***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]

Originally Posted by TLO

In other news - according to Worldomoters, it looks very possible that web may come in with a lower death total as opposed to yesterday.

Canada hit his highest total in deaths today but i think we are a week behind you guys

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I've been "advised" every year to get the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine and I've never, ever taken it, although my wife and children do get it every year.

Also, the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine is only about 45% effective and in some years, it's quite a bit lower.

I think the idea of exposure and immunity sound fantastic in theory but it's also just as difficult for me to believe that to be true.

Everyone: get your flu shot. Even if it doesn't offer full protection, it reduces the severity of illness.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by stumppy

Looks like they only have two new deaths. Probably different update times.

Looks like we're still a few weeks out from predicted peak.

I was discussing this earlier, but Worldomoters, John Hopkins, and Covidly all have different numbers than Missouri's "official" total. I don't know how long there has been a discrepancy, but I'm assuming it has been there for a while. I only noticed it yesterday.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Everyone: get your flu shot. Even if it doesn't offer full protection, it reduces the severity of illness.

But one time I got the flu shot and then I got the flu!!!! Never again!!

[candyman]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Why?

Because stress-induced heart attacks and suicides will end up killing just as many people as COVID-19

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Everyone: get your flu shot. Even if it doesn't offer full protection, it reduces the severity of illness.

This.

I wasn't advocating that people should avoid the flu shot, just that I've never needed it personally.

Also, immediate family members always seem to get sick after the shot, so that's not very encouraging, either.

[2112]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

This.

I wasn't advocating that people should avoid the flu shot, just that I've never needed it personally.

Also, immediate family members always seem to get sick after the shot, so that's not very encouraging, either.

I have never had a flu shot. But I remember when I was a kid I was getting all kinds of shots in school. They had the air gun back then too. And I had the TB prick. They still do that with kids? Or do they go to the doctor for that shit?

Bottom line I got the flu once (10 years ago) from a 5 year old kid lol it kicked my ass for almost a month. And I lost 20lbs

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Why?

Perspective. There are two sides to the equation. The complete destruction of civilization in the form of a new Great Depression is a heavy price to pay. Want it to be visible like the sickness/death stats are.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by wazu

Perspective. There are two sides to the equation. The complete destruction of civilization in the form of a new Great Depression is a heavy price to pay. Want it to be visible like the sickness/death stats are.

I think it's a false choice

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I think it's a false choice

It isn't necessarily one or the other. There are degrees, and balance to be found. If the only goal is "absolute fewest people sick", then we're ****ed.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Everyone: get your flu shot. Even if it doesn't offer full protection, it reduces the severity of illness.

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

This.

I wasn't advocating that people should avoid the flu shot, just that I've never needed it personally

agreed. Everyone should get the flu shot as a preventive measure.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Everyone: get your flu shot. Even if it doesn't offer full protection, it reduces the severity of illness.

Heh, I used to get the shot every year. The one year I skipped I got the flu and spent 7 days in hell. Never again will I miss one.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by wazu

Perspective. There are two sides to the equation. The complete destruction of civilization in the form of a new Great Depression is a heavy price to pay. Want it to be visible like the sickness/death stats are.

complete destruction of civilization? I’m thinking there is some solution between what we are doing and that hyperbole remark.

.@NYGovCuomo: "You want to have reckless disregard for your life? It's not about your life. It's about the health care worker who'll have to treat you in the emergency room. It's about the vulnerable person who you infect, who you could kill... Sometimes it is not about you."

— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 9, 2020

[ghak99]

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I know you old farts like to BBQ.

Two more cow kill plants, think hamburger, announced short term closures today and two more regular plants have so many people calling in sick they will likely do the same soon.

If taking a three day break and testing doesn't slow it down they're considering a two week shutdown. They are not releasing current bids on fats at all, which tells me they are cleaning up inventory and preparing for the worst. That might be significant in parts of the midwest as there is generally not enough in cold storage to bridge that gap.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by wazu

I really wish that every place showing these stats would also show the number of new jobless claims.

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Why?

Originally Posted by wazu

Perspective. There are two sides to the equation. The complete destruction of civilization in the form of a new Great Depression is a heavy price to pay. Want it to be visible like the sickness/death stats are.

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I think it's a false choice

Originally Posted by wazu

It isn't necessarily one or the other. There are degrees, and balance to be found. If the only goal is "absolute fewest people sick", then we're ****ed.

Gosh, if only there were some mechanism in society to advocate and mediate differences such as this. . . .