***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.”

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

477 deaths in the US during the first four months of the Swine Flu pandemic, compared with about 40 deaths in the US from COVID-19 during that same comparative time-frame.

Come on.. Obviously there is a difference. Companies aren't shutting things down and losing millions of dollars a day for fun.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

These ones are so funny to me.

Literally every major sport organization, public amusement park, many concerts, etc. are totally closing down operations and sacrificing millions of dollars in doing so and we have people who think this is anything like the swine flu...

And you avoid answering the question... thanks for confirming my point.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Exactly.

And unlike Bwana, I don't have a safe of goodies.

I've teased my kids this week that if the "Zombie Apocalypse" happens, we're heading to my parents house, as my dad has more than 15 handguns and three AR15's.

But they're 1,684 miles away, so...

Hey if things get to bad. you can come hang with uncle Bwana. I have enough toys for the entire family and half my block. I think the only thing I have ever hoarded in my life is ammo. Trust me, I will never run out.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

And you avoid answering the question... thanks for confirming my point.

Was a National Emergency ever declared for the swine flu?

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

And you avoid answering the question... thanks for confirming my point.

The swine flu mortality rate was 0.02%.

The Coronavirus is 3% on the low end. Just think about the difference there. I mean shit.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

This is an impressive roll-out by @realDonaldTrump of CEO's of major companies coming together to fight the coronavirus -while declaring a national emergency. The markets jumped 800+ points since this news conference started. A nation fighting a problem together--IS the message

— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) March 13, 2020

[Donger]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Was a National Emergency ever declared for the swine flu?

Yes, on October 24, 2009.

[RunKC]

1 million deaths? I severely doubt that.

Come on

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by ShowtimeSBMVP

This is an impressive roll-out by @realDonaldTrump of CEO's of major companies coming together to fight the coronavirus -while declaring a national emergency. The markets jumped 800+ points since this news conference started. A nation fighting a problem together--IS the message

— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) March 13, 2020

Almost 2,000 now

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Come on.. Obviously there is a difference. Companies aren't shutting things down and losing millions of dollars a day for fun.

What choice do companies have? Local and state governments are banning public gatherings.

I hope there is concrete scientific/medical-based evidence and facts (not anecdotal bullshit based on panic) clearly showing that COVID-19 is significantly more dangerous than the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic to justify this economic disruption to society.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by RunKC

1 million deaths? I severely doubt that.

Come on

Hopefully not, I think we’re taking steps that should slow the spread down enough to at least give healthcare workers a shot at saving some people. But the experts are the ones passing the info along.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

CDC's worst case scenario is over 1 million dead apparently but that is with no prevention techniques.

Anyone want to put a wager on the one million number?

Sensationalized fear mongering horseshit...but people will remember it...OMG OMG ONE MILLION.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by RunKC

1 million deaths? I severely doubt that.

Come on

I totally understand erring on the side of caution, and I’m fully on board with it, but it’s shit like this that annoys the **** out of me.

That’s about as doom and gloom as it gets and there’s no reason for it.

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by Donger

Yes, on October 24, 2009.

Wasn't that like 6-7 months after the first death?

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Wasn't that like 6-7 months after the first death?

Yes.