***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 TLO

I would imagine you're right.

I'll speak a little from experience. I've shared that I struggle with both depression/anxiety and have for as long as I can remember.

By June I had accepted the fact that this was something we weren't getting rid of and that we were going to have to live with it. I also understood how to protect myself to the best of my ability, and how to keep my clients as safe as possible. I still worry about covid every day, but I use my worry to be responsible.

But back in March/April/May? There were definitely times I considered harming myself. It felt like the world was coming to an end. The deadly plague was coming. All hospitals were going to be filled to capacity with everyone on ventilators. If you were one of the lucky ones, you might get a ventilator. If not - sorry about your luck.

I recall that you struggled early on, and I'm very pleased to hear that you've found a better place and way to deal with this. But again, I don't agree that most people ignored or are ignoring the detrimental effect it has had on the mental well-being of some people.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Donger

But again, I don't agree that most people ignored or are ignoring the detrimental effect it has had on the mental well-being of some people.

Shocker. Narcisstic **** doesn't agree with facts that don't align with his agenda.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Shocker. Narcisstic **** doesn't agree with facts that don't align with his agenda.

Please present your fact(s) that most people have ignored the detrimental effect it has had on the mental well-being of some people.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

I recall that you struggled early on, and I'm very pleased to hear that you've found a better place and way to deal with this. But again, I don't agree that most people ignored or are ignoring the detrimental effect it has had on the mental well-being of some people.

Sorry, I went off on a tangent there.

I guess I would agree that there is a lot more emphasis being put on mental health now. It just took a while to get there.

[KCUnited]

Maybe a rebalance of exposure would help. I mean we get daily updates from experts on the virus vs an every now again blip on the potential mental health effects. Which is on par for a country that struggles with valuing mental health even before covid. Plus all one has to do is up the periscope from their bunker or open a new web browser and search current news to see it playing out in real time.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

Sorry, I went off on a tangent there.

I guess I would agree that there is a lot more emphasis being put on mental health now. It just took a while to get there.

No worries. However, again, what was the alternative? We shouldn't have enacted mitigation efforts and just let this virus ran rampant through our country? Media should have reported on new cases? The task force shouldn't have estimated the number of deaths that would happen with and without mitigation efforts?

If you want to say that the media coverage of this pandemic has been doom and gloom, I wouldn't disagree and I could see how that could add to the stress.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

No worries. However, again, what was the alternative? We shouldn't have enacted mitigation efforts and just let this virus ran rampant through our country? Media should have reported on new cases? The task force shouldn't have estimated the number of deaths that would happen with and without mitigation efforts?

If you want to say that the media coverage of this pandemic has been doom and gloom, I wouldn't disagree and I could see how that could add to the stress.

The bolded part. Much of the doom and gloom can be justified, but some of it is way over the top, IMO.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

The bolded part.

I suggest not watching it then.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

JFC how would people handle something that's actually dangerous to a majority of the population?

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Donger

No worries. However, again, what was the alternative? We shouldn't have enacted mitigation efforts and just let this virus ran rampant through our country? Media should have reported on new cases? The task force shouldn't have estimated the number of deaths that would happen with and without mitigation efforts?

If you want to say that the media coverage of this pandemic has been doom and gloom, I wouldn't disagree and I could see how that could add to the stress.

That was never the alternative. There was no one arguing to do nothing.

John Ioannidis stated that based on the numbers coming out of China and Italy we would need to focus on the elderly and those in nursing homes, especially those with multiple pre-existing conditions. A targeted response based on the data.

Instead, we locked down the young and healthy, closed schools, and in states such as NY sent Covid patients directly into the nursing homes.

Here is Dr. David Katz who said the same thing.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

I suggest not watching it then.

It's not about watching it. Stories about it are literally everywhere online. We're on ChiefsPlanet and there's a 1 billion reply thread on it. Every website I visit there's stories on it. Eventually my curiosity catches up with me and I click on a story.

Enough about me though.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

That was never the alternative. There was no one arguing to do nothing.

John Ioannidis stated that based on the numbers coming out of China and Italy we would need to focus on the elderly and those in nursing homes, especially those with multiple pre-existing conditions. A targeted response based on the data.

Instead, we locked down the young and healthy, closed schools, and in states such as NY sent Covid patients directly into the nursing homes.

Here is Dr. David Katz who said the same thing.

Actually, some people were. Nationally, ~40% of deaths have come from nursing homes. The unfortunate reality is that no-elderly people staff nursing homes. Even with efforts to keep those staff from introducing the virus into homes, they have.

[TLO]

🚨The CDC no longer recommends asymptomatic testing, even post-exposure.🚨https://t.co/V8BBGK1yzg pic.twitter.com/VvGJMjKW3N

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) August 24, 2020

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

It's not about watching it. Stories about it are literally everywhere online. We're on ChiefsPlanet and there's a 1 billion reply thread on it. Every website I visit there's stories on it. Eventually my curiosity catches up with me and I click on a story.

Enough about me though.

I understand being curious. I share that. But we all make choices. If the choices you make stress you out, make a different choice.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

I understand being curious. I share that. But we all make choices. If the choices you make stress you out, make a different choice.

I don't disagree. Can be easier said than done, but you make a valid point.