***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.”

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by The PMII Hypothesis

Just got back from the Dr’s office after receiving a chest X-ray, 2nd Covid test, and blood drawn for antibody testing.

Had flu like symptoms back in Mid-March, about a week after a trip to Houston for work. The symptoms were body aches, intense lethargy, sinus pressure, dizziness, coughing, light chest pains but no fever so I figured bad sinus infection. April 2nd woke up with bad conjectivitus in both eyes unlike any I’d ever had so I made a doctors appointment. 3 hours later I went to the doctor and instead of seeing the dr they directed to a parking space where they took a Covid swab. The swab was weak, like no tears in my eyes weak. Barely went past the nostrils to get the sample while I sat in my car. Doctor calls me on FaceTime like app and prescribes eye drops. Covid test comes back negative 2 days later.

Then I really got sick. Lungs were aching, couldn’t take deep breaths, truly had two days I was scared and decided if it got any worse I’d seek hospital treatment, but my oximeter said my blood oxygen was good and my Covid test was negative with no underlying healthy issues (41 yrs old) so rest, eat healthy, hydrate, and let the mucinex do its work. Two days of coughing up green thick mucus and my lungs started to feel better. This was about a 10 days ago. Pretty quickly my energy returned to normal, back to lifting weights and taking walks (couldn’t run yet, lungs not ready for whatever reason) for the first time in weeks, albeit still with a cough.

Fast forward to yesterday lungs Started getting heavier again and kind of tickling so I’m like enough, back to the doctor today to get the xrays and see what going on. This is like a 6+ week illness at this point.

So today after the tests the Doctor to my surprise tells me I have pneumonia in one lung, and wants to do an ekg, Covid test, and bloodwork. Ekg was good, and now waiting on bloodwork. Antibody test results in 5 days or less, Covid he said by Monday. My Doctor also works at UAB (one of the sites where they have nation leading infectious disease studies) and strongly believes I have/had Covid given the laundry list of symptomS and progression. He’s prescribed antibiotics and a nebulizer to treat the lungs condition, and said 90% chance I should improve.

Never would have bet I had pneumonia, and not sure what I hope to happen next, but I need to get better and shake this most persistent sickness. Btw I’ve never had a fever this entire time, and the second Covid test made my eyes watery and unable to open for 29 seconds, like I had taken a bite from a giant lemon - night and day to the first one - improper swabs could be the reason for many false negatives.

That's pretty interesting that you had pneumonia in only one lung. I know one of the imaging hallmarks early in the epidemic before there where really any tests was bilateral pneumonia with groundglass opacities.

I know that others have spoken about improper technique with the swabs, and I would also bet that contributes to the false negative rate.

UAB is where Beatrice Hahn was for years. That's awesome that you're down there.

Just out of curiosity, what antibiotic did he write for? And FYI, Mucinex isn't a very well-liked drug among pharmacists. You have to be at the max dose to notice much of any effect (although if you use it at high enough doses it actually becomes a skeletal muscle relaxant. I've compounded it for use in horses as a three-part anesthesia regimen).

Best of luck. Hopefully you start feeling better soon and can figure out what's kept you down.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That's pretty interesting that you had pneumonia in only one lung. I know one of the imaging hallmarks early in the epidemic before there where really any tests was bilateral pneumonia with groundglass opacities.

I know that others have spoken about improper technique with the swabs, and I would also bet that contributes to the false negative rate.

UAB is where Beatrice Hahn was for years. That's awesome that you're down there.

Just out of curiosity, what antibiotic did he write for? And FYI, Mucinex isn't a very well-liked drug among pharmacists. You have to be at the max dose to notice much of any effect (although if you use it at high enough doses it actually becomes a skeletal muscle relaxant. I've compounded it for use in horses as a three-part anesthesia regimen).

Best of luck. Hopefully you start feeling better soon and can figure out what's kept you down.

What is interesting about the one lung? That’s what my Son had was just one lung with the glassy stuff as the doctor put it.

[eDave]

Sidetrack yourself with some My Morning Jacket:

https://www.facebook.com/mymorningja...eply&ref=notif

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That's pretty interesting that you had pneumonia in only one lung. I know one of the imaging hallmarks early in the epidemic before there where really any tests was bilateral pneumonia with groundglass opacities.

I know that others have spoken about improper technique with the swabs, and I would also bet that contributes to the false negative rate.

UAB is where Beatrice Hahn was for years. That's awesome that you're down there.

Just out of curiosity, what antibiotic did he write for? And FYI, Mucinex isn't a very well-liked drug among pharmacists. You have to be at the max dose to notice much of any effect (although if you use it at high enough doses it actually becomes a skeletal muscle relaxant. I've compounded it for use in horses as a three-part anesthesia regimen).

Best of luck. Hopefully you start feeling better soon and can figure out what's kept you down.

Unilateral presentation is more common in bacterial pneumonia.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by O.city

Didn’t the person they re checked from San Fran have it in early January?

Trivia for you: the first person whose tissue tested positive for HIV was a 15-year-old teenager from St. Louis that had never left the Missouri area who died in 1969.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Trivia for you: the first person whose tissue tested positive for HIV was a 15-year-old teenager from St. Louis that had never left the Missouri area who died in 1969.

For reals????

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I mean it’s one hell of a coinkydink that this happens at the same time we have one of our worst flu seasons ever.

I haven't seen much data indicating that this is an especially bad flu season. Deaths and hospitalizations through January weren't abnormally high. The spike in the graph on the CDC website combines both pneumonia and influenza deaths, so it can be a little confusing when you first look it.

Hospitalizations were quite a bit lower (about 30%) than 2017-8. Pediatric deaths were about 10% lower than 2017-18, but 20% higher than last year.

Did you find that info somewhere else?

[Kidd Lex]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That's pretty interesting that you had pneumonia in only one lung. I know one of the imaging hallmarks early in the epidemic before there where really any tests was bilateral pneumonia with groundglass opacities.

I know that others have spoken about improper technique with the swabs, and I would also bet that contributes to the false negative rate.

UAB is where Beatrice Hahn was for years. That's awesome that you're down there.

Just out of curiosity, what antibiotic did he write for? And FYI, Mucinex isn't a very well-liked drug among pharmacists. You have to be at the max dose to notice much of any effect (although if you use it at high enough doses it actually becomes a skeletal muscle relaxant. I've compounded it for use in horses as a three-part anesthesia regimen).

Best of luck. Hopefully you start feeling better soon and can figure out what's kept you down.

Thanks man. Levofloxacin 500 mg 10 days

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I haven't seen much data indicating that this is an especially bad flu season. Deaths and hospitalizations through January weren't abnormally high. The spike in the graph on the CDC website combines both pneumonia and influenza deaths, so it can be a little confusing when you first look it.

Hospitalizations were quite a bit lower (about 30%) than 2017-8. Pediatric deaths were about 10% lower than 2017-18, but 20% higher than last year.

Did you find that info somewhere else?

No I was just going by communications being put out by our health system.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by banyon

Damn, I would really like to go to this. I've lived here for 3 years and haven't had a chance because of prior year pine beetle infestations cancelling it. Hopefully we will be in a spot where it can happen:

4th of July fireworks approved for Mount Rushmore celebration



WASHINGTON (KEVN/KOTA TV) - It's official. This year's celebration of America's birthday will go off with a bang at Mount Rushmore.

A previous Fourth of July celebration with fireworks over Mt. Rushmore. (KOTA TV)
The National Park Service on Tuesday announced the return of Fourth of July celebration fireworks after an 11-year absence due to fire concerns. This comes after an environmental assessment found the fireworks would not cause a significant impact.

Of course, the celebration is contingent on the pandemic reopening guidelines; as well as the traditional "flies in the ointment," such as weather, security and wildland fire conditions.

"President Trump and I believe that our nation's founding should be celebrated with the same pomp and parade that John Adams described in 1776, and having a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore once again will be an incredible spectacle for the American people to enjoy," Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt said.

"We appreciate all the work President Trump and his team at the Department of the Interior have done to make this celebration possible again for the country," Gov. Kristi Noem added

Well F***

Trump to visit Mount Rushmore for fireworks display on July 3 https://t.co/36kanCb85h pic.twitter.com/hGMLsZ7sz0

— New York Post (@nypost) May 1, 2020

[phisherman]

Originally Posted by petegz28

For reals????

Yep, Robert Rayford. Died in 1969. Had never traveled internationally nor had he ever received a blood transfusion. The general consensus was that he contracted it either through being sexually abused or from working as a child prostitute on the streets of St. Louis.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by petegz28

For reals????

Yeah. His name was Robert Rayford and he was treated at Barnes Jewish in St. Louis (this is all public info). Apparently he was forced to become a child prostitute. He originally showed up in 1968 complaining of a laundry list of symptoms we'd later associate with HIV/AIDS. They found that he had Kaposi's Sarcoma, which was extremely rare and only really found in Italian, Mediterranean, and Ashkenazi Jews in any real frequency.

The doctors thought this was exceptionally odd, so they preserved tissue samples. Once an AIDS test came out in the mid-80's they decided to test said samples, and sure enough, they came back positive. However, other scientists later argued that the strain of HIV he had was prominent in France in the 80s, which would mean that his positive test was a result of contamination, but their work was never published. The doctor who had the samples worked at Tulane later in their career, and the remaining samples they had were actually destroyed as a result of Katrina, so we will never know for certain, but his clinical presentation checked all of the boxes.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by The PMII Hypothesis

Glad you’re so far so good. How were you exposed by your coworker? Just same office building? Crazy so many of you are testing positive.

Healthcare bro. We all just seem to be sharing it, even with all the PPE we were using...,..oh yeah that we were reusing every ****ing day.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by The PMII Hypothesis

Thanks man. Levofloxacin 500 mg 10 days

Well that will certainly do it. Be sure to stretch your calves and Achilles before explosive exercises for a while after your treatment course. Fluoroquinolones (more cipro than levo) can increase your risk of Achilles rupture for about a month, but if you aren't also taking corticosteroids, your age puts you at fairly low risk.

[Kidd Lex]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Healthcare bro. We all just seem to be sharing it, even with all the PPE we were using...,..oh yeah that we were reusing every ****ing day.

Damn bro, get through these next 7 days and get your MF immunity cape*!


*mileage may vary