***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.”

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I read about Springfield, MO diverting patients the other day (maybe in this thread), and the "my choice" stuff makes me wonder....

...in an otherwise black and white world (unvaccinated Covid patients wouldn't continue spreading Covid to other towns, and the lack of 'slippery slope' with hospitals being full of people who have made "my choice"), shouldn't Springfield area hospitals now be keeping so many ICU beds open and divert Covid patients? Should hospitals, with any future spikes, open new ICUs or stretch resources thin, etc; when they could just divert people who chose not to get vaccinated?

...and if given your choice to not be vaccinated, but you got Covid and needed an ICU visit, would you be okay with then driving 3+ hours to another hospital, or not receiving care at all?

I have family members who say "if Covid gets me, then I die", but then I wonder how far that attitude goes in terms of expecting health care and the chance to beat it.

It was actually the Tour de France thread that got me thinking about it... instead of one person ruining it for everyone and doing something stupid like limiting access for fans, they're just suing the shit out of that one person.

Yeah, it's a choice that affects others, not just themselves. I'd prefer to lower my health insurance costs, and having a bunch of people voluntarily hospitalize themselves isn't the way to do it. This is why we don't have lawn darts any more.

[TLO]

I see where the WHO wants fully vaccinated people to keep masking.

No thanks.

[TLO]

Somewhere out there.. Pete feels a disturbance in this thread.

[TLO]

Even after getting vaccinated against #COVID19, keep taking precautions to protect family and friends. pic.twitter.com/Z8GWj9bJBs

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 25, 2021

[Rain Man]

I've developed some new habits to protect myself like washing my hands after handling things and not shaking hands when I can help it. I'll continue doing those to avoid all types of germs and that'll indirectly help others around me.

As to protecting my friends and family who don't mind getting covid, they're on their own at this point. They're doing nothing to protect others, so they must not mind if I cough on them.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I've developed some new habits to protect myself like washing my hands after handling things and not shaking hands when I can help it. I'll continue doing those to avoid all types of germs and that'll indirectly help others around me.

As to protecting my friends and family who don't mind getting covid, they're on their own at this point. They're doing nothing to protect others, so they must not mind if I cough on them.

Regarding your first paragraph, I have a different philosophy. Our immune systems are powerful, but need exercise. I wash my hands frequently but avoid hand sanitizer and shake hands, hug, etc. My belief is this possibly strengthens my immune system, but if it somehow has a negative effect I’ll at least go down without losing my physical connection to other human beings.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by wazu

Regarding your first paragraph, I have a different philosophy. Our immune systems are powerful, but need exercise. I wash my hands frequently but avoid hand sanitizer and shake hands, hug, etc. My belief is this possibly strengthens my immune system, but if it somehow has a negative effect I’ll at least go down without losing my physical connection to other human beings.

I get the sentiment. It's not bad to get exposed to stuff that's harmless if that helps us against the harmful stuff. It's just hard to selectively do it.

As far as human contact, I really think I'd be a great candidate for a Mars mission. I'm perfectly content sitting in my house and having only the occasional video chat with others, even if it's on a 24-hour time lag due to the distance from the sun. Being the sole passenger on a freighter a few years ago will definitely go on my resume when they start hiring settlers.

I hadn't really thought about this before, but presumably when we settle Mars there'll be no contagious diseases, right? If you check people before they blast off from earth, measles and covid and diphtheria will never make the jump.

[Bearcat]

I know the WHO/CDC were recommending masks for vaccinated people 6+ months ago because they needed shots in arms and were being extremely cautious.... these days I wonder if it's more about lessening drama when people go out.

Make themselves the bad people instead of some 16yo employee at Radio Shack or wherever people congregate these days telling people everyone has to wear a mask because they don't want to figure out who's been vaccinated. I haven't paid attention to variant talk or boosters, but I guess they could be worried about those types of things.

The messaging has been horrible since the beginning though, so who knows.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I get the sentiment. It's not bad to get exposed to stuff that's harmless if that helps us against the harmful stuff or not. It's just hard to selectively do it.

As far as human contact, I really think I'd be a great candidate for a Mars mission. I'm perfectly content sitting in my house and having only the occasional video chat with others, even if it's on a 24-hour time lag due to the distance from the sun. Being the sole passenger on a freighter a few years ago will definitely go on my resume when they start hiring settlers.

I hadn't really thought about this before, but presumably when we settle Mars there'll be no contagious diseases, right? If you check people before they blast off from earth, measles and covid and diphtheria will never make the jump.

Probably right, but the catch is there are probably other nasty infectious bugs that our immune systems haven't even begun to prepare for yet. It could be like a reverse of the alien movies where the common cold saves mankind by wiping out the aliens.

[KsBubba]

I've worked in EMS 35+ plus years. Half my people vaccinated, half didn't. I am good with personal choice. Daily temps and masks when in close contact required. Only one employee I believe had Covid, he had it ONE MONTH BEFORE IT OFFICIALLY ARRIVED.

I have told everyone it would take 5 years before we would know whether or not taking the vaccine was a good thing. With the latest flare up, a 50 yo friend is on a vent and not well, I am moving toward the vaccine is less of the evils.

Keep a little distance and be smart.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

If you tell people they have to mask after making it a selling point to get the shot is to not mask anymore...you've basically ended what little trust people have on these "experts" opinion on the subject. It's dead, buried, gone. The WHO is ****ing clueless to be honest and most people don't give a **** what that worm Fauci thinks.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by TLO

I see where the WHO wants fully vaccinated people to keep masking.

No thanks.

I'll do it for a few minutes. But I hate wearing a mask for longer than 5 minutes.

Went to the Clippers / Suns game last night. The tickets said you absolutely must show proof of vaccination, which of course I forgot, and was having a meltdown mad at myself for being so stupid. Turns out they didn't check shit except the ticket.

You had to wear a mask going in and then everyone took it off. Packed house screaming and I bet less than 40% of that crowd was vaccinated. YOLO

[O.city]

https://twitter.com/rfsquared/status...234668038?s=21

[Otter]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Yeah, it's a choice that affects others, not just themselves. I'd prefer to lower my health insurance costs, and having a bunch of people voluntarily hospitalize themselves isn't the way to do it. This is why we don't have lawn darts any more.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...darts&_sacat=0

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by TLO

There will ALWAYS be another excuse. The people who haven't gotten the vaccine yet simply aren't going to do it. There's no amount of data you can show them. There's no well reasoned discussion you can have with them. No full FDA approval. They've made up their minds and that's it.

It sucks, but it is what it is.

True but once the FDA fully approves it I imagine lots of companies will mandate it (not for altruistic motives but they want everyone to come back into the office). We already saw the courts rule in favor of the Houston hospital that enforced it so we should see more of this happening in the near future.