***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.”

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by petegz28

That's not even what I said and you know it but I realize I am not part of the "we are all gonna die" club so whatever.

Originally Posted by petegz28

I gotta tell you at this point it's almost time to go old school. Lock up the high risk people for a month and let the lower risk people get out there, get and get through and get it over with. It's like we would get through all this quicker if the people who are not in any real danger got it, got over it and moved on while the high risk people stayed back. Almost chicken pox style back in the day.

So understanding that decisions have consequences, how many people are you willing to kill?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Please tell us how the school nurse is to differentiate between a sore throat, which could be strep, flu or even the common cold, and COVID-19.

Thanks in advance.

Strep and flu can be tested in a matter of minutes.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Then keep you kids home, Dane. That's your prerogative. If I lived where you are I probably would. But where I am the risk is barely even minimal at this point.

Yeah, at this point it's minimal, because your governor was proactive and shut down the schools early.

But if the schools re-open next month, the risk will increase exponentially.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Strep and flu can be tested in a matter of minutes.

In the school nurse's office?

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by lewdog

You’re going to have to test for any minor symptom though, otherwise you’re allowing a possible outbreak from an initial sore throat symptom. That’s the problem, it’s a logistical nightmare for schools.

Schools are already facing a logistical nightmare. With time they can do better but they aren't currently doing that well with online especially at the very youngest levels.

I would prefer governments of all levels were willing to spend more money to prepare schools.

For instance if a mouth swab/saliva test can be reliable enough, then test students all the time whether their throat is sore or not.

[Bugeater]

They had all spring and the rest of the summer, they better have some kind of goddamn plan.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Yeah, at this point it's minimal, because your governor was proactive and shut down the schools early.

But if the schools re-open next month, the risk will increase exponentially.

Well they are re-opening and my kid is going. Have a nice night.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

In the school nurse's office?

Even if they have to go to the doctor it's not 14 days.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Then keep you kids home, Dane. That's your prerogative. If I lived where you are I probably would. But where I am the risk is barely even minimal at this point.

Johnson County is in exponential growth. If the numbers aren't bad now, without changes in policy or behavior they will be in a month.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

They had all spring and the rest of the summer, they better have some kind of goddamn plan.

Our district is giving you the option to have your child learn remotely or attend in person.

Since March 15th in Johnson County we have had 93 deaths. 91 of them were people over the age of 60 with 71 of them people over the age of 80 and the largest chunk of that were people in care facilities.

Even with the bars open and what not we are seeing an increase in cases but no hospital runs and no one THANKFULLY is dying.

When no one under the age of 40 has died and only 2 under the age of 60 you have a hard time telling people not to have school. I understand it's different elsewhere but here it is what it is and that's the data I have to go off of. I can't make my decisions based on what is happening in Phoenix when nothing of the sort is happening here. Sometimes life sucks and you have to make tough choices and I do my best to look at the data in my area and make my choice.

[Deberg_1990]

80s rock titans ‘Great White’ play a concert in North Dakota with no
Social distancing in place.

GREAT WHITE Plays Concert In North Dakota With No Restrictions In Place: No Social Distancing, No Masks (Video) https://t.co/pibXjsLPSV pic.twitter.com/Cp18a7N63m

— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) July 11, 2020

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Yeah, I am gonna go ahead and disagree.

Well since sore throat is a symptom of Covid every person that shows that symptom would have to be treated as a possibility and quarantined until they are tested and proven to not be positive for Covid.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

80s rock titans ‘Great White’ play a concert in North Dakota with no
Social distancing in place.

Wasn't Great White the band from the fire in the nightclub debacle years ago? Why do they want to kill more of their fans?

[Bugeater]

Seriously...**** that band. Their music sucks anyway.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

Well since sore throat is a symptom of Covid every person that shows that symptom would have to be treated as a possibility and quarantined until they are tested and proven to not be positive for Covid.

Sore throat is a symptom of a ton of things. My Son has had a "sore throat" several times in the last few months. All strep. A 30 minute trip to the doctor and it was determined. There are ways to determine the probability of it being Covid and they don't take long.

And mind you every time we called the doctor about his "sore throat" never did they even think he had Covid. Food for thought.