***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.”

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by DaFace

The internet has made it so that it's difficult to distinguish between an expert opinion and the opinion of someone who is just making shit up.

Pretty much, and we also now live in a time where critical thinking isn't exactly at a premium. So we have people that just find a view that makes them feel good or tells them that they're right and everyone else is wrong and they go with that.

There's a ton of that on both sides, everyone has to shield themselves, there's no honest come to terms with..well my view on this was stupid, or wow this is gonna suck.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by lewdog

But if that person working face-to-face with customers all day was positive and asymptomatic, that mask they are wearing could actually PROTECT YOU as the customer. Since we don’t know who’s asymptomatic, masks are needed! Catch on Pete!

Again if you read the article you would see that's most likely not the case. But keep saying dumb shit. You're on a roll.

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[Mecca]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Again if you read the article you would see that's most likely not the case. But keep saying dumb shit. You're on a roll.

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Is it really that big of a deal to wear a ****ing mask when you leave the house?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Pretty much, and we also now live in a time where critical thinking isn't exactly at a premium. So we have people that just find a view that makes them feel good or tells them that they're right and everyone else is wrong and they go with that.



There's a ton of that on both sides, everyone has to shield themselves, there's no honest come to terms with..well my view on this was stupid, or wow this is gonna suck.

By critical thinking do you mean going off about a picture in a posted article and not actually reading the article before you start commenting?

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[DaFace]

Originally Posted by jdubya

IF the mask is properly worn and fitted I agree. After my visit to the grocery store yesterday I would venture to guess that the majority are literally paper napkin material held on by rubber bands around the ears....no bueno. Those golf balls just turned into marbles or pea gravel

The "paper napkin material" is actually a lot better than a cloth mask. Seems counterintuitive, but it's a much finer material.

And again, it's mostly about keeping everyone's particles out of the air - not about preventing you from breathing in the particles that are already in the air.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Is it really that big of a deal to wear a ****ing mask when you leave the house?

None of your ****ing business. You want to wear one then wear one.

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[Donger]

Originally Posted by petegz28

None of your ****ing business. You want to wear one then wear one.

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How incredibly selfish.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by petegz28

None of your ****ing business. You want to wear one then wear one.

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Common courtesy is high in this post. Like if I told you not to walk on my carpet with your shoes, would you?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by petegz28

None of your ****ing business. You want to wear one then wear one.

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Will you indulge me with my hypothetical scenario?

If I put you and your family in a room with a group of people who have tested positive, would you choose to have everyone wear a mask or no one?

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Again if you read the article you would see that's most likely not the case. But keep saying dumb shit. You're on a roll.

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Holy shit, you’ve found the holy bible of articles. Can’t believe how it’s 100% accurate!

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I think we should have a fun experiment where we put people who are against masks in a room with people who 100% confirmed to be infected. You don't know who is who or what percentage is infected.

You can stay six feet away from people, but no more. You have a choice - everyone in the room wears a mask (including you) or no one wears a mask.

I would be fascinated to see what percentage would choose for no one to have to wear a mask.

I have no problem with wearing the mask. I was against it at first but the info I've learned in here has me thinking it helps, at least a little if nothing else.

But with your hypothetical, I think there would be a good chance that people would still get infected even if everyone chose the option to make everyone (including themselves) wear masks.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Holy shit, you’ve found the holy bible of articles. Can’t believe how it’s 100% accurate!

Well since you didn't even read it I dint know why you think you are someone to say it isn't? Even if you did you aren't so.....

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[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Mecca

It's taught me that there are a lot of people who just frankly really stupid. No amount of education can help them, they find any shred of anything that makes them feel better and they run with that. If anyone says anything that disagrees with it even a expert, then the expert is a fraud etc etc.

It's really kinda sad what society has become in so many ways.

You are right but it doesn't go just one way. Perhaps we should all look in the mirror.

[Mecca]

I'm going to ask a question here..

What makes someone anti-mask? Is it literally that being inconvenienced for a small period of time is more important then spewing germs on other people while we sit in a pandemic?

Is there a reason other than this?

[Donger]

I wonder how many anti-maskers also don't wear seat belts.