***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.”

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Rukdafaidas

He said .2 out of 1,000. Not 2 out of 1,000.

Ah, I did misread that. My bad. Working on one cup of coffee for the day.....

[CasselGotPeedOn]

Never go full Pete-tard

[FD]

Originally Posted by Chief Pagan

Italy hasn't locked down the country. That is just part of the media hoax designed to spread panic in the US.

The prime minister of Italy begs to differ, but I guess he is in on the "hoax."

Coronavirus: Italy extends emergency measures nationwide
On Monday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte ordered people to stay home and seek permission for essential travel.

He said the measures were designed to protect the most vulnerable. "There is no more time," he said in a TV address.

Italy's coronavirus death toll jumped from 366 to 463 on Monday. It is the worst-hit country after China.

The number of confirmed infection also increased by 24% from Sunday, official figures showed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in all 20 Italian regions.

What did Mr Conte say?
Mr Conte said the best thing was for people to stay at home. "We're having an important growth in infection... and of deaths," he said in an evening address.

"The whole of Italy will become a protected zone," he added.

"We all must give something up for the good of Italy. We have to do it now.

"This is why I decided to adopt even more strong and severe measures to contain the advance... and protect the health of all citizens."

In an earlier interview with La Repubblica newspaper, Mr Conte said of the outbreak: "I have been thinking about the old speeches of [Winston] Churchill - it is our darkest hour, but we will make it".

What are the restrictions?
Mr Conte described the measures as "I stay home" - with people forbidden to gather in public. "No more nightlife; we can't allow this anymore since they are occasions for contagion," he said.

All sporting events - including football matches - are suspended nationwide. Schools and universities will remain closed until 3 April.

The government said only those with a valid work or family reason that cannot be postponed will be allowed to travel.

Passengers departing on flights will have to justify themselves, as will all those who arrive by plane.

There are controls at train stations to check the temperatures of passengers. Cruise ships are also forbidden to dock at various ports.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51810673

[Reerun_KC]

How big is Italy compared to the US?

[SupDock]

BREAKING: Italy reports 977 new cases of coronavirus and 168 new deaths, raising total to 10,149 cases and 631 dead https://t.co/eUoE2b20hL

— BNO Newsroom (@BNODesk) March 10, 2020

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

How big is Italy compared to the US?

population or land?

Land - about the size of Cali
Population - about 1.5 times the size of Cali

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by FD

The initial estimates were that it would double about every 6 days. Hopefully we can flatten that out substantially by adopting sensible preventive measures (and not panicking.)

Right, not total cases I believe - but the number of new cases doubling every 6-7 days.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Math challenged or are you really arguing .2% vs. .4%?

Let me help you....4/1000=.004 or .4%
you want to lock down the country for the difference of .2%?

I said male. Men are at greatest risk for some reason. The 30-39 age group is between .002 and .003 risk, and arguably even higher depending on where you look. If you factor in only males, then it is at least 3-4 would die out of 1,000.

[suzzer99]

pete - can't you just petethings all over the DC threads and not contaminate this one as well?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I said male. Men are at greatest risk for some reason. The 30-39 age group is between .002 and .003 risk, and arguably even higher depending on where you look. If you factor in only males, then it is at least 3-4 would die out of 1,000.

So we're back to .4% but just males? What's the female rate?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[KCUnited]

Virus won't sniff .2 out of 1000

[SupDock]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Virus won't sniff .2 out of 1000

In what sense? Put of confirmed cases for certain age groups it already has in several areas.

Granted total cases are under-reported

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

pete - can't you just petethings all over the DC threads and not contaminate this one as well?

I could....yes, yes., I could

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[petegz28]

He just said 3-4 males out of every thousand...what are you not getting there?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Fish]

Originally Posted by SupDock

In what sense? Put of confirmed cases for certain age groups it already has in several areas.

Granted total cases are under-reported

Pretty sure he was just making fun of pete's penchant for terrible predictions...