***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]

Most corona viruses don't have the drift in genetics that say Influenza does, so I don't think we'll have to worry about it.

If this long term immunity is proven, this shit will be over sooner than later.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by O.city

Most corona viruses don't have the drift in genetics that say Influenza does, so I don't think we'll have to worry about it.

If this long term immunity is proven, this shit will be over sooner than later.

Yep.

[DaFace]

More good news for the hope that vaccines will be a near-total way out of this. I really feel like things will be almost completely normal by next fall and hopefully near normal much sooner than that.

People who have recovered from the coronavirus may have immunity that lasts years, maybe even decades, according to a new study — the most hopeful answer yet to a question that has shadowed plans for widespread vaccination. https://t.co/9k6uPS3vfo

— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 17, 2020

[Donger]

It would be nice if we can get vaccination levels above the percentage of Americans who get the "flu shot" every year. But it not, it's still much better than what we have now.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DaFace

More good news for the hope that vaccines will be a near-total way out of this. I really feel like things will be almost completely normal by next fall and hopefully near normal much sooner than that.

People who have recovered from the coronavirus may have immunity that lasts years, maybe even decades, according to a new study — the most hopeful answer yet to a question that has shadowed plans for widespread vaccination. https://t.co/9k6uPS3vfo

— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 17, 2020

Posted that a few pages back.

Get on my level.

But for real, it's almost like this acts like a normal virus in terms of our immunological response. Shocking, I know.

[O.city]

Also, positive note for that if you've had it, you don't have to be vaccinated quickly.

So that lessens the amount we need to get quick.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Donger

It would be nice if we can get vaccination levels above the percentage of Americans who get the "flu shot" every year. But it not, it's still much better than what we have now.

Hopefully this will be more like the traditional vaccines. I think a big part of the flu is that the vaccine isn't effective enough for a lot of people. At 40%, a large portion of the population probably thinks why bother.

I have hope that, given what we're hearing about potential long-term effectiveness of these vaccines, that more people will get it because it won't be a yearly maybe like the flu.

[TLO]

I'd be interested to know how the process works once the data is delivered to the FDA. Do a bunch of guys in lab coats sit around reading it for 2 weeks straight? Can Pfizer like.. leak the data to them early to give them a head start?

[TLO]

Moderna too. Just send over what data you have and let them start reviewing in. If we could somehow get Pfizer and Moderna approved in the next month or so, we could start making a huge impact.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Hopefully this will be more like the traditional vaccines. I think a big part of the flu is that the vaccine isn't effective enough for a lot of people. At 40%, a large portion of the population probably thinks why bother.

I have hope that, given what we're hearing about potential long-term effectiveness of these vaccines, that more people will get it because it won't be a yearly maybe like the flu.

I hope so too, but I think we'll also see a lot of people hesitant to take "the world's first mRNA vaccine," at least initially.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

I hope so too, but I think we'll also see a lot of people hesitant to take "the world's first mRNA vaccine," at least initially.

Why?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Donger

I hope so too, but I think we'll also see a lot of people hesitant to take "the world's first mRNA vaccine," at least initially.

To be fair, I'm one of those people. I'll admit it.

I'm also hopeful that Oxford won't be far behind. And I'm sure seeing I live in the middle of nowhere, thousands if not millions of people will get one of the mRNA vaccines before it's available to me, so it's not like I'll be on the leading edge anyway.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Donger

I hope so too, but I think we'll also see a lot of people hesitant to take "the world's first mRNA vaccine," at least initially.

I get the hesitation, but to some extent I feel like a vaccine at least allows people to make their own choice. Right now, vulnerable groups don't have much of a choice but to stay home if they're trying to stay safe. If there's a vaccine, they at least get the option to roll the dice with a vaccine or stay home indefinitely.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

Why?

I put it in quotes for a reason. One, it's a world's first. Two, people see RNA and get freaked out. It's not an attenuated influenza shot.

And it's already started. It's already making the rounds that the mRNA vaccines "alter your DNA." That's not true, but many people will believe it.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

To be fair, I'm one of those people. I'll admit it.

I'm also hopeful that Oxford won't be far behind. And I'm sure seeing I live in the middle of nowhere, thousands if not millions of people will get one of the mRNA vaccines before it's available to me, so it's not like I'll be on the leading edge anyway.

Pussy.

You'll be the first one I eat when I turn into a Dark Seeker.