***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.”

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Doctor Fauci

Case numbers yesterday were minuscule. So were deaths.

I've noticed your statements on...well, everything have changed the last two weeks. You've flip-flopped more than a politician.

Then again after your complete bungling of AIDS you should have never been allowed near another public health crisis...

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Read some concerning news today about what is going on in Livingston County and Linn county MO. Livingston health dept is reporting 12 vaccine breakthrough cases and Linn county (which is next to Livingston) has seen a alot of new cases. They are thinking it is a variant that is spreading.

Since MO has a low vaccination rate overall I would be cautious when being around other people for the time being.

It has been confirmed that the India (delta) variant was the cause of these in Livingston and Linn county. My company is doing alot of covid testing up in Linn Co and it is non stop with over 50% positivity. For O.City, Greene Co. now is saying it is down there with cases and hospitalizations increasing. This is not to scare but to inform that people need to get vaccinated asap here in Missouri since we have one of the lowest vaccinations rates in the US.

From Cox Health:

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department announced this afternoon that the Delta COVID-19 variant – found initially in India – is now present in Greene County. This news came after random testing revealed that three COVID cases in Greene County residents were caused by the variant.

This news, sadly, isn’t shocking to us. Over the past two weeks, our number of COVID hospitalizations has steadily increased. Today, 36 patients are in our hospitals with the virus, around a 45% increase from a week ago. These numbers are much lower than what we saw at the peak of the pandemic, but the increase is very concerning – especially since these individuals represent ages much younger than we've typically seen with hospitalization.

Today, around half of our hospitalized patients with COVID are under age 60: Five are under age 40, seven are between 41 and 50, and six are between 51 and 59.

It is extremely important that everyone who has not been vaccinated do so quickly. Initial studies indicate vaccines can help against known variants, especially at reducing critical illness.

[TLO]

How do the vaccines hold up against the Indian Variant?

[ChiliConCarnage]

Originally Posted by TLO

How do the vaccines hold up against the Indian Variant?

The only news I've seen was posted here also by notdonger about 10 posts back. Pfizer and Astrazeneca held up well with two shots

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by TLO

How do the vaccines hold up against the Indian Variant?

I have read that Pfizer\Moderna vaccines have reduced efficacy but overall will protect you especially against severe disease and hospitalization.

[O.city]

They've all shown good efficacy against this variant, same as all the others.

But yeah, the Indian variant is causing some issues with those not vaccinated, but at this point they've decided not to get the readily available vaccine so it is what it is.

People make choices. Thats the beauty of America.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by TLO

How do the vaccines hold up against the Indian Variant?

I saw somewhere where the mrna vaccine were only 33% effective after A single dose against the India variant, I didn't see what it was after 2 doses .

[O.city]

From what I can see, it appears to still be in the 90's after both doses. So again, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[NotDonger]

Only 9 states now have positivity rates above 5%

At the worst, it was about 35.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by O.city

From what I can see, it appears to still be in the 90's after both doses. So again, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

we still have a lot of people up here who haven't had the second dose , I think that it why it was mentioned and why we are still pretty much still closed, I am getting my second dose tomorrow for most the second dose won't be till aug/sept.

[O.city]

Yeah, I don't Canada is in the same spot we are here in the US.

Anyone that wants it can get Vax'd at this point. If you don't, don't. But that's your choice and whatever comes with it isn't on anyone else at this point.

Go live your life.

[dirk digler]

Anheuser-Busch is going to give everyone free beer if we hit 70% vaccination rate by July 4th. I think they are safe but good try AB.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Anheuser-Busch is going to give everyone free beer if we hit 70% vaccination rate by July 4th. I think they are safe but good try AB.

Can't hurt to drink some extra water after a vaccine shot.

[TLO]

What's this I'm hearing about the Pfizer vaccine not being all that effective against the Indian variant? Just saw a headline and haven't looked into it much more.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by TLO

What's this I'm hearing about the Pfizer vaccine not being all that effective against the Indian variant? Just saw a headline and haven't looked into it much more.

OCity you seen anything on this?