***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 DaneMcCloud

I went to Costco for the first time in nearly 4 weeks.

What a waste of time.

Besides the fact they didn't have toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, bleach, disinfectant wipes, dish soap, windex and any other cleaning and paper related products, there just wasn't a whole helluva lot of other food available.

Surprisingly, Costco was out of microwave popcorn! WTF? So, I drove to another Costco (which I hate) and they didn't have popcorn, either. I went online and saw that people are selling Kirkland Microwave Popcorn, which is normally $9.99 for 44 bags, for $44.95! Others are price-gouging big time as well.

Toilet paper, I get. Microwave popcorn? We have a shortage of microwave popcorn in this country? I'm just at a loss for words.

Also, gasoline is still $3.79 a gallon out here.

Probably 70% of the people I saw were wearing a mask and around 50% had on gloves. Social Distancing wasn't an issue in Burbank but in Los Feliz/Glendale, NO ONE was SDing.

My wife has been shopping a the same store for four years, she said everything across the board went up this week.

Example, sausage normally 2/$5

Now: $4 each.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I went to Costco for the first time in nearly 4 weeks.

What a waste of time.

Besides the fact they didn't have toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, bleach, disinfectant wipes, dish soap, windex and any other cleaning and paper related products, there just wasn't a whole helluva lot of other food available.

Surprisingly, Costco was out of microwave popcorn! WTF? So, I drove to another Costco (which I hate) and they didn't have popcorn, either. I went online and saw that people are selling Kirkland Microwave Popcorn, which is normally $9.99 for 44 bags, for $44.95! Others are price-gouging big time as well.

Toilet paper, I get. Microwave popcorn? We have a shortage of microwave popcorn in this country? I'm just at a loss for words.

Also, gasoline is still $3.79 a gallon out here.

Probably 70% of the people I saw were wearing a mask and around 50% had on gloves. Social Distancing wasn't an issue in Burbank but in Los Feliz/Glendale, NO ONE was SDing.

A lot of kids at home wanting snacks.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Bwana

I mean, I get the TP and cleaning products, but popcorn? What in the ever living hell?

Prices seem to be all over the board on Amazon.

The only reason I can even come up with for a popcorn shortage is that parents are providing it as a healthier snack to the millions of kids who are stuck at home.

Otherwise, I've got nothing. Bizarre.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Bwana

I mean, I get the TP and cleaning products, but popcorn? What in the ever living hell?

Prices seem to be all over the board on Amazon.

Can't find Cheeze-its.

This better get rectified in a hurry because I NEED my late-night cheeze-it's, dammit. Nothing addresses a snack craving like those bad boys.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by stevieray

My wife has been shopping a the same store for four years, she said everything across the board went up this week.

Example, sausage normally 2/$5

Now: $4 each.

Ground beef was 5 a lb they say.

That’s why it’s nice to know a meat processor...

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Can't find Cheeze-its.

This better get rectified in a hurry because I NEED my late-night cheeze-it's, dammit. Nothing addresses a snack craving like those bad boys.

My kid loves them. We’re down to our last box. Those and nacho cheese Doritos lol.

[TLO]

Mr. President sounding very optimistic today. Maybe the models are trending well at the White House as well?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Can't find Cheeze-its.

This better get rectified in a hurry because I NEED my late-night cheeze-it's, dammit. Nothing addresses a snack craving like those bad boys.

Extra toasty, ride or die.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by TLO

Mr. President sounding very optimistic today. Maybe the models are trending well at the White House as well?

He wants us to all be back to work by Easter. So 5 days. Seems unlikely.

[TLO]

Excess ventilators being shipped out of Washington and California to other states.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by TLO

Mr. President sounding very optimistic today. Maybe the models are trending well at the White House as well?

Numbers are going to come down on deaths if they aren’t finding out if dead people have it...

[TLO]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

Extra toasty, ride or die.

How are you feeling today?

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by BWillie

He wants us to all be back to work by Easter. So 5 days. Seems unlikely.

That changed last week iirc. He moved it out to 4-30

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

Extra toasty, ride or die.

Feeling any better?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by TLO

How are you feeling today?

Breathing a bit better, but the fever just won't break. Been over 101 all day, and over 100 for the last several straight.