***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.”

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

It absolutely is.

How are you qualifying or quantifying that?

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

It absolutely is.

From a standpoint of Nationwide spread, I would disagree. In terms of local transmission, maybe. One sneeze in a crowded aisle in the sprint center could certainly infect a lot of people from multiple states.

business owners can make their own decisions for the time being

I would guess bar and restaurant owners are worried about their bills and the bills of their employees

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by SupDock

Because their owners are keeping them open?

Are you arguing that bars and restaurants are as big of a deal as mass gatherings of people?

No, he's arguing that if one business chooses to send employees home out of precaution, then it should be the duty of all to do the same, otherwise said business is over reacting.

It's the logic of an imbecile.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

We are officially at the point were we might as well scream *PAUSE* and all stay inside for two weeks.

Sounds good to me

I am supposed to be going to a conference at the end of March in Denver and I don't want to go and those assholes haven't cancelled it yet.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Donger

How are you qualifying or quantifying that?

Are you implying it's less likely that the average American spends less time at a public restaurant or bar than they do at sporting events?

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Sounds good to me

I am supposed to be going to a conference at the end of March in Denver and I don't want to go and those assholes haven't cancelled it yet.

Stay out, potential leper!

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Are you implying it's less likely that the average American spends less time at a public restaurant or bar than they do at sporting events?

That's not the argument at all.

[Spott]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Sounds good to me

I am supposed to be going to a conference at the end of March in Denver and I don't want to go and those assholes haven't cancelled it yet.

Well, I can’t think of a better fan base than Denver to spread the coronavirus to.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Stay out, potential leper!

I am trying. How many in Denver have gotten it?

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Are you implying it's less likely that the average American spends less time at a public restaurant or bar than they do at sporting events?

No. I'm questioning why you think the spread of this virus is equal in both scenarios.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Tap out acknowledged, ****

I deserve royalties on this phrase.

[SupDock]

Thousands of yelling fans in a sports venue. That is a lot of droplet particles that could be spread to people all over. Think of all the surfaces that get contacted as well.

Limiting those events could have a huge impact, and I respect the organizations for making these tough choices.

[SupDock]

It seems like big 12 will have fans today at the game, but not tomorrow. Looking for an official tweet

[backinblack]

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Donger

No. I'm questioning why you think the spread of this virus is equal in both scenarios.

in general, every person that gets infected with a virus infects another 2-3 people. Those 2-3 people infect another 2-3 people and so on and so on. But in large crowds, that one person can touch a door or counter and 100’s touch the same surface.