***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.”

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Yes really. The argument that we just let people die is a non starter. Weve seen countries limit the number of deaths by implementing strict measures and those countries have been able to begin phase 1 of re opening.

What do you think is gonna happen when they start reopening?

[Discuss Thrower]

Saliva tests might have more sensitivity than taking a roto-rooter to the sinuses.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by ChiliConCarnage

Not sure Ive seen it posted. Blocking covid from infecting cells.

https://www.kentucky.com/news/corona...242203141.html

I read about this today. The medication type is already used and safe in humans so that would make it alot easier to get thru.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by O.city

What do you think is gonna happen when they start reopening?

South Korea already has and they have way less number of deaths than Sweeden. Their testing is much better so they have a better chance at managing the virus.

[Discuss Thrower]

Spoiler!

This new workplace monitoring tool issues an alert when anyone is less than six feet apart. Amazon is also using similar software to monitor the distances between their warehouse staff. https://t.co/aUiVgUMWg5 pic.twitter.com/hscudU77u2

— MIT Technology Review (@techreview) April 22, 2020

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

South Korea already has and they have way less number of deaths than Sweeden. Their testing is much better so they have a better chance at managing the virus.

I would suggest that using South Korea as your barometer isn't reasonable given that practicality no one has done as well as they have.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

South Korea already has and they have way less number of deaths than Sweeden. Their testing is much better so they have a better chance at managing the virus.

They've already had to re lock down again IIRC.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I would suggest that using South Korea as your barometer isn't reasonable given that practicality no one has done as well as they have.

I guess I'm a little confused by this. Shouldnt they be the model since what they've done has proven to be a pretty effective strategy?

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by O.city

They've already had to re lock down again IIRC.

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/healt...-hong-kong-and

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/healt...-hong-kong-and

So the lock downs weren't actually what curbed it?

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I guess I'm a little confused by this. Shouldnt they be the model since what they've done has proven to be a pretty effective strategy?

Korea, Singapore and Taiwan are, by necessity, as ready for respiratory diseases as the states like Florida and the Carolinas are ready for the average hurricane.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I guess I'm a little confused by this. Shouldnt they be the model since what they've done has proven to be a pretty effective strategy?

Of course. But they moved on this WEEKS before everyone else did. The optimal strategy at the start of the outbreak isn't guaranteed to be the best strategy once it's already spreading widely. They also use methods that many people in the US would consider to be an invasion of privacy.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Not gonna happen...looks like we will end up just over

Yep. Dammit

[tk13]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I would suggest that using South Korea as your barometer isn't reasonable given that practicality no one has done as well as they have.

New Zealand is hitting it out of the park. Granted they have some geographic advantages, but they're being aggressive and it's paying off. Australia's doing pretty good too.

Singapore was doing really good but it looks like they're starting to spiral hard in the last week.

[KC Dan]

Originally Posted by tk13

New Zealand is hitting it out of the park. Granted they have some geographic advantages, but they're being aggressive and it's paying off. Australia's doing pretty good too.

Singapore was doing really good but it looks like they're starting to spiral hard in the last week.

A lot of foreign workers in the tech industry in Singapore. We pulled our people out at the end of February but not all companies did....