***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 petegz28

Kansas has less total cases than OK and OK is starting to open things back up. I hope KS follows suit.

I do think there is an argument to be made that the longer you sit in quarantine the more of a spike you are going to get when people get back out. Argument being our bodies need to be facing this to build immunity. Tough call but that is how our immune systems work.

That’s what the thought of locking down longer supposedly helps? If you get the cases down, you can test enough to find potential hot spots and isolate them

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by jdubya

Cant speak for SoCal but up here in NorCal were getting a warm streak for the first time this year so it doesnt surprise me a bit that folks are running for the beaches. 88 where I am

Article says Newport Beach and Huntington Beach

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And you are wrong. Masks are required in Los Angeles and people found without masks in public are receiving $1,000 dollar fines.

I spent Thursday cleaning my garage and nearly every single driver on my street was wearing a mask while driving, which is a bit silly but at least they're concerned.

People are taking this very seriously in Los Angeles.

Okay you didn't say how I was wrong. I am not saying the people aren't taking it seriously, just pointing out that fining people for not wearing the masks I don't believe is legal but whatever.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Article says Newport Beach and Huntington Beach

That's not Los Angeles County or Los Angeles, that's south Orange County.

It would be like calling Manhattan, KS, Kansas City.

[O.city]

Yeah fining people is pretty ****ed

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

That’s what the thought of locking down longer supposedly helps? If you get the cases down, you can test enough to find potential hot spots and isolate them

I think that's a very myopic view loaded with a ton of unintended consequences both physical and financial.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Okay you didn't say how I was wrong. I am not saying the people aren't taking it seriously, just pointing out that fining people for not wearing the masks I don't believe is legal but whatever.

It is a LAW. Grocery stores, Costco and every other store is complying, while having signs outside their entrances to boot.

People walking on my streets up in the hills are ALL wearing masks.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I think that's a very myopic view loaded with a ton of unintended consequences both physical and financial.

Well, it kind of is what it is at this point. We took the myopic view in April and March and here we are so I don’t know what else we can do

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

It is a LAW. Grocery stores, Costco and every other store is complying, while having signs outside their entrances to boot.

People walking on my streets up in the hills are ALL wearing masks.

Dane, I get it. All you had to say was LA made it a law which I even eluded to in my initial post.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Dane, I get it. All you had to say was LA made it a law which I even eluded to in my initial post.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

Well, it kind of is what it is at this point. We took the myopic view in April and March and here we are so I don’t know what else we can do

We took that approach because we had no choice and little if any data. Also the primary reason was to avoid a run on the hospitals. Not saying it wasn't the right approach at the time but like all things this needs to be adjusted as we learn more. To me it went from preventing a run on the hospitals to "well we just don't know".

We got to open up slowly where we can, stay locked down where it is bad.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Yes, again I get it. LA made it a law.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

We took that approach because we had no choice and little if any data. Also the primary reason was to avoid a run on the hospitals. Not saying it wasn't the right approach at the time but like all things this needs to be adjusted as we learn more. To me it went from preventing a run on the hospitals to "well we just don't know".

We got to open up slowly where we can, stay locked down where it is bad.

I said April I meant February. But that’s hindsight at this point

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

I said April I meant February. But that’s hindsight at this point

Totally agree. At the time we had no choice. Now we have data to move on. I think we have to open up slowly, high risk people need to stay inside as much as they can and we are just going to have to roll with the punches for a bit.

My fear is if we don't do it now we are really going to get punched in the mouth this fall because we haven't been exposed to it during a typically weaker time for viruses and we will get our initial exposure when it thrives from a weather perspective.

[eDave]

Oh for God's sake. Here:

L.A.’s coronavirus mask order is now the law. 5 things you need to know

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...-the-law-in-la