***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.”

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Don't fret.....we are over 70k cases but deaths are up marginally. We are in a much better place to handle this than we were 3 months ago. The hot spots in CA, TX and FLA have to watch the hospital issue but everywhere else we are seeing cases up but not the hospitalizations. Hopefully that's how we roll.

Hospitalizations will follow cases, deaths follow that. Same as it’s been

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

Hospitalizations will follow cases, deaths follow that. Same as it’s been

No, not same as it has been. That's BS. Cases have been rising for well over a month. The KC area is no more closer to a run on the hospitals now than they were a month ago.

Sorry not trying to be bruss with you, bro, but to say it's the same as it has been is not accurate. That would be to say we haven't learned anything or identified any treatments in 3 months. Your very posts over the last several days says otherwise. Be positive.....

[O.city]

Originally Posted by petegz28

No, not same as it has been. That's BS. Cases have been rising for well over a month. The KC area is no more closer to a run on the hospitals now than they were a month ago.

Sorry not trying to be bruss with you, bro, but to say it's the same as it has been is not accurate. That would be to say we haven't learned anything or identified any treatments in 3 months. Your very posts over the last several days says otherwise. Be positive.....

Cases are rising as are hospitalizations

It’s not exact in timing

Sure we’re better at treating it so as long as hospitals don’t get over run deaths won’t likely spike

But they’re gonna go up if cases keep going up

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

Cases are rising as are hospitalizations

It’s not exact in timing

Sure we’re better at treating it so as long as hospitals don’t get over run deaths won’t likely spike

But they’re gonna go up if cases keep going up

And as I have stated and we are starting to get at least some anecdotal evidence of the hospitalizations stays are much shorter and people are going home quicker.

I agree if the hospitals get overrun there is a danger but right now that really seems to be happening only in Houston. Even AZ seems to be starting to taper off a bit.

I am not trying to downplay your take, I think you know that. I am just saying we are better off now than we were 3 months ago even with the rise in cases.

[Lprechaun]

I've heard from both of the doctors there is no reason to get tested unless you have a preexisting condition. Take your temp and if you get a fever or feel congestion in your chest stay home, drink fluids and stay away from people.
Most simply get thru it. Since there isnt a vaccine they dont see a whole lot of reason to test for something they can barely treat.
Only those with serious conditions should be admitted.

[O.city]

These heavily populated states are getting wiped with cases now.

Hope things can hold up.

Better hope that once you get to about 20% there’s immunity of some kind or we’re in for a long year

[O.city]

Looks like Sweden is about done with the thing

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Lprechaun

I've heard from both of the doctors there is no reason to get tested unless you have a preexisting condition. Take your temp and if you get a fever or feel congestion in your chest stay home, drink fluids and stay away from people.
Most simply get thru it. Since there isnt a vaccine they dont see a whole lot of reason to test for something they can barely treat.
Only those with serious conditions should be admitted.

I gotta tell you at this point it's almost time to go old school. Lock up the high risk people for a month and let the lower risk people get out there, get and get through and get it over with. It's like we would get through all this quicker if the people who are not in any real danger got it, got over it and moved on while the high risk people stayed back. Almost chicken pox style back in the day.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

Looks like Sweden is about done with the thing

For all the shit they took from people look at them now. I am just saying there was a method to their madness...or so it would seem.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Lprechaun

I've heard from both of the doctors there is no reason to get tested unless you have a preexisting condition. Take your temp and if you get a fever or feel congestion in your chest stay home, drink fluids and stay away from people.
Most simply get thru it. Since there isnt a vaccine they dont see a whole lot of reason to test for something they can barely treat.
Only those with serious conditions should be admitted.

I guess this makes sense, but I would imagine delaying treatment for too long could lead to a worse outcome. I'm not really sure how to respond to this.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by TLO

I guess this makes sense, but I would imagine delaying treatment for too long could lead to a worse outcome. I'm not really sure how to respond to this.

Sometimes the best treatment for everyone is just to let your body do its thing. It heals you without intervention and saves the external resources for those who really need it. For example, I have never called the doctor because I had the flu or a cold except when I got a sinus infection so bad I couldn't smell or taste anything for over a week. By the same token I know relatively healthy people who are at the doctor every time they sneeze or cough.

[Lprechaun]

Originally Posted by TLO

I guess this makes sense, but I would imagine delaying treatment for too long could lead to a worse outcome. I'm not really sure how to respond to this.

What treatment is there though? Most treatments are to rectify the pre existing conditions vs the new virus. Nothing really kills the virus as a vaccine yet other than to let it run its course. The vast majority of us would just get thru it. Those that need special care need for other things in conjunction.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by petegz28

For all the shit they took from people look at them now. I am just saying there was a method to their madness...or so it would seem.

They have one of the highest per capita fatality rates in the world, and their neighbors have fared better economically. You're gonna have to convince me that their approach was in any way desirable.

[petegz28]

@TLO if the numbers stay close to where they are it looks like we will pull in under 900. Higher than last week of course but still very good for what we have been seeing.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by DaFace

They have one of the highest per capita fatality rates in the world, and their neighbors have fared better economically. You're gonna have to convince me that their approach was in any way desirable.

If they are one and done then hey.....where are we? I mean they aren't very far from where we are so....