***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.”

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Heard some absolute horror stories about plastic surgeons, dermatologists and other providers calling in huge scripts for their families, claiming they all had RA, which is not only not within their scope of practice, but ridiculous given that you only need 12 tabs for a course of treatment per some of the literature.

My understanding though is that global production capacity is pretty outstanding.

Yeah, we'll tap it in short order, but from what I can tell everyone seems confident that we'll be able to make a shitload of this in the near future.

What's the concept of 'off-label' mean? Does this mean that doctors or pharmacists can essentially prescribe it to anyone that tests positive while liberally utilizing the sympathetic use exception?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by jd1020

How about 25 million tests?

Or that either...

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Heard some absolute horror stories about plastic surgeons, dermatologists and other providers calling in huge scripts for their families, claiming they all had RA, which is not only not within their scope of practice, but ridiculous given that you only need 12 tabs for a course of treatment per some of the literature.

Yeah taking it for more than ten days can be lethal.

I am still really optimistic about it, though. If it can accelerate recovery for 50% of patients, you eliminate exponential growth.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

What's the concept of 'off-label' mean? Does this mean that doctors or pharmacists can essentially prescribe it to anyone that tests positive while liberally utilizing the sympathetic use exception?

This is a good question.

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

My understanding though is that global production capacity is pretty outstanding.

Yeah, we'll tap it in short order, but from what I can tell everyone seems confident that we'll be able to make a shitload of this in the near future.

What's the concept of 'off-label' mean? Does this mean that doctors or pharmacists can essentially prescribe it to anyone that tests positive while liberally utilizing the sympathetic use exception?

Technically, doctors can prescribe it liberally now. it's been around for 70 years. My friend has a bottle in his desk, because he went to Ghana for work in December.

I'm a little annoyed at the reporting on this. I totally get the "let's slow down, we haven't found a cure yet" but I read two articles talking about how deadly the medication can be...

if overdosed.

Or taken by infants.

You could say that about virtually any prescription drug, WTF

[wazu]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Heard some absolute horror stories about plastic surgeons, dermatologists and other providers calling in huge scripts for their families, claiming they all had RA, which is not only not within their scope of practice, but ridiculous given that you only need 12 tabs for a course of treatment per some of the literature.

Mother ****ers! Are there any repercussions for this bullshit?

[Perineum Ripper]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Today was my last day at work for a while. My oncologist agreed that I need to self-isolate outside of infusion days for my chemo. I told my boss and he was extremely understanding. I feel very lucky, but I'm also scared. All of this bad news is becoming more and more worrisome for me.

The only thing I want to do at this point is just spend time with my wife and girls.

If you are in the Columbia area, and you need anything brought to you guys. Let me know and I will help you out, however I can.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by mac459

If you are in the Columbia area, and you need anything brought to you guys. Let me know and I will help you out, however I can.

How much TP do you have.

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by Monticore

How much TP do you have.

And your women. How much for your women?

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by wazu

Mother ****ers! Are there any repercussions for this bullshit?

I'm not overly worried about that, given two facts:

1. It's easily produced in generic form by multiple US companies.
2. By its nature, if it works, then it works to help prevent the virus from taking hold. So, while it's better to have the truly sick the first ones to receive the medication, having general populations armed with it in case of exposure/infection is not the worst thing in the world.

I imagine there's going to be a LOT of this drug produced in the next few weeks. If the French numbers are in any way accurate (90% tested negative after 6 days), then this drug would impede the over-running of medical facilities, which is what we are REALLY after.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

My understanding though is that global production capacity is pretty outstanding.

Yeah, we'll tap it in short order, but from what I can tell everyone seems confident that we'll be able to make a shitload of this in the near future.

What's the concept of 'off-label' mean? Does this mean that doctors or pharmacists can essentially prescribe it to anyone that tests positive while liberally utilizing the sympathetic use exception?

Off label means it’s not currently a known treatment for said disease iirc

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

And your women. How much for your women?

They go through a lot of TP good luck supporting them.

[TLO]

A couple questions for discussion/speculation -

1. Is chloroquine something that is routinely stocked in hospitals? Pharmacies? I'm assuming all available supply is going to be sent to hospitals ASAP. I just spoke to a pharmacist friend who says Hydroxychloroquine would be in hand at the hospital.

2. How long, realistically, do we have to wait to see if this works?

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by O.city

Off label means it’s not currently a known treatment for said disease iirc

like using papers towels instead of toilet paper.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

I'm not overly worried about that, given two facts:

1. It's easily produced in generic form by multiple US companies.
2. By its nature, if it works, then it works to help prevent the virus from taking hold. So, while it's better to have the truly sick the first ones to receive the medication, having general populations armed with it in case of exposure/infection is not the worst thing in the world.

I imagine there's going to be a LOT of this drug produced in the next few weeks. If the French numbers are in any way accurate (90% tested negative after 6 days), then this drug would impede the over-running of medical facilities, which is what we are REALLY after.

They’re doing cases on it everywhere now so we should have good ideas in a week or so