***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.”

[TLO]

Back to considering whether or not I want a 3rd dose or not.

Any thoughts you are considering while making the decision for yourself?

[lawrenceRaider]

I'm very unlikely to get a booster unless it is required for a travel destination.

Data is still showing high protection from severe illness with two shots.

If I can, I think I'd get a Moderna or J&J 3rd shot not Pfizer since they've basically given the ok to mix and match.

ETA: I'm 46, and got Pfizer on my original doses.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by TLO

Back to considering whether or not I want a 3rd dose or not.

Any thoughts you are considering while making the decision for yourself?

Well, I got J&J so...yeah. Boost me up.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by TLO

Back to considering whether or not I want a 3rd dose or not.

Any thoughts you are considering while making the decision for yourself?

I got a booster and didn't have to think much of it at all.

If you look at the study from Israel as an example, the non-boosted study population (over 60 years old, full vaccinated), contracted a serious case of infection at a rate almost 20 times greater than the the boosted population, and were 11.3 times more likely to contract breakthrough illness overall. Given that the vaccines have been remarkably well tolerated, I think it's pretty close to a slam dunk.

[suzzer99]

I got boosted. I figure 52, overweight and borderline high blood pressure is good enough. Once again I had zero symptoms except my arm itched for a couple days at the site of the shot.

[IA_Chiefs_fan]

I got the Pfizer originally. I'm thinking I'd benefit from getting one of the others whenever I get the booster. Wondering if I should get the Modena because it typically tests better, or the J&J because it's a different type of vaccine. Thoughts on which is likely to have more benefit??

[TLO]

Has there been any higher insurance of myocardiatis (sp?) among individuals getting the 3rd Pfizer shot, or is it still incredibly rare?

[O.city]

I am undecided. Don't think I need the booster at this point based on all things I've seen.

But wouldn't be opposed.

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by TLO

Has there been any higher insurance of myocardiatis (sp?) among individuals getting the 3rd Pfizer shot, or is it still incredibly rare?

Some things I've read point to shots hitting blood vessels as the main reason for myocarditis. So who gives you your shot may be pretty damn important.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

Some things I've read point to shots hitting blood vessels as the main reason for myocarditis. So who gives you your shot may be pretty damn important.

My perception is that it makes more sense to go through your HCP this time around, where a lot of people (like me) went to a wide variety of places in the spring (e.g., pharmacies, pop-up vaccine drives, clinics, etc.) when supplies were limited. You would HOPE that that would improve the quality of care a bit, but tough to say for sure.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I got a booster and didn't have to think much of it at all.

If you look at the study from Israel as an example, the non-boosted study population (over 60 years old, full vaccinated), contracted a serious case of infection at a rate almost 20 times greater than the the boosted population, and were 11.3 times more likely to contract breakthrough illness overall. Given that the vaccines have been remarkably well tolerated, I think it's pretty close to a slam dunk.

I guess I will go get my booster since my last shot was early January. I have been holding off and thought maybe it would be best to wait close to a year.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

Some things I've read point to shots hitting blood vessels as the main reason for myocarditis. So who gives you your shot may be pretty damn important.

The lady who gave me my first shot was ~115 years old.

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

The lady who gave me my first shot was ~115 years old.

Glad you survived.

[Sure-Oz]

@ABC: NEW: Pfizer says kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine are safe and nearly 91% effective at preventing infections in elementary school children. https://abcn.ws/3ng2ACB

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

@ABC: NEW: Pfizer says kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine are safe and nearly 91% effective at preventing infections in elementary school children. https://abcn.ws/3ng2ACB

I'm hoping that the FDA rules on this in 10-14 days. Getting kids vaccinated before the onset of the winter months should help break the back of the pandemic by further reducing the viral reservoir for infection.