***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]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

It seems like if you catch covid from someone outside the house, and especially if masks are involved, the infection is often pretty mild due to generally low initial viral load. I've read things speculating this is likely.

It's when you get the full blast dose from a family member for many hours or even days that you're in trouble. .

I think there's definitely a level of truth to this.

[O.city]

Once you have the virus it repeatedly replicates inside your cells. I’m not sure the initial viral load matters

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by TLO

Rapid testing fairly widely available, from my understanding. I've been rapid tested a number of times due to the nature of my work.

So you get your results within 10-15 minutes? What type of specimen is used?

[TLO]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

So you get your results within 10-15 minutes? What type of specimen is used?

Yes. Nasal swab.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

It seems like if you catch covid from someone outside the house, and especially if masks are involved, the infection is often pretty mild due to generally low initial viral load. I've read things speculating this is likely.

It's when you get the full blast dose from a family member for many hours or even days that you're in trouble.

I imagine Parsons gets checked daily. So maybe that's enough to keep from blasting his wife with it. We'll see how she does.

Originally Posted by TLO

I think there's definitely a level of truth to this.

I also think that the now known over sensitivity of a lot of these tests is adding to the numbers. It could very well be you "have the virus" but in such a small amount it doesn't do anything thus all the asymptomatic cases, etc.

I guess my question is if you jacked up the sensitivity of tests for other viruses to a very sensitive level then how many other things would someone test positive for?

[O.city]

They're gonna start doing human Challenge trials in England. We'll know quick about those vaccines.

I'm not sure the ethical dilemma here is worth it though.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

They're gonna start doing human Challenge trials in England. We'll know quick about those vaccines.

I'm not sure the ethical dilemma here is worth it though.

No kidding? Using which vaccines?

The Oxford one I'm guessing. Can they just throw in the others while they're at it?

[TLO]

Not starting until January though. We may have enough info on a number of the current vaccines by then.

Could be benificial for the "second gen" vaccines though.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by TLO

Not starting until January though. We may have enough info on a number of the current vaccines by then.

Could be benificial for the "second gen" vaccines though.

There's enough community spread, I don't think challenge trials are needed at this point.

Also, Spain and France are having a rather large resurgence.

[TLO]

Say what?

Over 80% of Covid-19 cases in Africa could be asymptomatic, WHO warns

While confirmed Covid-19 cases and death rates remain low in many African countries, early results in some communities suggest a higher number of infections than those reported, said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa.

"Preliminary analysis suggests that over 80% of cases in Africa are asymptomatic," she said during a press briefing Thursday.

The swift action of governments on the continent to impose early lockdowns, and the public's general adherence to movement restrictions, created a "window of opportunity" to keep cases low, Dr. Moeti said. Since many countries have begun easing restrictions and opening economies back up, there has been an uptick of cases.

But experts are unable to conclusively explain the low death rates on the continent. "We don't know the exact factors that are causing it, we just know that some of the factors are more probable," said Dr. Sam Agatre Okuonzi from Uganda.

The panel described probable factors such as a majority youthful population, the frequency with which many Africans spend outdoors and the less movement and interaction in rural areas, as potential explanations.

Another potential factor scientists are studying is the level of potential cross-immunity that has developed from exposure to previous coronaviruses.

"Research is required to characterize the disease and the pandemic in Africa and this work is just beginning," Dr. Okuonzi said.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by TLO

Say what?

Nope, Dr. Fauci said we're all going to die.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by TLO

Say what?

Could be that hot weather doesn't lead to severe infections.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Could be that hot weather doesn't lead to severe infections.

I read somewhere that Dengue fever may offer natural immunity from SARS 2.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Pants

I read somewhere that Dengue fever may offer natural immunity from SARS 2.

Yeah....I’ll pass.

[petegz28]

This is now the 3rd time they have "misreported" something...

KDHE misreports local coronavirus cluster information again
https://www.morningsun.net/news/2020...OzlqQb12YjGEPc