***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.”

[solidgold]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Yeah, cause I am blowing it off. That's the problems with people like you. I state the actual, factual data and you get pissed off about it. You can run out all the straw men you want but that doesn't change the actual data and you're pissed about it.

That data shows what is shows. I didn't make it that way. It's not my fault if I look at the data rather than one or two cases and make my assumptions.

In fact, lew, you are case proof of my point, but yeah, you know, I am blowing it off.

You're totally right, Pete. That's what tk and lew, as well as many others, are saying... however, there is still 1 case that ends terminally for that 1 person; while not terminal, that 1 death alone likely affects several other real people. Now we add in those cases that don't end terminally, but not well. That's not acceptable for something that can be mitigated. No one is saying mitigation is absolute prevention, but it is undeniable that there are mitigation strategies that are feasible. Let's do them.

What's better? Wear masks and socially distance for a few weeks, as needed, and still be able to go just about whenever we need to while mitigating poor outcomes (to whatever degree that may be)? Or is it doing what we're doing now, or worse?

Even if the first strategy doesn't work as well as we wanted, at least it is something we can own.

To rephrase the quote and philosophy for what I believe it should really be: "My rights end where another's begins." Do your thing, but let's consider others as well.

BTW, pete--don't take any of my reply too personally. Mainly just using it as an entry point. Totally understand my take is no more valid than anyone else's.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by tk13

The "actual data" says 3.7% of the people who have tested positive for COVID in America have died.

The "actual data" says that about 60,000 people in America are hospitalized for COVID right now.

I don't know what you're even talking about. It's not even based in any kind of reality.

Of course it isn't.....

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by solidgold

You're totally right, Pete. That's what tk and lew, as well as many others, are saying... however, there is still 1 case that ends terminally for that 1 person; while not terminal, that 1 death alone likely affects several other real people. Now we add in those cases that don't end terminally, but not well. That's not acceptable for something that can be mitigated. No one is saying mitigation is absolute prevention, but it is undeniable that there are mitigation strategies that are feasible. Let's do them.

What's better? Wear masks and socially distance for a few weeks, as needed, and still be able to go just about whenever we need to while mitigating poor outcomes (to whatever degree that may be)? Or is it doing what we're doing now, or worse?

Even if the first strategy doesn't work as well as we wanted, at least it is something we can own.

To rephrase the quote and philosophy for what I believe it should really be: "My rights end where another's begins." Do your thing, but let's consider others as well.

BTW, pete--don't take any of my reply too personally. Mainly just using it as an entry point. Totally understand my take is no more valid than anyone else's.

I didn't realize I was some how debating masks? I never even mentioned them or mitigation for that matter.

All I did was point out that for every serious case there are several non-serious cases and we need to keep perspective. that doesn't say anything other than we need to keep perspective. That's it. That's all. Some just don't get that.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by tk13

I said that when we passed World War I. That's unfathomable to me. This thing has killed more Americans than some of our biggest wars, and it did it in less than 6 months.

It's really that people have gotten good at lying to themselves because they're more interested in scoring political points than being an actual person.

This type of statement never makes any sense to me. There are a lot of things that kill more Americans in 6 months time than died in our biggest wars. And it happens year after year after year.

This doesn't take away anything from covid being a new and scary disease. I just don't get the comparison.

[solidgold]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I didn't realize I was some how debating masks? I never even mentioned them or mitigation for that matter.

All I did was point out that for every serious case there are several non-serious cases and we need to keep perspective. that doesn't say anything other than we need to keep perspective. That's it. That's all. Some just don't get that.

Again, not personal. For real, pete, I don't think you're unreasonable with your overall take. You get it is real, I know you take precaution and want things to turn out well. Perspective is needed, but there are still extreme outcomes and takes that can't just be glossed over.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by petegz28

All I did was point out that for every serious case there are several non-serious cases and we need to keep perspective. that doesn't say anything other than we need to keep perspective. That's it. That's all. Some just don't get that.

That applies to other diseases like cancer. Do people normally minimize cancer?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I don't want to discount these types of cases at all but people point to them and in doing so ignore to 99 other cases that are not like that. We have got to keep perspective on this. Does anyone think lew is going to die? NO! And the ****er has had it twice as far as we know.

Originally Posted by solidgold

Again, not personal. For real, pete, I don't think you're unreasonable with your overall take. You get it is real, I know you take precaution and want things to turn out well. Perspective is needed, but there are still extreme outcomes and takes that can't just be glossed over.

Again, people read what they want.

[Baby Lee]

- a few weeks. . .

[solidgold]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

- a few weeks. . .

...if everyone does it with fidelity, and as needed. If that doesn't work, then here we are living the case in point anyway. At least we for real tried and no worse off.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

That applies to other diseases like cancer. Do people normally minimize cancer?

Another ****ing straw man? Really? When I found my both my Granparents had cancer I didn't go into a panic that I might have cancer and end up like them. There is a difference between acknowledging a situation and pretending every situation is just like that one.

Mu Boss had all kinds of cancer inside him at the age of 48, my age. He went through surgery and all is well now and he will live a long life.

So what's your point?

[lewdog]

7 year anniversary for the wife and I today.

What a shitty time. She’s no better than when this started.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by lewdog

7 year anniversary for the wife and I today.

What a shitty time. She’s no better than when this started.

Man that sucks. At least you guys are together for it

Can always paint an award for pete for his months of dedicated concern trolling, together.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by solidgold

...if everyone does it with fidelity, and as needed. If that doesn't work, then here we are living the case in point anyway. At least we for real tried and no worse off.

Hopefully the vanguard for a vaccine prevails

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by TLO

This type of statement never makes any sense to me. There are a lot of things that kill more Americans in 6 months time than died in our biggest wars. And it happens year after year after year.

This doesn't take away anything from covid being a new and scary disease. I just don't get the comparison.

Good post.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Man that sucks. At least you guys are together for it

Can always paint an award for pete for his months of dedicated concern trolling, together.

I think he's talking about his wedding day.