***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.”

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

What does it matter how much I care about the fatality rate? It is what it is. How much I care isn't going to change that part of it.

Moving on . . .

You and Donger and the other guy are overreacting to my use of the example of the common cold. I never said it's as lethal or whatever as the common cold. But it's certainly a lot less lethal than ebola. Where's your outrage for his use of Ebola?

What I was trying to communicate was that this thing will ultimately spread much like rhinovirus. That everyone at some point will come into contact with it. And that ultimately younger people will get it, and get over it, much like younger people get over the cold or the flu. That was extent of my comparison.

You people are the ones trying to reinterpret what I meant.

Not everyone has gotten, SARS, H1N1 or influenza.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Donger

Do you know what the R0 figures are for both the common rhinovirus and SARS-CoV-2 are?

Off the top of my head no. Not really priority info in my world. Why don't you tell me . . .

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Off the top of my head no. Not really priority info in my world. Why don't you tell me . . .

Sure, I'll be happy to. But first, do you know what R0 means and why it's important?

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

What does it matter how much I care about the fatality rate? It is what it is. How much I care isn't going to change that part of it.

Moving on . . .

You and Donger and the other guy are overreacting to my use of the example of the common cold. I never said it's as lethal or whatever as the common cold. But it's certainly a lot less lethal than ebola. Where's your outrage for his use of Ebola?

What I was trying to communicate was that this thing will ultimately spread much like rhinovirus. That everyone at some point will come into contact with it. And that ultimately younger people will get it, and get over it, much like younger people get over the cold or the flu. That was extent of my comparison.

You people are the ones trying to reinterpret what I meant.

I think everyone is struggling to interpret what you mean.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Not everyone has gotten, SARS, H1N1 or influenza.

Most people in this country have had the flu at some point in their lives. And when I say most, I mean more than 50% of the population before they expire for whatever reason if they lived at least 25 years, probably have had a cold or the flu. And the vast majority of those people survive the experience. It's when you get old, or if you're very young, that the cold or flu is actually dangerous.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

What I was trying to communicate was that this thing will ultimately spread much like rhinovirus. That everyone at some point will come into contact with it. And that ultimately younger people will get it, and get over it, much like younger people get over the cold or the flu. That was extent of my comparison.

Yeah, everyone by now should know people under 50 years old and otherwise healthy will get over it with no complications... there's been very little concern about that part of the population.

The concern is regarding spreading it to anyone over 50 or has underlying health conditions, potential lock downs (the hoarding, obviously), and the strain on healthcare if it were to spread like it has in other countries.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Donger

Sure, I'll be happy to. But first, do you know what R0 means and why it's important?

reverse osmosis.

Why do you insist on trying to make everyone take a quiz?

[Bearcat]

That was funny, patteeu.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Yeah, everyone by now should know people under 50 years old and otherwise healthy will get over it with no complications... there's been very little concern about that part of the population.

The concern is regarding spreading it to anyone over 50 or has underlying health conditions, potential lock downs (the hoarding, obviously), and the strain on healthcare if it were to spread like it has in other countries.

I'm very concerned about the population over age 50. Well, I'm concerned about a few of us. Mostly me and my wife.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

reverse osmosis.

Why do you insist on trying to make everyone take a quiz?

You seem to be under the impression that SARS-CoV-2 spreads as easily as the common rhinovirus. If you knew what the R0 figures are for each, you'd know that that isn't the case at all, or remotely, thankfully.

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm very concerned about the population over age 50. Well, I'm concerned about a few of us. Mostly me and my wife.

ED provider in critical condition due to Covid-19

https://www.acep.org/corona/covid-19...fzzRtsR8HJf7No


This erroneous statement that people under 50 aren't getting seriously ill is ridiculous

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Yeah, everyone by now should know people under 50 years old and otherwise healthy will get over it with no complications... there's been very little concern about that part of the population.

The concern is regarding spreading it to anyone over 50 or has underlying health conditions, potential lock downs (the hoarding, obviously), and the strain on healthcare if it were to spread like it has in other countries.

I'm over 50 and I'm a smoker. Not as much as I used to, now pretty much just when I go out, so a couple times a week or every two weeks, but there it is.

The fact is that I have a much higher chance of dying from this thing than many of you, especially if you're under 40 or whatever.

But getting emotional about it does nothing. It's a waste of everyone's time. Acting irrational is worse. I'm going to live my life as normally as possible. I can't work from home. And I'm not going to hide from the world because I might get this thing and it might kill me. I'm 51; life's too short to hole up in a bunker hoping this goes away.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Donger

You seem to be under the impression that SARS-CoV-2 spreads as easily as the common rhinovirus. If you knew what the R0 figures are for each, you'd know that that isn't the case at all, or remotely, thankfully.

When did I mention SARS?

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

When did I mention SARS?

I think we're done here

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Donger

You seem to be under the impression that SARS-CoV-2 spreads as easily as the common rhinovirus. If you knew what the R0 figures are for each, you'd know that that isn't the case at all, or remotely, thankfully.

Also, before you answer that question, what is the average speed of an unladen swallow?