***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.”

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by DaFace

There's another comment in there somewhere that touches on that point. Seems like local hospital capacity in the case of a big breakout is a very real concern.

Rural areas with alot of elderly people disproportionately to the population especially.

[cdcox]

The other thing about King County is that they are recommending anyone over 60 to limit public exposure. 60! I'm 58. First time I've felt close to being "elderly". Very weird.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by cdcox

The other thing about King County is that they are recommending anyone over 60 to limit public exposure. 60! I'm 58. First time I've felt close to being "elderly". Very weird.

Life comes at you fast.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by cdcox

The other thing about King County is that they are recommending anyone over 60 to limit exposure to the public. 60! I'm 58. First time I've felt close to being "elderly". Very weird.

My dad's only 69, but he had a heart attack 10ish years ago. There's no way in hell he'll be able to keep himself inside (former teacher, still volunteers in schools and the local nature center, always working on projects, etc.).

I'm not WORRIED per se, but I definitely would prefer he play it a little safer than he will.

[cdcox]

My mom lives in a nursing home with late stage Alzheimer's. My dad spends about 6 hours there every day.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by DaFace

My dad's only 69, but he had a heart attack 10ish years ago. There's no way in hell he'll be able to keep himself inside (former teacher, still volunteers in schools and the local nature center, always working on projects, etc.).

I'm not WORRIED per se, but I definitely would prefer he play it a little safer than he will.

I'm a little worried one of our fearless future leaders will get it.

Trump is 74.
Biden 77.
Sanders is 78.

One may bite the dust, I fear.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by DaFace

There's another comment in there somewhere that touches on that point. Seems like local hospital capacity in the case of a big breakout is a very real concern.

Yes this is a big concern. The longer we can delay our surge in cases, the better so that the bed demand will hopefully not coincide with the seasonal influenza bed needs.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by cdcox

My mom lives in a nursing home with late stage Alzheimer's. My dad spends about 6 hours there every day.

yeah that’s a high risk environment. But, it still doesn’t mean they will get it so try to relax about the threat.

My mom died slowly from Alzheimer’s. If you want to talk. PM me.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I'm a little worried one of our fearless future leaders will get it.

Trump is 74.
Biden 77.
Sanders is 78.

One may bite the dust, I fear.

I wish it was more socially acceptable to talk about the health of presidential candidates. Actually, I wish there was a constitutional maximum age limit.

Maybe if one of the above keels over from C19 health will be a bigger issue next time around.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

yeah that’s a high risk environment. But, it still doesn’t mean they will get it so try to relax about the threat.

My mom died slowly from Alzheimer’s. If you want to talk. PM me.

My mom has had it about 12 years. Dad took care of her at home until he couldn't any more. Him having a stroke -- luckily not too severe -- was the final warning sign that taking care of her 24/7 was killing him. She's been in the nursing home almost six years now. She would not have made it this long without my dad's constant care. She could pass at any time. I worry more about my dad, because he is still in decent health for a man in his mid-80s.

[eDave]

Ultra Music Festival Cancelled

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/loc...240878956.html

Miami hates the festival and this came due to pressure from the Mayor, not the promoters. The city has been trying to get rid of it for years. Disneyworld remains open.

I have tickets and a suite for Coachella in April...

Drag city, man.

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by eDave

Ultra Music Festival Cancelled

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/loc...240878956.html

Miami hates the festival and this came due to pressure from the Mayor, not the promoters. The city has been trying to get rid of it for years. Disneyworld remains open.

I have tickets and a suite for Coachella in April...

Drag city, man.

**** that ultra shit. All the locals in downtown left during that Abortion.

[Gravedigger]

Originally Posted by cdcox

The other thing about King County is that they are recommending anyone over 60 to limit public exposure. 60! I'm 58. First time I've felt close to being "elderly". Very weird.

You’ve been able to get a senior discount for the last three years and it’s just now hitting you? 😁

[BigRedChief]

MAP: More than 120 confirmed coronavirus cases now in the US. https://t.co/155zo76OtS pic.twitter.com/vDcapCSX05

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 3, 2020

[Spott]

Originally Posted by TLO

I also mentioned this in the DC thread, but I'm officially more worried about the ensuing public panic than I am about the actual virus. People are nuts.

They do the same stupid shit before hurricanes in Florida. They are rarely nothing more than an annoyance here, with an exception for the people that live at the beach.