***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.”

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Masks on public transit, still many places with reduced capacity, many performance venues are still shut down, family members with compromised immune systems who still don't feel like they can go out despite being vaccinated...

It's a world away from where we were a year ago, but it's still not "normal."

I was in Denver from May 3 to June3, didn't appear that way to me. That city is CROWDED. Hoo boy has it changed in that aspect

We took the light rail from lodo to South Platte. Guy was smoking pot form a coke can when we got on. It was surreal.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Masks on public transit, still many places with reduced capacity, many performance venues are still shut down, family members with compromised immune systems who still don't feel like they can go out despite being vaccinated...

It's a world away from where we were a year ago, but it's still not "normal."

Thanks. I guess I don't really have any of those experiences other than wearing a mask for the occasional Uber ride. Main lasting effect on my life has been working from home, which I actually love.

Regarding the unvaccinated, I think a lot of people have been led astray. I find the responses to cases like Stephen Harmon to be shockingly uncompassionate. I suppose my main hope would be that the good thing to come out of these viral stories would be convincing more people to get vaccinated so that they don't become "that guy".

[BigBeauford]

Originally Posted by wazu

Thanks. I guess I don't really have any of those experiences other than wearing a mask for the occasional Uber ride. Main lasting effect on my life has been working from home, which I actually love.

Regarding the unvaccinated, I think a lot of people have been led astray. I find the responses to cases like Stephen Harmon to be shockingly uncompassionate. I suppose my main hope would be that the good thing to come out of these viral stories would be convincing more people to get vaccinated so that they don't become "that guy".

There is the potential for a steep fall for those who want to become an anti-vaccine celebrity grifter.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

Even the delicious flavor of schadenfreude gets stale after eating too much of it. Do something for your damn country and get the vaccine.

Oops. I didn't realize the poor guy died..

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by stevieray

Clarify my position? I addressed why I made that statement.

Let me ask you a question.

Do you feel bad for diabetics who lose limbs and their lives from bad eating habits? How about smokers?

Is it sad, or just life happens?

I guess I feel sad for both of those because they clearly had addictions that they weren't able to conquer. However, I don't really see them as being comparable. There's no treatment for diabetics or smokers that would instantly boost their chances of survival by 90% or more. That's what changes people who refuse to get COVID vaccines from "sad" to "tragic" to me. One hour of your time could save your life.

That's a lot different than a lifetime of difficulty in changing your habits.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by wazu

What about your life is not yet "back to normal" that you wish was?

I'm getting back to normal, and most of my hesitations are mostly due to an abundance of caution.

1. I'm still doing mostly takeout from restaurants instead of dining in.
2. I'm avoiding large indoor gatherings.
3. I'm not thrilled about travel, though I'm starting to do it. I'm really not looking forward to visiting family in SW Missouri next month since it's a big bubbling cauldron of delta.
4. I've changed a few other things just because my habits changed, such as ordering grocery delivery instead of going to the store.
5. I'm generally avoiding mass transit, which I would normally use somewhat regularly.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by DaFace

There's no treatment for diabetics or smokers that would instantly boost their chances of survival by 90% or more..

Sure there is.

It's called self discipline.

Do you think that smokers and diabetics don't know they are putting themselves at risk by their choices?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by stevieray

Sure there is.

It's called self discipline.

Do you think that smokers and diabetics don't know they are putting themselves at risk by their choices?

No amount of self-discipline is going to cure a smoker's lungs or cure someone's diabetes. Your best hope is for things to slowly get better over decades.

And while, yes, I'm sure people understand that smoking and overeating are bad for you, it's tough to know where the line is between "indulgence" and "excess."

I also think it's wildly inaccurate to compare a lifetime of addiction to something that is a choice requiring an hour of your time.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by DaFace

No amount of self-discipline is going to cure a smoker's lungs or cure someone's diabetes. Your best hope is for things to slowly get better over decades.

I also think it's wildly inaccurate to compare a lifetime of addiction to something that is a choice requiring an hour of your time.

You didn't answer the question.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by stevieray

You didn't answer the question.

Sorry. I added it to my edit.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Yep. 1 1/2 years after Covid started we still don't have much of a clue of what it does to our body or pretty much anything related to it.

Outside of the vaccine there is no other real good treatment for Covid. If you have to go the hospital it is a coin flip at best whether you make it out alive or not.

This is ridiculous. You are basically saying 50% of hospitalized patients die and that's nonsense. There are MANY treatments for covid right now including anti viral meds and giving oxygen.

We have had probably 10-15 employees end up in the hospital at some point due to covid the last 18 months, probably 5 in the last 2 weeks and 0 have died.

I'm not downplaying the severity I am just saying you are exaggerating quite a large bit. Thing is you dont hear about the people who don't die or have long term issues, they just move on with their lives.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

This is ridiculous. You are basically saying 50% of hospitalized patients die and that's nonsense. There are MANY treatments for covid right now including anti viral meds and giving oxygen.

We have had probably 10-15 employees end up in the hospital at some point due to covid the last 18 months, probably 5 in the last 2 weeks and 0 have died.

I'm not downplaying the severity I am just saying you are exaggerating quite a large bit. Thing is you dont hear about the people who don't die or have long term issues, they just move on with their lives.

I would guess he's talking about ICU vs just hospitalization.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by stevieray

Sure there is.

It's called self discipline.

Do you think that smokers and diabetics don't know they are putting themselves at risk by their choices?

People with diabetes such as myself can't infect 10 other people with diabetes. If tomorrow they offered a 1-2 shot dose to stop diabetes or stop people from smoking the lines for it would be 100 miles long.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by O.city

I would guess he's talking about ICU vs just hospitalization.

Thats not remotely what he said.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Thats not remotely what he said.

Pardon, I would guess that's what he's read and didn't say it like he shoudl have.