***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.”

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

I agree a lot of people are overreacting. Acting like staying home is some type of torture. Really isn't that bad and it's for the good of the country

It's not torture, but I miss hanging out with my friends. Playing in my ping pong league every Tuesday. Watching sports with said friends. I had a concert date scheduled with someone that got canceled. The ability to see my parents in Colorado and actually have a good time without having to worry about things. Staying home is fine, but there's a lot of life being missed out on because of this.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

It's not torture, but I miss hanging out with my friends. Playing in my ping pong league every Tuesday. Watching sports with said friends. I had a concert date scheduled with someone that got canceled. The ability to see my parents in Colorado and actually have a good time without having to worry about things. Staying home is fine, but there's a lot of life being missed out on because of this.

Same here but if we were going out right now most of us would end up getting sick anyways. The health care system would collapse and most of our parents would die. Social distancing is the lesser of two evils by a long shot.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Same here but if we were going out right now most of us would end up getting sick anyways. The health care system would collapse and most of our parents would die. Social distancing is the lesser of two evils by a long shot.

I agree which is why I've been doing my part for 3 weeks now. It sucks, but I'm not complaining.

[BigRedChief]

Growth in total confirmed #COVID19 cases as a percent of total population by country: U.S. versus Spain and Italy. (Indexed to days since the first 100 cases were confirmed in each country). U.S. is still early, but on slower relative trajectory when compared to Italy and Spain. pic.twitter.com/KBCxGN2apq

— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) April 2, 2020

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by Strongside

I was on paternity leave for 12 weeks this time last year.

Feels like Groundhog Day.

Not at all the same.

Last year you had TP, no?

[arrwheader]

Thing I don't understand is this. So we shut everything down and social distance and everything but they are saying they aren't getting a vaccine likely until middle next year. So what we're all locked down till then? I'm staying home following the rules but I'm furloughed and know at least 5 people who have lost their jobs entirely. Including both my parents who don't know what they will do. I don't know or know of 1 person who's gotten it let alone died from it but I know the economic fall out has already taken it's toll and it's going to get worse.

Also at this point besides bars and concerts, sporting events etc. Most things are still open people are still going out there and you could argue stores are one the dirtiest places you could be right now since all of the population goes through them.

I mean at some point you have to let everyone go back to work otherwise you risk economic destruction to the point where recovering is very difficult and people lose everything and a lot of those people may have never gotten sick or recovered in the first place to save a few (by few i mean relative to the entire population). We're talking another great depression and what's worse people will still get sick on top of that.

Look I get it but until they get a vaccine they can't let everyone go back to work with out risking the spread ramping up again and it will happen if they re open with out one. We need to get back to work at some point, sure let's all buy some time for a few weeks but there needs to be a deadline, ok we did what we could, we bought some time but we also need to ensure we can survive this economically.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

[AustinChief]

Ok question for everybody...

Now that multiple reports are showing fatality rates for people under 50 to be equivalent to a bad flu season, what is the point in continued isolation of that demographic after our death rates plateau or start to fall?

Let's say we have already hit peak and the next few days we stay below 1000 deaths/day (this is not a prediction but a hypothetical). At what point do you ease restrictions on the extremely low risk people? We obviously can't shelter in place until a vaccine comes out. Do we wait until a treatment has been proven to be effective? Do we wait until a certain percentage of America has immunity? What is your metric?

[Chieftain]

It's a very valid point you make. I feel as if this whole isolation period will only postpone the inevitable which is more infections and more death. The proper way to go about this from now on is to isolate only the senior population and people with disabilities and other health related issues. Make wearing masks mandatory to the general public and try to create herd immunity. Similar to what is happening in Sweden but with stricter measures. Close out the school year on a federal level. Have all schools reopen again in September.
As for sporting events, I think they should cancel the NBA and NHL seasons. Start baseball in mid-June or early-July. By then we will have a better picture of where we stand with the outbreak.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Ok question for everybody...

Now that multiple reports are showing fatality rates for people under 50 to be equivalent to a bad flu season, what is the point in continued isolation of that demographic after our death rates plateau or start to fall?

Let's say we have already hit peak and the next few days we stay below 1000 deaths/day (this is not a prediction but a hypothetical). At what point do you ease restrictions on the extremely low risk people? We obviously can't shelter in place until a vaccine comes out. Do we wait until a treatment has been proven to be effective? Do we wait until a certain percentage of America has immunity? What is your metric?

I think it would help if the weather would warm up so that would kill it off a little quicker but this cold front came through and that keeps it going i think. i don't have any answers to know what to do but i don't think it's healthy to be cooped up for Americans. My problem is having COPD it could kill me but I'm willing to go about my normal activities I just want to go fishing but not in the cold.

[DRM08]

Originally Posted by arrwheader

Thing I don't understand is this. So we shut everything down and social distance and everything but they are saying they aren't getting a vaccine likely until middle next year. So what we're all locked down till then?

No way we stay locked down for that long. I think the goal now is to mass produce enough masks and ventilators that we can get back to normal pretty soon with everyone wearing masks until the vaccine is finalized.

The shutdown makes sense in the short term. It buys some time to beef up our supply of ventilators and masks for a larger population that will need treatment at some point.

[Demonpenz]

I forgot the gym because I do manual labor so literally i am a professional weightlifter since that is my main skill. I go to sports games and concerts. I did comedy enough I can never see another comedian again. Bowling is getting killed. I guess church and church work is a big one. In my group of workers and friends we just play video games. I guess birds of a feather. I could see having a wife wanting to do wife shit as well. Most of these people bitching never leave st Joe or do anything. I go to casino and drive a lot. I cruise to kc and back a couple time a week to cruise.

[Demonpenz]

I borrowed a video game from the library and now its not.duenuntil until June

[Pitt Gorilla]

If everyone were truly isolating, the virus would be done. It’s literally that simple. But, people are too stupid and selfish to do what they’re supposed to do.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

If everyone were truly isolating, the virus would be done. It’s literally that simple. But, people are too stupid and selfish to do what they’re supposed to do.

Yes but only if everyone WORLDWIDE was.. and that's unrealistic. This virus is far too contagious to think it is going away completely without a vaccine. Our best bet before a vaccine is herd immunity. The problem there is that we really don't know what the current spread looks like. Is NYC so bad right now because they have millions infected that have yet to be tested? It's possible. Hell they could be at peak infection now but we won't know until after the fact.

My two biggest beefs have been that we should have been more serious about locking down the people most vulnerable and a lack of serology testing. Focusing so much on PCR testing was stupid and short sighted.

Today is the day we should see results from some of the first large scale studies of HCQ+AZ as a treatment. Unfortunately, I doubt we'll see any hard data for another week or more, which to me is inescusable. NY was supposed to start at least one study 10 days ago, the preliminary results should be made available.

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[BWillie]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

I agree a lot of people are overreacting. Acting like staying home is some type of torture. Really isn't that bad and it's for the good of the country

The staying home thing doesn't bother me much. The not having sports thing does.