***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.”

[Rukdafaidas]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Outside of ground beef and a few other things, including toilet paper, I'm stocked up for a month.

What's really helping is that friends are texting from the various stores around town, letting others know who has what in stock at that particular time. It's been working out pretty well the past few days but I'd really like to get a few more things so that I don't need to leave the house for goods for the next 30 days. If that fails, I may drive 30-60 miles inland to see if it's any better there but it's probably just as big of a crapshoot as it is around here.

I'm not worried about myself and my wife has been able to get the food she likes and cooks from Trader Joe's, so it's really about my kids. We're doing our best to downplay this entire situation so that they're not psychologically affected and a big part of that is getting the type of food and brands they're used to eating daily and weekly. That's the been the biggest hurdle so far but I was able to get Oscar Mayer hot dogs, salami, baloney and other things today that will last a couple of weeks if we spread them out.

PM your address and I'll send you some TP to help you get by.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by SupDock

I don't need to ask one. What qualifies you to make this statement?

Because I spoke to one just 3 days ago about this.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by cdcox

80% of cases now are mild. It is the 20% who do not have mild symptoms that is driving this crisis. The virus is highly transmissible and even 20% serious cases represents millions of patients with the likelihood of our health care system being over run. Why do you think going from 20% problematic cases to 20% represents a game changer?

I was not clear. I should have stated that we are not treating every case with this method, just the severe/critical ones right off the bat. The mild cases don't require treatment.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Fish

Pretty sure you just did though.

I had an in depth conversation about this 3 days ago. I come from a family of pharmacists/medical professionals in case you are wondering, I didn't just call up some random person.

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

I had an in depth conversation about this 3 days ago. I come from a family of pharmacists/medical professionals in case you are wondering, I didn't just call up some random person.

I'm not sure who you spoke to, but both those medications are associated with QT prolongation

Please don't take hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) plus Azithromycin for #COVID19 UNLESS your doctor prescribes it. Both drugs affect the QT interval of your heart and can lead to arrhythmias and sudden death, especially if you are taking other meds or have a heart condition.

— Dr. Edsel Salvana (@EdselSalvana) March 21, 2020

I linked this a page or so back.

Plaquenil is also associated with hypoglycemia.

[arrowheadnation]

Another option for those having trouble finding things. Hit up Menards if you have them in your area. They carry food, milk, frozen items, etc. (at least ours do). Just trying to help out.

[oaklandhater]

The first national projection of the #COVID19 pandemic’s potential cost to 200 million Americans in the commercial market. @CoveredCA estimates the cost of testing, treatment and care could hit $271B and premiums could rise 40% in 2021 w/o federal action. https://t.co/5nbjknmfOP

— Covered California News (@CoveredCAnews) March 22, 2020

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by SupDock

I'm not sure who you spoke to, but both those medications are associated with QT prolongation

Please don't take hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) plus Azithromycin for #COVID19 UNLESS your doctor prescribes it. Both drugs affect the QT interval of your heart and can lead to arrhythmias and sudden death, especially if you are taking other meds or have a heart condition.

— Dr. Edsel Salvana (@EdselSalvana) March 21, 2020

I linked this a page or so back.

Yes and that is a MINISCULE risk associated with both. But the point this tweet is making is valid, you should have your MD prescribe the medication (and have a pharmacist double check your meds) just in case there is going to be a significant increased risk. In most cases this won't be an issue, but people should not go around self medicating regardless.

And the person I spoke to is a pharmacist (degree in clinical pharmacology) who has been practicing over 45 years.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

As I stated earlier today, I went out shopping for groceries and went to three Ralphs supermarkets and two Super Targets.

I didn’t see even one instance of people acting like “teenage girls”. People waited in line outside, six feet apart, as to properly Social Distance. Once we were allowed to shop, there was no hysteria, no one running like mad through aisles, no one acting out. People were acting completely normal, minding their own business and shopping.

When I came home, my street was packed with people walking, jogging and cycling towards Lake Hollywood. There was far less Social Distancing but people were acting normal.

I’ve been getting reports of friends and families furloughed, laid off and losing jobs altogether and in every instance, I haven’t heard one person tell me that we as a society are overreacting. People are trying to figure out what’s next but there hasn’t been any hysteria, yet.

The biggest test will come 30 days from now...

Agreed. I haven't run into anyone publicly in Kansas City acting unreasonable, yet. Just my experience though.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

The first national projection of the #COVID19 pandemic’s potential cost to 200 million Americans in the commercial market. @CoveredCA estimates the cost of testing, treatment and care could hit $271B and premiums could rise 40% in 2021 w/o federal action. https://t.co/5nbjknmfOP

— Covered California News (@CoveredCAnews) March 22, 2020

If we cut our military in half, just think of how much money for emergencies like this we would have....

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Yes and that is a MINISCULE risk associated with both. But the point this tweet is making is valid, you should have your MD prescribe the medication (and have a pharmacist double check your meds) just in case there is going to be a significant increased risk. In most cases this won't be an issue, but people should not go around self medicating regardless.

A small risk with both that becomes a bigger risk when combined.

I would be astonished if we see significant outpatient prescribing of this combination in the near future.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by 007

So how do you all feel about KC going shelter in place on Tuesday. I'm shocked that they are going to enforce it as a misdemeanor, fine, and jail time.

I'm a little disappointed I'm going to have to go to Lawrence, KS or St Joseph to golf.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by SupDock

A small risk with both that becomes a bigger risk when combined.

I would be astonished if we see significant outpatient prescribing of this combination in the near future.

That risk is still ridiculously small.

I sincerely hope you are wrong. For the sake of argument let's say it is limited to inpatient care use only. Now, let's say it has 80% effectiveness in a 6 day span. At that point ,given that supply is not an issue, and it should not be at that point in time or slightly beyond, would you be ok with business as usual (with certain conditions that I pointed out) starting April 1st?

If not why not?

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by BWillie

If we cut our military in half, just think of how much money for emergencies like this we would have....

people will be screaming this for ages and I can't agree more.

[oaklandhater]

Parks in Phoenix area, rest of Arizona experiencing overcrowdinghttps://t.co/HlcJgUTp6N pic.twitter.com/8OjtmUO6DX

— azfamily 3TV CBS 5 (@azfamily) March 21, 2020