***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.”

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

Italy has kind of a numbers problem with their death figures.

Their prime health minister said only 12% of them were likely caused by the actual virus or something

Yep. People need to stop pointing to Italy. They are as much an outlier as China is. I read where one Italian doctor was saying that a majority of the deaths came from frail elderly patients who had underlying conditions that would kill them in the next month or two regardless. (I can try to find the article but it was earlier today so you may have to trust me on this one)

[eDave]

Lost Sense of Smell May Be Peculiar Clue to Coronavirus Infection

Doctor groups are recommending testing and isolation for people who lose their ability to smell and taste, even if they have no other symptoms.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/22/h...ell-taste.html

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by O.city

They have to change those at a pretty outlandish number in these types of situations

You can’t have that many on hand it isn’t feasible in a normal setting

I don't buy it. Basically you're saying there's no way to prepare for something like this. There can't be an emergency warehouse or some shit? It's not like they don't have the money with what they charge for every little thing these days.

[Bugeater]

Honestly, I wouldn't blame the people hoarding this stuff for keeping if for themselves. It's pretty obvious no one is looking out for anyone else's best interest anymore. God help us all.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Doesn't surprise me at all. Overpopulated party city with a bunch of people living in close contact. Hopefully they practice social distancing that's really the only way they can slow this virus from spreading.

I wouldn't be surprised if that ship hasn't already sailed. There is virtually no chance that the virus hasn't been in the wild in NY since (late) January at least. We may just now be seeing the huge numbers due to a combination of massive increases in testing and previous exponential growth passing the incubation period. We don't have the resources to do it, but it would be interesting to see a test of a random sampling of 1000+ New Yorkers and see what the results are.

[BigRedChief]

Who could have saw this coming

TAMPA, Fl. (WFLA) — Five University of Tampa students are recovering after testing positive for COVID-19 during spring break, the school said. https://t.co/bfjjSC6LIB

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 22, 2020

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Honestly, I wouldn't blame the people hoarding this stuff for keeping if for themselves. It's pretty obvious no one is looking out for anyone else's best interest anymore. God help us all.

The Joker was right pic.twitter.com/9HHxdJFHhk

— areej (@areejmrd) March 22, 2020

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by petegz28

NY is having some real problems. They are just under 50% of all cases in this country. I mean think about that. They have more cases in that state than almost the other 49 states combined. That is ****ing insane!

Originally Posted by O.city

They’re doing the most testing

And the subway is still running and millions of people use it.

They need to lock that state down and force everyone to stay home.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

The Joker was right pic.twitter.com/9HHxdJFHhk

— areej (@areejmrd) March 22, 2020

I’m surprised someone hasn’t photoshopped the scene with him burning the pile of cash with toilet paper instead with the want to watch the world burn caption.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by Shiver Me Timbers

Good God. if that is a picture of their health minister thy have larger problems than Corona

It's world news daily report, which also has this article on the front page:

Dozens of members of a remote tribe of New Guinea have been infected by the coronavirus after they presumably killed, butchered and ate a Chinese mining prospector infected with the disease.

I'd take it with a grain of salt.

[BigRedChief]

Total US coronavirus deaths via @CNN:

3 weeks ago: 2
2 weeks ago: 21
1 week ago: 65
Right now: 410

— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 23, 2020

[eDave]

Well that sucks.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Total US coronavirus deaths via @CNN:

3 weeks ago: 2
2 weeks ago: 21
1 week ago: 65
Right now: 410

— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 23, 2020

How reliable is that data?

[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Total US coronavirus deaths via @CNN:

3 weeks ago: 2
2 weeks ago: 21
1 week ago: 65
Right now: 410

— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 23, 2020

If you use a one-week incubation these numbers show that the net death rate is higher than that I’ve been using.

Almost 2x higher.

The next two weeks are going to get bad in NYC.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by RINGLEADER

If you use a one-week incubation these numbers show that the net death rate is higher than that I’ve been using.

Almost 2x higher.

The next two weeks are going to get bad in NYC.

Exactly. They better contain that shit, or the whole game changes again.

People will try to flee the state and that will spread this thing everywhere quickly.