***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.”

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by lewdog

306 of the 1,239 deaths were people below the age of 65.

And again, I wouldn't want to contract a virus that puts 10% of those testing positive in the hospital. Just because you don't die, doesn't mean you won't have permanent damage of some capacity. This virus is showing in some to cause arterial damage. It's too variable and too new to know why. I prefer to have a healthy heart and lungs for my next 50 years on this Earth.

you think you got 50 years???

[Demonpenz]

Texas is about ready to be sent hime again

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by petegz28

you think you got 50 years???

**** yeah. I ain't that old compared to most of you here at geriatric planet.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

Deaths lag. So the hospitalizations of today, are next weeks deaths etc.

The lowering of the deaths would theoretically be from the lockdowns.

Seriously, it was a joke. People need to lighten up a touch.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by lewdog

**** yeah. I ain't that old compared to most of you here at geriatric planet.

But all that sun....I mean like you're a walking melanoma case living down there.

I don't want you all leathery and wrinkled at 50, lew......

[TLO]

Originally Posted by lewdog

306 of the 1,239 deaths were people below the age of 65.

And again, I wouldn't want to contract a virus that puts 10% of those testing positive in the hospital. Just because you don't die, doesn't mean you won't have permanent damage of some capacity. This virus is showing in some to cause arterial damage. It's too variable and too new to know why. I prefer to have a healthy heart and lungs for my next 50 years on this Earth.

I still think we're missing out on a lot of active cases though.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by lewdog

**** yeah. I ain't that old compared to most of you here at geriatric planet.

That might not be a bad name for this place......that or Angry Suburban Dads.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Mecca

That might not be a bad name for this place......that or Angry Suburban Dads.

The funny part is you think you'll never end up that way but us ASDs can see you are already half way there.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by O.city

You're also reopening all these elective surgeries and those people are required to have COvid tests prior to that. Wonder if thats part of it?

Probably. I just got a swab to the brain because I have to get PFTs on Friday. Cast a wider net, catch more fish.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Probably. I just got a swab to the brain because I have to get PFTs on Friday. Cast a wider net, catch more fish.

Yeah, that was an issue here with an orthopedic surgeon buddy i talked to. They're finding alot of mild and asymptomatic cases they weren't earlier.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

Yeah, that was an issue here with an orthopedic surgeon buddy i talked to. They're finding alot of mild and asymptomatic cases they weren't earlier.

I can only speak for Missouri on this but there has been a huge increase in community testing in general as well. I have the chart which I can't seem to get to upload in here but the number of tests Missouri is running per day compared to even a month ago is night and day difference.

The numbers of positives per day has had a slight up-tick, but you have to figure that is expected to a degree.

Overall hospitalizations are down in Missouri, but they are a bit concerned as they are seeing an increase in some areas.

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by jdubya

Maybe hospitalizations are increasing because they are going broke for lack of patients and procedures for the last 3 months. You might walk into a hospital today with a mild headache and they will want to run you through the works including a CT scan and getting you admitted for a few days. $$$$$$$$

I'm not sure if you are kidding, but you have to meet criteria for admission.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by TLO

I can only speak for Missouri on this but there has been a huge increase in community testing in general as well. I have the chart which I can't seem to get to upload in here but the number of tests Missouri is running per day compared to even a month ago is night and day difference.

The numbers of positives per day has had a slight up-tick, but you have to figure that is expected to a degree.

Overall hospitalizations are down in Missouri, but they are a bit concerned as they are seeing an increase in some areas.

Haven't had many here in Springfield, but i think Joplin has or is having some issues maybe.

[eDave]

Arizona:

Cases: The 3-day total just hit a new peak as well as the 7-day avg. This is the 2nd highest number of positive cases added in a single day. We've also broken through the 40K mark in positive cases, (6 days have passed since we crossed the 30K mark).

Testing: PCR testing is up by a couple thousand tests over yesterday again. (Good!) 2nd highest PCR testing number reported ever.

Spread: Overall PCR positive test percentage ticked up again from 8.7% to 8.9% (based on 365K tests, up from a 6.6% low) and the average for this week is 16% (based on 3K cases, I expect this to continue to rise based on previous rate of growth).

Hospital Utilization: COVID Hospitalizations are up by 5% (all time high). ICU beds for COVID patients hit all time high again. (Overal ICU usage shot up from 80 to 83%) Ventilators in use for COVID also hit all time high again. Itubations for COVID patients shot up 25%.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Since you went there, I can't help but wonder if the reason for the spikes in AZ and Texas is their proximity to the border...ifyouknowwhatImean....

AZ was one on par with MO before we re-opened. So no.