***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.”

[FlaChief58]

My mom tested positive a few days ago. A friend of hers who is fully vaxed visited her on Christmas eve and gave it to her not knowing she was sick at the time. Luckily her symptoms are mild and she didn't pass it on to my wife or I on Christmas day. She's been using theraflu and says that it's helping with her cough and fever.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

465,670 positive cases yesterday nation wide per worldometer. I think everyone is going to catch Omicron regardless of vaccine or prior infection.

Certainly appears that way.

Wondering at what point we can curb some of the demand and requirements on testing.

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Certainly appears that way.

Wondering at what point we can curb some of the demand and requirements on testing.

Stop testing. It isn't doing anything at this point anyway.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

465,670 positive cases yesterday nation wide per worldometer. I think everyone is going to catch Omicron regardless of vaccine or prior infection.

Just think of the small fraction of cases we're actually catching due to mild illness or even asymptomatic. There's probably well over a million new cases a day.

[BigBeauford]

I dont know how widespread this issue is, but our facility has run out of monoclonal antibody treatment stock, we've canceled further consults for it, and are asking folks to test their luck elsewhere.

[Loneiguana]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

I dont know how widespread this issue is, but our facility has run out of monoclonal antibody treatment stock, we've canceled further consults for it, and are asking folks to test their luck elsewhere.

December 28, 2021

Texas has run out of its supply of monoclonal antibodies, and infusion centers in the state will be unable to offer the treatment until more shipments are sent out in January.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-w...ve-against?amp

[TLO]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

I dont know how widespread this issue is, but our facility has run out of monoclonal antibody treatment stock, we've canceled further consults for it, and are asking folks to test their luck elsewhere.

It's relatively common, unfortunately.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

I dont know how widespread this issue is, but our facility has run out of monoclonal antibody treatment stock, we've canceled further consults for it, and are asking folks to test their luck elsewhere.

I dispensed our last dose of Regen-COV this morning. We received 12 doses of Sotrovimab this morning, but won't be able to dispense until next week after ID agrees on protocols. I wrote the admin and prep instructions this afternoon so that they can make an entry for it in the system. We'll see. We have bamlanivimab-etesivimab, but it's useless against Omicron.

[KurtCobain]

Stuck at home with covid and I'm really bored.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by KurtCobain

Stuck at home with covid and I'm really bored.

How are you feeling?

[O.city]

How’s everyone doin?

Symptoms have pretty well resolved for me. Some congestion and fatigue hanging around

Getting tired of being in this room

[phisherman]

I'm 10 days post-first symptoms and I'm 99.9% symptom free at this point. Feel totally fine. Just a little crap in my sinuses and throat in the morning but it gets out quick.

[Monticore]

new ontario guidlines

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-i...ines-1.5723606

Spoiler!

Ontario is shortening its COVID-19 isolation period for some individuals and introducing new testing guidelines for the public, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Keiran Moore announced Thursday.

Effective immediately, the province is shortening the required isolation period from ten days to five for vaccinated individuals.

Moore said the decision was made based on "growing evidence that generally healthy people with COVID-19 are most infectious for the two days before their symptoms develop and for three days after."


Coronavirus Coverage
Ontario delaying return to school until Jan. 5

Ontario introduces shortened isolation periods, new testing guidelines

Ontario reducing capacity limits at large spectator venues to 1,000 people

What you need to know about getting a COVID-19 rapid test in Ontario

Everything you need to know to book your booster dose appointment in Ontario

Tracking Ontario's 739,648 cases of COVID-19

Individuals with COVID-19 who are vaccinated, as well as children under 12, will only be required to isolate for five days following the onset of symptoms. Isolation for these individuals can end after the five-day period as long as their symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours, the government says. Their household contacts will also be required to isolate with them.

Individuals who are not fully vaccinated or are immunocompromised will still be required to isolate for 10 days.

Individuals who work or live in high-risk health-care settings should not attend work for 10 days, the province says, but will now have “the opportunity” to return to work after isolating for seven days with proof of a negative PCR or rapid antigen test results “to ensure sufficient staffing levels.”

If you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID 19 and you are fully vaccinated, have no symptoms and don't live with a positive case, the province is now recommending monitoring for symptoms for 10 days.

Ontario is updating its #COVID19 testing and isolation guidance in response to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

This will ensure those who live and work in our highest-risk settings are protected and maintain the stability of critical workforces. https://t.co/tgCzeiEn9t pic.twitter.com/Wot9f8rCBn

— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) December 30, 2021
NEW TESTING GUIDELINES
Moore also announced revised COVID-19 testing guidelines for the province on Thursday.

Beginning Dec. 31, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests will only be available for symptomatic high-risk individuals and those who work in the highest risk settings, as well as vulnerable populations. However, Ontario public schools will remain one of the few groups permitted to distribute PCR tests to symptomatic students and staff.

For a full list of those eligible for PCR testing, click here.

Members of the general public with mild symptoms are now being asked not to seek testing.

“If you have symptoms of COVID-19, are not eligible for a PCR test and do not have access to a rapid antigen test, you should assume that you have COVID-19 and isolate according to our revised guidelines,” Moore said.

In addition, most individuals with a positive result from a rapid antigen test will no longer be required or encouraged to get a confirmatory PCR or rapid molecular test. They will also not be required to report their results to their corresponding public health unit, unless otherwise directed by public health.

At this point, the province is recommended that rapid antigen COVID-19 tests be used "for screening of people with no symptoms to identify and prevent cases of COVID-19 in hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes, and other high-risk settings."

Following Thursday’s announcement, Ontario’s New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Andrea Horwath called on Premier Ford to reverse the decision to restrict testing, claiming Ford was "surrending Ontario to COVID-19."

"People are reeling from Ford’s decision to deny free [COVID-19] PCR tests to all but high-risk symptomatic people,” Horwath said in a statement issued Thursday. “We need to ramp up to make testing more available, not cut people off.”


"Meanwhile, telling people to simply stay home instead of getting a test is shockingly cruel when Ford won’t give people adequate paid sick days,” she said.

The province also announced reduced capacity limits at large spectator venues, and delayed the return to school until Jan. 5 on Thursday.

Ontario reported 13,807 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, shattering past single-day records in the province.

[O.city]

Still alive.

Feel pretty much normal, some sinus congestion. Hope everyone has a good new year

[FlaChief58]

Originally Posted by KurtCobain

Stuck at home with covid and I'm really bored.

Pornhub.com/gaybukaki

Your welcome