***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.”

[Monticore]

Looks over 100 doctors have died in Italy to covid in about 3 months , that’s not counting nurses etc that does not happen during a flu season .

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Pants

Who is "we," Hamas? Don't you teach?

I used to, but I'm a radiopharmacist now. However, most of my training was clinical, and to be honest, COVID has made me realize how much I miss clinical pharmacy. I am strongly considering changing paths.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I used to, but I'm a radiopharmacist now. However, most of my training was clinical, and to be honest, COVID has made me realize how much I miss clinical pharmacy. I am strongly considering changing paths.

I'd never heard of that specialty so I looked it up. Very interesting.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I used to, but I'm a radiopharmacist now. However, most of my training was clinical, and to be honest, COVID has made me realize how much I miss clinical pharmacy. I am strongly considering changing paths.

Wow. That is freaking awesome, man.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Looks over 100 doctors have died in Italy to covid in about 3 months , that’s not counting nurses etc that does not happen during a flu season .

Man that sucks. Put their life on the line to help others. R.I.P.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's a parasite whereas C. diff is a bacteria. Most people in healthcare are likely colonized with C. diff already, but the good bacteria in our gut keeps it at bay. It's always something to watch out for after many antibiotic courses. Both crypto and C. diff form spores though. I know crypto can wreak havoc on immunocompromised people. It used to be a common infection in AIDS patients.

What do you guys do to eliminate it in the water?

If we had any type of diarrhea accident, we clear the pool and then have to maintain an elevated level of chlorine (maybe 20ppm?) for a specified amount of time. I'd have to look up the exact procedure...not one I recall off the top of my head because thankfully I've never dealt with it...and hopefully never do.

[BigRedChief]

Huge bump in coronavirus in states without stay at home orders. Oklahoma - 53% increase in cases over the past week. Cases jumped 60% in Arkansas, 74% in Nebraska, and 82% in Iowa. South Dakota saw a whopping 205% spike.https://t.co/HfrZlWgzzO

— Jonathan Metzl (@JonathanMetzl) April 17, 2020

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Huge bump in coronavirus in states without stay at home orders. Oklahoma - 53% increase in cases over the past week. Cases jumped 60% in Arkansas, 74% in Nebraska, and 82% in Iowa. South Dakota saw a whopping 205% spike.https://t.co/HfrZlWgzzO

— Jonathan Metzl (@JonathanMetzl) April 17, 2020

Shocker

[Bugeater]

Welp, that must be the surge they accurately predicted.

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Huge bump in coronavirus in states without stay at home orders. Oklahoma - 53% increase in cases over the past week. Cases jumped 60% in Arkansas, 74% in Nebraska, and 82% in Iowa. South Dakota saw a whopping 205% spike.https://t.co/HfrZlWgzzO

— Jonathan Metzl (@JonathanMetzl) April 17, 2020

For a “whopping” total of 551 new cases combined between all 5 states yesterday according to worldometers. Meaning if you put those 5 states together they still had less new cases than 15 of the states with stay at home orders. Or around 7% of the new cases in New York alone. Doesn’t seem as scary when you actually put all the numbers out there now does it?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Huge bump in coronavirus in states without stay at home orders. Oklahoma - 53% increase in cases over the past week. Cases jumped 60% in Arkansas, 74% in Nebraska, and 82% in Iowa. South Dakota saw a whopping 205% spike.https://t.co/HfrZlWgzzO

— Jonathan Metzl (@JonathanMetzl) April 17, 2020

Those numbers aren't really that bad compared to the rest of the country. They're just behind a bit.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

For a “whopping” total of 551 new cases combined between all 5 states yesterday according to worldometers. Meaning if you put those 5 states together they still had less new cases than 15 of the states with stay at home orders. Or around 7% of the new cases in New York alone. Doesn’t seem as scary when you actually put all the numbers out there now does it?

Yep.

[LiL stumppy]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

For a “whopping” total of 551 new cases combined between all 5 states yesterday according to worldometers. Meaning if you put those 5 states together they still had less new cases than 15 of the states with stay at home orders. Or around 7% of the new cases in New York alone. Doesn’t seem as scary when you actually put all the numbers out there now does it?

Yes......but it also means the increase is just beginning....

[dj56dt58]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

For a “whopping” total of 551 new cases combined between all 5 states yesterday according to worldometers. Meaning if you put those 5 states together they still had less new cases than 15 of the states with stay at home orders. Or around 7% of the new cases in New York alone. Doesn’t seem as scary when you actually put all the numbers out there now does it?

Those 5 states are pretty isolated anyways compared to a lot of other states..Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska...lot of farm land and isolated homes

[unlurking]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

How many hundreds of lives have you saved?

All of them, obviously.