***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.”

[stumppy]

This is day 14 for my friend. His breathing had gotten worse so he went to the E.R. earlier this afternoon. Haven't heard from him and he's not answering his phone.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

My mom works in a rural hospital. They've been full enough that they've had COVID admits die in the ER waiting for a medical/ICU bed.

That’s some seriously sad ****ed up shit that should never happen in America. We have to do better.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by stumppy

This is day 14 for my friend. His breathing had gotten worse so he went to the E.R. earlier this afternoon. Haven't heard from him and he's not answering his phone.

Positive thoughts heading your way for your friend.

[IA_Chiefs_fan]

Originally Posted by stumppy

This is day 14 for my friend. His breathing had gotten worse so he went to the E.R. earlier this afternoon. Haven't heard from him and he's not answering his phone.

Hope everything's okay.

[Fish]

That's pretty lousy if true...

AFTER COVID, YOUR FAVORITE FOODS MAY SMELL LIKE ROTTING MEAT

A June study found that roughly seven percent of 4,000 examined COVID-19 patients reported smell distortion. Most patients regain their sense of smell within weeks, but some are far less lucky. A small subset of those with COVID-19 lose their sense of smell for much longer.

And sometimes it doesn’t fully return back to normal, with some familiar smells and tastes feeling off, according to the WSJ, a condition known as parosmia.

In extreme cases, according to the paper, French fries end up smelling like rotting meat and chocolate like chemicals. 46-year-old high school teacher Ellen Glynn told the WSJ that iced coffee smelled “like someone left uncooked chicken under a couch cushion for a few weeks.”

Jennifer Spicer, an infectious disease physician at Emory University in Atlanta, told The Washington Post earlier this month that red wine ended up tasting “like gasoline.”

[Pasta Little Brioni]

More hyperbole from extreme instances

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

More hyperbole from extreme instances

Long Covid is the perfect setup for hypochondriacs.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

More hyperbole from extreme instances

My wife still has patients dealing with effects of SARS and influenza years after, viruses that produces these hyperinflammatory response can causes long term effects/reduction in life expectancy , can it sometimes be over blown during a pandemic sure but it doesn't mean it doesn't happen more than you think either there are plenty of cases that don't make it to print or you won't hear about down the road when the pandemic is over.

[R Clark]

Sure glad I don’t like red wine or ice coffee that French fry thing kind of sucks

[loochy]

Awesome, I don't need to wear deodorant anymore.


"Dude, you stink."


"Nah man, it's just your COVID acting up. I smell great."

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Fish

That's pretty lousy if true...

AFTER COVID, YOUR FAVORITE FOODS MAY SMELL LIKE ROTTING MEAT

A June study found that roughly seven percent of 4,000 examined COVID-19 patients reported smell distortion. Most patients regain their sense of smell within weeks, but some are far less lucky. A small subset of those with COVID-19 lose their sense of smell for much longer.

And sometimes it doesn’t fully return back to normal, with some familiar smells and tastes feeling off, according to the WSJ, a condition known as parosmia.

In extreme cases, according to the paper, French fries end up smelling like rotting meat and chocolate like chemicals. 46-year-old high school teacher Ellen Glynn told the WSJ that iced coffee smelled “like someone left uncooked chicken under a couch cushion for a few weeks.”

Jennifer Spicer, an infectious disease physician at Emory University in Atlanta, told The Washington Post earlier this month that red wine ended up tasting “like gasoline.”

When my taste and smell first started to come back red wine tasted like vinegar. I couldn't taste much of anything sweet. Still struggle with chocolate at times but thankfully foods taste pretty much the same as they did.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by petegz28

When my taste and smell first started to come back red wine tasted like vinegar.

Yeah, because red wine is disgusting. I think maybe it was your taste buds being reset.

[Indian Chief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

As long as there isn't a mutation in the spike protein the underlying mechanism behind the vaccine should be fairly durable (I'm a bit out over my skis on this one), but boosters will likely be offered and become relatively commonplace, although I'm unsure of their frequency.

My following statement is independent of any vaccine discussion.

The University of Texas has already identified a mutation in the spike protein. I'm not suggesting it's likely to continue happening, but it appears to have happened at least once, albeit early on.

That's one of the reasons why I tell people that "letting COVID run its course" is extremely dangerous. The more exposure the virus has to our systems and the greater the spread, the more likely we are to have mutations. Granted, most are neutral drift, but that's not a certainty. This particular mutation appears to have made it more contagious.

[tooge]

It looks like cases and deaths are trending down in Missouri over the past 7 days.
Hopefull.

https://showmestrong.mo.gov/data/sta...public-health/

[loochy]

Originally Posted by tooge

It looks like cases and deaths are trending down in Missouri over the past 7 days.
Hopefull.

https://showmestrong.mo.gov/data/sta...public-health/

that's just a lag in reporting