***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.”

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by philfree

If we have testing, treatments, enough vents and beds then starting to open things could/?should? happen. That's my layman's thought. People still need to social distance, wash, sterilize and wash again. Use curbside pickup. Wear masks and be conscious of the vulnerable and keep them safe. Society can't stay locked up for much longer though.

Again, I just think it'll be fascinating to watch. The cause and effect will be delayed but obvious. If a state starts "opening it up" and then sees hundreds of people dying while others don't, it's going to create a lot of crazy points of discussion about the value of a human life. I'm kind of excited about it (ignoring the whole people dying thing).

[TLO]

Ok now I really am done. I cried a little, and I smell shameful, but I feel better.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Again, I just think it'll be fascinating to watch. The cause and effect will be delayed but obvious. If a state starts "opening it up" and then sees hundreds of people dying while others don't, it's going to create a lot of crazy points of discussion about the value of a human life. I'm kind of excited about it (ignoring the whole people dying thing).

Ok if I watch it all from up here, for science.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Ok if I watch it all from up here, for science.

I'd tell you you could come watch from Colorado with me (no way in hell will we be opening things up quickly), but you know...social distancing and all.

[KCUnited]

Pursuit of happiness vs death mitigation

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Again, I just think it'll be fascinating to watch. The cause and effect will be delayed but obvious. If a state starts "opening it up" and then sees hundreds of people dying while others don't, it's going to create a lot of crazy points of discussion about the value of a human life. I'm kind of excited about it (ignoring the whole people dying thing).

That would be pretty bad if it made people even more afraid to return to work than they will be the first time. Hopefully the opposite will happen. Less fascinating, but better for us all in the long run, I think. I'm sure we're not really disagreeing here though.

[philfree]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Again, I just think it'll be fascinating to watch. The cause and effect will be delayed but obvious. If a state starts "opening it up" and then sees hundreds of people dying while others don't, it's going to create a lot of crazy points of discussion about the value of a human life. I'm kind of excited about it (ignoring the whole people dying thing).

Yeah. The definition of "life" has different meanings to different people. Being locked up isn't a life at all for lots of people. For others just waking up and taking a breath is a great day.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Pursuit of happiness vs death mitigation

Can people be happy when their neighbors are dying?

(That's meant to be a legitimate question - not being facetious.)

[Titty Meat]

WAPO supposedly has a bombshell coming out about where the virus came from....

[BigCatDaddy]

Wasn't the whole point not to over run the hospitals? How close are we to that now?

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

WAPO supposedly has a bombshell coming out about where the virus came from....

Any more details?

[TLO]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Wasn't the whole point not to over run the hospitals? How close are we to that now?

I think it depends on what area of the country you're in.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by patteeu

That would be pretty bad if it made people even more afraid to return to work than they will be the first time. Hopefully the opposite will happen. Less fascinating, but better for us all in the long run, I think. I'm sure we're not really disagreeing here though.

I don't really have a "point" I'm trying to make. Just thinking through what seems like one of the biggest and most societally-impactful decisions of our lifetimes. If this is all overblown, some states are going to be left behind economically. If it's not, other states are going to see dramatic death tolls.

There aren't easy answers. I just think it's intellectually fascinating to have such a huge A/B test. Economists are going to study this for decades.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Wasn't the whole point not to over run the hospitals? How close are we to that now?

Step 1: Don't overrun hospitals.
Step 2: Keep the spread low until vaccines and treatments can be developed and until PPE supplies can be replenished.

#1 is within reach for many areas of the country (though I wouldn't go declaring victory just yet). #2 is a long way off.

[RustShack]

What if we made it mandatory to wear a mask when you go to the grocery store or where ever else. Yeah it’s not 100% in preventing you from getting it, but it’s pretty big on preventing you spreading it.

Just an idea, I don’t know enough to say if doing that for two weeks-a month would work, just throwing out an idea. Things probably have to get a little more extreme to fully work, otherwise everything so far was just a waste of time because it will just start up again.