***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 BigCatDaddy

To not overload the hospitals. Now that we have a better data, hopefully we can turn the economy back on to a degree and still not run out of beds/ventilators. or whatever.

We are in no danger of running out of ventilators at this time.

[Monticore]

It all depends on what they mean by opening up , allowing businesses that can only accommodate social distancing , group gathering? I camp see anything being like it was before till that fall and that might still included masks and social distancing.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

She said the symptoms are severe than she was led to believe.

I hear that if you die at home it is listed as a mild case.


More seriously I hope she gets well soon.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

She said the symptoms are severe than she was led to believe.

For some people it sure seems that way. For others, not so much. Such a confusing virus.

Hope she gets better soon.

[TLO]

Do we have any proof that masks in the hands of the generalpublic are actually going to make a difference?

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by TLO

Do we have any proof that masks in the hands of the generalpublic are actually going to make a difference?

Do we have any reason to believe masks are going to be available to the general public anytime soon? I still can't find the particle masks I use when I sand drywall or work in other dusty conditions much less an N95.

[Bugeater]

And no, masks in the hands of the general public will absolutely not make a difference. They're far more effective when they're on your face.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Do we have any reason to believe masks are going to be available to the general public anytime soon? I still can't find the particle masks I use when I sand drywall or work in other dusty conditions much less an N95.

Find someone who can sew you a cloth mask. They aren't as effective as an N95, but they do provide protection.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Do we have any reason to believe masks are going to be available to the general public anytime soon? I still can't find the particle masks I use when I sand drywall or work in other dusty conditions much less an N95.

This was actually going to be my next point. Where exactly will the public find these masks?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by TLO

Do we have any proof that masks in the hands of the generalpublic are actually going to make a difference?

They work, just not in the way people think. They're pretty good at keeping you from getting other people sick. They're not very good at keeping you from getting sick.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by TLO

This was actually going to be my next point. Where exactly will the public find these masks?

They don't have to be anything special. You can find no sew instructions online easily.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

To not overload the hospitals. Now that we have a better data, hopefully we can turn the economy back on to a degree and still not run out of beds/ventilators. or whatever.

You don't reopen the country right now as the rate of growth is slowing, otherwise there was no point to close it down in the first place. You have to start coming down the other side of the peak first.

Realistically, we probably need to wait another six weeks, but I'm sure that a number of people won't wait beyond May 1 and will likely undo much of the progress that has been made.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

You don't reopen the country right now as the rate of growth is slowing, otherwise there was no point to close it down in the first place. You have to start coming down the other side of the peak first.

Realistically, we probably need to wait another six weeks, but I'm sure that a number of people won't wait beyond May 1 and will likely undo much of the progress that has been made.

I'm not sure where you stand on the whole IHME model, but they're supposed to be putting out projections tomorrow of what it'll look like if the restrictions are lifted May 1st.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by TLO

I'm not sure where you stand on the whole IHME model, but they're supposed to be putting out projections tomorrow of what it'll look like if the restrictions are lifted May 1st.

I don't know what is in their secret sauce. I know that modeling for complex stuff like this is incredibly hard. I also know, and have said it in here before, that you always lose in public health--if you make dour predictions you're an alarmist. If people heed the predictions and death rates are lower you caused a panic for nothing. If people die in large numbers you get roasted for not acting sooner.

So here is my prediction for the model tomorrow: people will bitch about it.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by DaFace

They don't have to be anything special. You can find no sew instructions online easily.

I had a co-worker bring in a cloth one that looks like it was made out of a dish towel. We've also been provided with a mask that we can wear every day, but we only get 1. And they are the cheap surgical masks. I'm sure after a single use they're no good anymore. I've just been working with my door closed and staying away from people in the office as much as possible.