***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.”

[Pants]

Originally Posted by kgrund

I would imagine it has plenty to do with around 84% of county deaths coming from Long-term health facilities and nobody dying outside a long-term health facility in over two months. People in JOCO seem to believe it is more an issue with the retirement communities then a threat to them IMO.

I get that and I think it's an awful approach. If this thing truly explodes like it can, it will overload hospitals and wreak havoc and lead to more death and suffering. Just because it hasn't yet, doesn't mean it won't. JOCO and KS, in general, were super quick on the ball when it came to early mitigation efforts too.

This is not a political issue and this is not a US issue. Countries with no or few mitigation efforts and enough dense population centers are suffering.

Russia tried to ignore it before they realized this is real.

China cares way less about its citizens than we do. If thing was as harmless as some make it out to be, they would let it run its course. We all know what they actually did instead.

It's not "doom and gloom" to take this seriously like some ****ing idiots seem to think.

You're seeing the beginning stages of explosions happening in AZ and Texas. Other states, counties, countries are not magically immune.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Just an observation that you sound a lot like BleedingRed a couple of weeks ago.

ummm ok

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

I saw the words "apocalyptic scenario" used on a main stream media website today to describe what is going on in Texas. Maybe I'm a sheeple, and that's fine - but that phrasing is kind of terrifying.

Did you notice that that word wasn't the media's word? They were quoting a doctor.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Dude, that is their game. The media by in large has done that this entire time. They love the word "apocalypse" because it sounds devastating. Keep this in mind, Texas is still no where near what NY was. Not by a long shot.

Since you mentioned New York.... you do realize they went from 100 deaths to 19,000 in a matter of 30 days? And around 2,000 to 10,000 in a matter of a couple weeks AFTER shutting things down?

OBVIOUSLY, each city will be different and there may be no expectation of that happening anywhere else at this moment..... but, that's how fast things changed for that one comparison city you mentioned.

New York went from 'not apocalyptic by a long shot' to pretty ****ing bad in a matter of a couple weeks.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Since you mentioned New York.... you do realize they went from 100 deaths to 19,000 in a matter of 30 days? And around 2,000 to 10,000 in a matter of a couple weeks AFTER shutting things down?

OBVIOUSLY, each city will be different and there may be no expectation of that happening anywhere else at this moment..... but, that's how fast things changed for that one comparison city you mentioned.

New York went from 'not apocalyptic by a long shot' to pretty ****ing bad in a matter of a couple weeks.

I don't disagree. Could that happen elsewhere? Sure. Will it? I would think most likely not.

[TinyEvel]

Originally Posted by jdubya

Im here in the SF Bay Area and we have test centers everywhere. You dont need a doctors note and you dont even have to have symptoms....

WTF Sutter Health and Marin General thats not the case. major WTF.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

Did you notice that that word wasn't the media's word? They were quoting a doctor.

That's true. But the doctor didn't put it in big bold letters at the top of their site and leave it up there for a few hours.

[TLO]

The CDC also updated their list of underlying conditions today.

People of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:

People of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19:

Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Sickle cell disease
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Children who are medically complex, who have neurologic, genetic, metabolic conditions, or who have congenital heart disease are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 than other children.

COVID-19 is a new disease. Currently there are limited data and information about the impact of underlying medical conditions and whether they increase the risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Based on what we know at this time, people with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:

Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
Cystic fibrosis
Hypertension or high blood pressure
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
Liver disease
Pregnancy
Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
Smoking
Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
Type 1 diabetes mellitus

[jdubya]

"Apocalyptic" and "unprecedented" are 2 of the most wrongfully used words I commonly hear.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by TLO

That's true. But the doctor didn't put it in big bold letters at the top of their site and leave it up there for a few hours.

Worldometers showing we might come in with less deaths than last Thursday. This is a good sign. I hope to God this trend continues to go down.

[petegz28]

Why is no one talking about California? They have been racking up the cases so much that they actually passed New Jersey 3 or 4 days ago in total cases. They have over double the deaths than Texas and almost double the cases of Florida. I know the reason the media won't talk about it and I won't get into that here but why is no one in this thread talking about CA?

They locked down before and for longer than just about any other state. LA County actually passed a law forcing people to wear masks when outside regardless of where they were. While states like Texas and Florida opened up sooner and were a bit more lax in their lockdown restrictions we are seeing the same results in a state that didn't do what Texas and Florida did.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by jdubya

"Apocalyptic" and "unprecedented" are 2 of the most wrongfully used words I commonly hear.

Id also add "draconian".

[underEJ]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Why is no one talking about California? They have been racking up the cases so much that they actually passed New Jersey 3 or 4 days ago in total cases. They have over double the deaths than Texas and almost double the cases of Florida. I know the reason the media won't talk about it and I won't get into that here but why is no one in this thread talking about CA?

They locked down before and for longer than just about any other state. LA County actually passed a law forcing people to wear masks when outside regardless of where they were. While states like Texas and Florida opened up sooner and were a bit more lax in their lockdown restrictions we are seeing the same results in a state that didn't do what Texas and Florida did.

It isn't like a state full of people who have been locked inside for 3 months is shockingly having a problem in its most populous county, despite strict quarantine. The reasons it is continuing to be a problem are quite obvious. It wasn't strict after about the first 8 weeks. As soon as people started saying the curve was flattening, many people chose to return to more normal routines, thus cases rise. This week is a real treat. The testing site at Dodger Stadium is down due to the vendor being replaced. So far no new appointments can be made. That is really great timing.

[Discuss Thrower]

"Evidence Supports a Causal Role for Vitamin D Status in COVID-19 Outcomes"


"Calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, is a promising candidate for COVID-19 prophylaxis" [(This link might not be working for whatever reason.)]

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Id also add "draconian".

Yup Pam GIF from Yup GIFs