***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.”

[Donger]

Originally Posted by cdcox

currently there is no reported evidence yet specifically for Corona disease (COVID-19) infection via this route.

Yes, and let's all please hope that none crops up.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by O.city

We've been chasing this thing since the beginning. Some places like SF have gotten ahead of it a bit.

The longer you wait, the worse. I don't know why all these other places are reluctant to lock it down. The sooner you lock it down the sooner you can open back up.

Yup. Hoping this isn’t to political but the Federal government needs to institute a national lockdown and ground all flights for 6 weeks at least.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Yup. Hoping this isn’t to political but the Federal government needs to institute a national lockdown and ground all flights for 6 weeks at least.

BOOOOOOOOO!!!!! ****. That.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Yup. Hoping this isn’t to political but the Federal government needs to institute a national lockdown and ground all flights for 6 weeks at least.

THIS REP!

[TLO]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Yup. Hoping this isn’t to political but the Federal government needs to institute a national lockdown and ground all flights for 6 weeks at least.

No, I don't think that's a good idea at all.

[Demonpenz]

lets just roll with not shutting down anything I guess.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Yup. Hoping this isn’t to political but the Federal government needs to institute a national lockdown and ground all flights for 6 weeks at least.

They can suspend flight operations. But they shouldn't, perhaps can't, lockdown the country. Let the states do that.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

lets just roll with not shutting down anything I guess.

Everything's pretty much open anyway. I never knew so many businesses were "essential". The good ol Pawn Shop in St Joe is even still open.

[2112]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Yup. Hoping this isn’t to political but the Federal government needs to institute a national lockdown and ground all flights for 6 weeks at least.

They should lock down ny/nj/ct for 3 weeks. Start there because people there aren’t getting it and that’s the hot spot

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by O.city

I don't know why all these other places are reluctant to lock it down. The sooner you lock it down the sooner you can open back up.

Because the virus was politicized

[TLO]

Originally Posted by D2112

They should lock down ny/nj/ct for 3 weeks. Start there because people there aren’t getting it and that’s the hot spot

But what does "lock down" actually mean? All these places already have shelter in place orders. So are they going to roll out the military to stop people from leaving?

[CaliforniaChief]

Honestly the best way to combat the spread is to start telling true stories (so it's going to be hard for the media to pull off) of people who died, especially people who were healthier and younger.

You'd like to think that you can convince people to abide by social distancing/stay at home rules by appealing to altruism for at-risk people. Not working. You need to appeal to people's selfishness.

If my neighbor could get it, people still do things that spread it. IF they're fighting for their own lives/families, that will change.

You'll get better behavior when people WANT to change, not when they're told to.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Donger

Yes, and let's all please hope that none crops up.

The current situation is the result of whatever the disease transmission mechanism is. The more we know, the better we can lower the transmission.

[2112]

Originally Posted by TLO

But what does "lock down" actually mean? All these places already have shelter in place orders. So are they going to roll out the military to stop people from leaving?

Quarantine so people can’t leave the state. And nobody can come in. Continue stay at home and shelter with more restrictions. Try and contain it

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

But what does "lock down" actually mean? All these places already have shelter in place orders. So are they going to roll out the military to stop people from leaving?

He's probably referring to quarantine. No one new goes in. No one comes out.