***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.”

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by O.city

It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out

That's the whole thing: No one knows how this will play out.

If an effective vaccine appears a year from now that's been clinically studied across all age groups and those with existing conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID-19, I'm sure there will be recommendations by physicians as to who should receive the vaccine.

If it goes to market in less than 6 months, you're asking physicians and doctors across the country to take an enormous risk, one that could damage reputations, inspire lawsuits and further erode the population's faith in doctors, scientists and pharmaceutical companies.

That's the exact reason why I believe that the plan moving forward should not include a vaccine and it one is studied properly and proven effective, which could take another year or years.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

O city keeps talking about vaccines but I'm willing to bet there wont be one

Why would you think that?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by ChiliConCarnage

Iowa, KS, and Nebraska kind of look like states that shouldn't be opening unless we turn around fast. We're going to do it because I think there isn't much of a choice. If you're over a 1 still shut down, Im not sure what you could expect opening up.

Kansas has been on lock down what will be the better part of 2 months by the time they start to open, at least for the KC area. Unless the hospitals start to hemorrhage you are going to have a hard time telling people that not only did you most likely lock down too early, you're going to stay locked down another month or two.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

You want to rip Lewdog and all of the other workers at his place out of their home? He knows the risks to his family, which are apparently low so it’s not like he’s being callous or not caring about others. If they all three stay isolated what’s wrong with that? In fact it’s better if they get it now in isolation and develop immunity without risk of spreading it beyond their small family unit.

I think most people wouldn't want to infect their family members and if everyone had a place where they could isolate for 14 days then they should but if they don't then why not a voluntary quarantine in an empty hotel with other covid people.

NEW: @ASlavitt and @ScottGottliebMD are leading a call for $46.5 billion in congressional funding for:

— expanding the contact tracing workforce

— paying to use vacant hotels for self-isolation

— income support for those voluntarily self-isolatinghttps://t.co/b0A0DgBFGj

— Ben Swasey (@benswasey) April 27, 2020

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by TLO

Why would you think that?

Vaccines arent simple things and how often is one created for a new virus within a years time?

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Vaccines arent simple things and how often is one created for a new virus within a years time?

H1n1 was less than a year i believe.

[O.city]

The problem with vaccines especially against things like hiv isn’t the making of the vaccine, it’s the mutation of the virus.

This far that’s not a problem here

[ChiliConCarnage]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Kansas has been on lock down what will be the better part of 2 months by the time they start to open, at least for the KC area. Unless the hospitals start to hemorrhage you are going to have a hard time telling people that not only did you most likely lock down too early, you're going to stay locked down another month or two.

I don’t think we disagree? We're going to have to try. I hope it works out ok.

I'll be honest, I'm very excited to go back to work. A weird thing to say but it's true. WFH has some real neat advantages in terms of getting things done around the house, commute, etc. but it's not for me full time.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by ChiliConCarnage

I don’t think we disagree? We're going to have to try. I hope it works out ok.

I'll be honest, I'm very excited to go back to work. A weird thing to say but it's true. WFH has some real neat advantages in terms of getting things done around the house, commute, etc. but it's not for me full time.

My kids actually want to go back to school, they have missed their sports as well.

[eDave]

Tempe:

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by eDave

Tempe:

Philly

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by eDave

Tempe:

Wtf is that?

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Philly

[eDave]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Wtf is that?

Smart car for ants.


For real, they are delivering online orders. They are buzzing all over Tempe. If you get close to it it will speed up. Too close and it warns you. It will also tell you to move if you get in front of it. They also read traffic signals so they can cross busy streets safely.

Bye bye food delivery jobs. I want one for my own personal use.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I think most people wouldn't want to infect their family members and if everyone had a place where they could isolate for 14 days then they should but if they don't then why not a voluntary quarantine in an empty hotel with other covid people.

I agree. It would have to be voluntarily but I think we should provide places for people who are willing to isolate And don't want to infect family/housemates.

Most cities have lots of empty hotel rooms.

You would need social workers to make sure they were getting appropriate food, medicines etc.