***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.”

[Donger]

Boston biotech conference led to 333,000 Covid-19 cases across US, genetic fingerprinting shows

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/11/healt...nce/index.html

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

Boston biotech conference led to 333,000 Covid-19 cases across US, genetic fingerprinting shows

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/11/healt...nce/index.html

Sounds like quite the event.

[TLO]

I wonder how many cases the Super Bowl led to?

[jdubya]

Just read an article regarding my county here in the SF Bay Area. In my city of 70,000 people, there have been a total of 33 covid deaths...........32 of which were patients in LTCF.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by jdubya

Just read an article regarding my county here in the SF Bay Area. In my city of 70,000 people, there have been a total of 33 covid deaths...........32 of which were patients in LTCF.

Have you guys been on lock down the entire time?

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by TLO

Have you guys been on lock down the entire time?

Initially yes. The 2 week "flatten the curve" became a couple of months....then cases declined and some restrictions were lifted. Now cases are very high again and restrictions are back although compliance is not even close to what it was for the first shutdown. Yes everybody is wearing masks but some barbershops, gyms and restaurants are staying open simply because they have no other alternatives. Downtown most retail is still open with masks mandates

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Donger

Boston biotech conference led to 333,000 Covid-19 cases across US, genetic fingerprinting shows

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/11/healt...nce/index.html

Wow. The article says it was a tiny conference as well, with only 200 attendees. We have (well, had) conferences in Denver every week that are 10 or 20 times bigger.

The super spreader phenomenon is something that I'd like to understand better. It seems like certain people or types of people blow this thing up massively. We need to be able to identify those people and be sure they get vaccinated.

It makes me think of that one strain of tuberculosis that's incurable and contagious. Essentially when a person gets it, they're screwed because the government has to isolate them pretty much forever. It's like a prison sentence when you didn't do anything wrong, but there's no other option. Maybe a non-vaccinated super spreader would have to be treated the same way until they're no longer contagious.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by TLO

I wonder how many cases the Super Bowl led to?

It's been shown to be in Miami during the Super Bowl. And Miami got whacked pretty hard in March.

We had 1000 Chief fans at our Super Bowl party in Miami, 330 in Tampa, 100+ in another 4 Florida chapters. 50+ in chapters in other states. Haven't heard of anyone who got covid from those events.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Wow. The article says it was a tiny conference as well, with only 200 attendees. We have (well, had) conferences in Denver every week that are 10 or 20 times bigger.

The super spreader phenomenon is something that I'd like to understand better. .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA7CKvoKEmE

[TLO]

Fire up the planes, trains, and automobiles. One of the most important distribution operations in US history is about to begin.

CDC advisers expect FDA authorization of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine before Saturday morning

[TLO]

Green light has been given. The FDA just announced EUA for the Pfizer vaccine.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

[Donger]

250,000 new cases reported yesterday and another 3,000 deaths. I hope this backlog clears soon.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

250,000 new cases reported yesterday and another 3,000 deaths. I hope this backlog clears soon.

Why were you asking me about the IHME model the other day? And why did you quote a post I made in September about it? I've been curious.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Donger

250,000 new cases reported yesterday and another 3,000 deaths. I hope this backlog clears soon.

You are absolutely pathetic

Que the "why??"