***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.”

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I would imagine two major peaks and then the peaks will get smaller as time goes on due to the overall herd developing its own immune system.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Make mask wearing compulsory in all public spaces for some period of time, continue to limit gathering sizes, and practice distancing as best as possible in public spaces and it can be mitigated.

Unfortunately the same people, and probably significantly more, who refuse to follow the SiP and social distancing, will refuse to wear them.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by penguinz

Again, you are clueless. If the hospital system collapses and people can't get care and/or die from their serious, non-covid illnesses then the result of that economically will far exceed what we are seeing now. Only takes a kindergarten education to understand that.

by the numbers our Hospital systems are no where near collapse. As of today there are only 600 people on ventilators in 5,000 nation wide in ICU.

We have more than enough capacity left.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Make mask wearing compulsory in all public spaces for some period of time, continue to limit gathering sizes, and practice distancing as best as possible in public spaces and it can be mitigated.

Yes..You can do these things as well as hopefully get started on the testing.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by penguinz

And to prevent that we can't open up until there is a significant downward trend in cases/deaths. At least for the short term I would like them to also make wearing a mask when in public mandatory. other wise all it takes is one or two in a crowded area to start it all up again.

I don't disagree. I am just assuming based trends by May we are on the down hill slope and have made progress in other areass such as testing and treatments.

I think where.me and Dirk differ is at what point and at what level we loosen restrictions.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

by the numbers our Hospital systems are no where near collapse. As of today there are only 600 people on ventilators in 5,000 nation wide in ICU.

We have more than enough capacity left.

It does't matter how many are nationwide. It matters for highly populated areas. If NYC were to relapse and have a massive outbreak where its hospitals got overrun it would tank the economy. Would not matter how little utilized Missouris hospitals are.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by penguinz

It does't matter how many are nationwide. It matters for highly populated areas. If NYC were to relapse and have a massive outbreak where its hospitals got overrun it would tank the economy. Would not matter how little utilized Missouris hospitals are.

See post 17187. Take is region by region.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by penguinz

It does't matter how many are nationwide. It matters for highly populated areas. If NYC were to relapse and have a massive outbreak where its hospitals got overrun it would tank the economy. Would not matter how little utilized Missouris hospitals are.

The relapse is going to happen regardless, doesn't mean we shouldn't be careful.

Also doesn't mean we should continue to kill the economy out of fear.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I don't disagree. I am just assuming based trends by May we are on the down hill slope and have made progress in other areass such as testing and treatments.

I think where.me and Dirk differ is at what point and at what level we loosen restrictions.

I want things opened up ASAP as well.

I have a vacation booked for Bonaire first week of June that I am most likely going to have to reschedule.

The thing is though we have to stop being reactionary about things and actually have a plan. All we have done and continue to do since this started is react.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

See post 17187. Take is region by region.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I wonder how many New Yorkers are packing up and getting the hell out of there just to end up carrying it everywhere else.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by penguinz

I want things opened up ASAP as well.

I have a vacation booked for Bonaire first week of June that I am most likely going to have to reschedule.

The thing is though we have to stop being reactionary about things and actually have a plan. All we have done and continue to do since this started is react.

I agree. A balanced plan factoring in everything including both health care and economics should have been in place. Hopefully we are better prepared if and when it happens again.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

These types of things will utilized as ease back in for sure. We won't be starting back up under perfect circumstances, ae don't have time. I think we arenprogressing and have some tools at our disposal to help limit the damage though.

Even if you try to open it back up, if you can’t make people feel safe and that they aren’t at risk of infection it won’t really matter

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by O.city

Even if you try to open it back up, if you can’t make people feel safe and that they aren’t at risk of infection it won’t really matter

That's probably years away. You are chasing unicorns there my man.

[POND_OF_RED]

So are we still considering this a novel virus if we have a team of experts working on all these charts and stuff? I’m assuming with how much people are praising Fauci and his knowledge of the virus that it’s not considered novel anymore. Is that correct or is it just a huge contradiction to the English language?