***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.”

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I'll be in Branson next weekend to visit my unvaccinated inlaws who are in their 70s.

They've made their position clear and while we don't agree, I'm looking forward to hanging out on their boat and not talking about it.

Hope you don't get caught up in the shooting spree that has been going on there in Branson.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

Hope you don't get caught up in the shooting spree that has been going on there in Branson.

I’m coming in from Chicago so…

[TLO]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I’m coming in from Chicago so…

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I’m coming in from Chicago so…

Doh!

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I’m coming in from Chicago so…

[Sure-Oz]

This seems way lower than I expected.

@KCMOHealthDept: As of June 14, 2021 34.7% of Kansas City residents have been fully vaccinated #COVIDVaccination https://twitter.com/KCMOHealthDept/s...090752/photo/1

[MahomesMagic]

Another paper describing durable immunity to natural infection. "Immunological memory ..distinct aspect of immune system...where B & T cells specific for a virus maintained in state of dormancy.. poised to spring into action if they encounter virus again"https://t.co/7XhUTvrWxk

— Monica Gandhi MD, MPH (@MonicaGandhi9) June 14, 2021

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Another paper describing durable immunity to natural infection. "Immunological memory ..distinct aspect of immune system...where B & T cells specific for a virus maintained in state of dormancy.. poised to spring into action if they encounter virus again"https://t.co/7XhUTvrWxk

— Monica Gandhi MD, MPH (@MonicaGandhi9) June 14, 2021

Natural infections to get immunity is still not recommended over vaccinations.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Another paper describing durable immunity to natural infection. "Immunological memory ..distinct aspect of immune system...where B & T cells specific for a virus maintained in state of dormancy.. poised to spring into action if they encounter virus again"https://t.co/7XhUTvrWxk

— Monica Gandhi MD, MPH (@MonicaGandhi9) June 14, 2021

I like the non DC version of you. Posting things by respectable people like Monica Gandhi.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by TLO

I like the non DC version of you. Posting things by respectable people like Monica Gandhi.

I think even people who would disagree on political issues would consider Gandhi someone that is both respected and not an extremist.

[Otter]

So, after reading this did anyone receive a 'vaccination card' after they were vaccinated or is this just a NH policy?

Spoiler!

NH school marks hands of unvaccinated students at prom for contact tracing

June 11, 2021 at 6:58 pm EDT
By Maria Papadopoulos, Boston 25 News

EXETER, New Hampshire — A New Hampshire high school required unvaccinated students attending senior prom to mark the back of their hand with a number for contact tracing.

Then, as more than 300 attendees danced on three dance floors, “after every few songs they were asked to raise their hands to determine who they were around,” Exeter High School said in a statement regarding its senior prom held outdoors under a large tent on June 4.

No COVID cases have been traced back to the prom, the district said.

The process sparked some concerns by some that students were singled out or had their privacy violated, Exeter High Principal Mike Monahan said in a statement.

“We made every effort possible – while adhering to contact tracing guidelines – to ensure that this did not happen. We hope the community will understand that while no model is perfect, this model let the students enjoy a close to normal and highly desired experience to cap off their senior year,” Monahan said. “That’s the memory we want to leave them with.”

Overall, student and parent feedback “has been extremely positive regarding the prom experience,” Monahan said.

David Ryan, the school district’s superintendent, said the district “will be conducting an internal audit of the processes that the school developed and used at prom.”

“We are very aware of the concerns that have been expressed regarding the contact tracing plan at the Exeter High School prom” and that they “take these concerns very seriously.”

The district said the contact tracing program was put in place at the prom so all seniors could participate without requiring masks.

Students were notified about this and as they registered, they were asked for vaccination information, the district said. Students who were unable to provide a vaccination card because they did not have or share a card or had not completed the full vaccination process had a number written on their hand.

“No contract tracing system is perfect for crowds this large and not all students could be traced in a prom environment. However, without a contact tracing system, all attendees would have had to be quarantined if there was a positive case tied back to the event,” the district said.

A single set of cards with student vaccination information used for tracking purposes during the prom will be destroyed in the next few days, school officials said.

“As a result, there will be no unique identifiers that can be tied back to students who were unable to show proof of vaccination,” the district said.

Ryan said the focus now needs to be on the upcoming senior graduation this weekend “and ensuring that our seniors have a positive experience as they close their chapter on high school after an extremely challenging 16 months in a pandemic.”

Exeter High School’s graduation ceremony will be held outdoors this weekend, “with physical distancing as our health and safety guideline,” Ryan said.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Otter

So, after reading this did anyone receive a 'vaccination card' after they were vaccinated or is this just a NH policy?

I thought everyone got a vaccination card. It's pretty standard. Similarly, I have a Yellow Fever vaccination card for travel to tropical countries.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I thought everyone got a vaccination card. It's pretty standard. Similarly, I have a Yellow Fever vaccination card for travel to tropical countries.

Yes but that was before vaccination became political. It's a whole different ball game now.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I thought everyone got a vaccination card. It's pretty standard. Similarly, I have a Yellow Fever vaccination card for travel to tropical countries.

I was unaware vaccinated people were issued cards. My last vaccination was a TPAD booster and I didn't receive no stinkin' card.

Consider me enlightened.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Otter

I was unaware vaccinated people were issued cards. My last vaccination was a TPAD booster and I didn't receive no stinkin' card.

Consider me enlightened.

I received one for COVID Pfizer. I don't remember ever getting cards for other vaccinations, but then again most of them didn't require a follow-up shot a few weeks later.