regardless of how it comes back.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by Pants

Why are you quoting me, saying something completely different and then saying you agree?

Are you agreeing with me?

You agree that people should wear masks in public in an attempt to protect their community?

Just trying to make stuff political.