***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 DaFace

It depends on how it's done, but in most cases, that's not true. Local government can usually add MORE restrictions, but they can't say there are LESS.

Ah....

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I think the previous years flu season was worse 80k deaths

I don't know what metric they are using but I will say anecdotally that this is the first year we were told to wear masks if we didn't get the flu shot regardless of where we worked. Usually once a year or so that gets applied in the medical facilities only. This year was everywhere regardless.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by ghak99

It makes perfect sense and should have been expected.

The media has spent weeks making this thing out to be the end of the world. We don't have enough ventilators!!!!! Every news channel and half the entertainment shows on TV have been telling people, especially the elderly, to stay home and hide on a 5 minute loop for weeks. As a result, everyone is canceling every appointment they have.

Dooming and glooming the public into a panic has consequences. You can't just reverse the tide. The nurses will just have to take it on the chin like the rest of us.

It's not doom and gloom, we have actually seen those situations play out in areas where this spiraled out of control. The fact that it hasn't happened at a wide spread level is a great sign that people are being smart about it.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by tk13

It's not doom and gloom, we have actually seen those situations play out in areas where this spiraled out of control. The fact that it hasn't happened at a wide spread level is a great sign that people are being smart about it.

Good luck getting some of these people to understand that doing what your told is actually helpful.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by ghak99

It makes perfect sense and should have been expected.

The media has spent weeks making this thing out to be the end of the world. We don't have enough ventilators!!!!! Every news channel and half the entertainment shows on TV have been telling people, especially the elderly, to stay home and hide on a 5 minute loop for weeks. As a result, everyone is canceling every appointment they have.

Dooming and glooming the public into a panic has consequences. You can't just reverse the tide. The nurses will just have to take it on the chin like the rest of us.

The measures that have been put into place by hospitals/government are most likely why a surge will never happen in areas where they took precautions before it infiltrated the community, or maybe not but when it comes to deaths there is a better side to be wrong on.

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by DaFace

It depends on how it's done, but in most cases, that's not true. Local government can usually add MORE restrictions, but they can't say there are LESS.

It's an interesting situation.

In theory, smaller areas probably could. What are they going to do about it? Many sheriffs departments have publicly commented on social media making it appear as if they lean to the side of the whole thing being unconstitutional. The city departments are at the will of the city officials. If half the town's businesses are at risk of going under, who is to stop them from opening it back up?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Good luck getting some of these people to understand that doing what your told is actually helpful.

Exactly. So many idiots out here like "see the experts were all wrong, it isn't anywhere near as bad as they claimed it would be!"

Uh, it's not as bad because smart people that don't reject science are mostly following guidelines.

[stumppy]

Always going to be someone who thinks enough people didn't die to justify what has been done when in fact what was done is the reason there are fewer deaths.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DaFace

That's the biggest reason I'm not convinced that the asymptomatic numbers are huge, or at least not huge enough to make that much of a difference. Herd immunity requires like 60-80% of people being immune, and even if you assume there are 10 times as many people immune as our current number of known cases, that's still only around 2% of the U.S. population right now.

But now we're getting stuff that is saying it may be potentially 100 times as many.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

Exactly. So many idiots out here like "see the experts were all wrong, it isn't anywhere near as bad as they claimed it would be!"

Uh, it's not as bad because smart people that don't reject science are mostly following guidelines.

The experts are wrong! Everytime I see that I wanna say, the numbers are less because they implemented measures and people listened. Had we done it your way where everything was open those numbers would probably be off in the other way.

So tired of the stupid DC pandering shit over here, you can always tell what posters spend way to much time over there, it's like all rational logical thought is gone.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by O.city

But now we're getting stuff that is saying it may be potentially 100 times as many.

Seems unlikely, but we can hope.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by ghak99

It's an interesting situation.

In theory, smaller areas probably could. What are they going to do about it? Many sheriffs departments have publicly commented on social media making it appear as if they lean to the side of the whole thing being unconstitutional. The city departments are at the will of the city officials. If half the town's businesses are at risk of going under, who is to stop them from opening it back up?

If you remove restrictions on small communities like mine the first people start going all over including bigger centres.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Parsons thinks MO will be opening up by May.

If Italy and Spain are already starting to ease some of their lockdown restrictions, and France is planning to re-open their schools by May 11th... all countries with far more COVID-19 deaths/cases per capita than the US... it is entirely reasonable for many states to ease restrictions starting in May.

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by tk13

It's not doom and gloom, we have actually seen those situations play out in areas where this spiraled out of control. The fact that it hasn't happened at a wide spread level is a great sign that people are being smart about it.

It is doom and gloom. Especially in areas of the country that are so spread out they basically already self isolate.

Originally Posted by Monticore

The measures that have been put into place by hospitals/government are most likely why a surge will never happen in areas where they took precautions before it infiltrated the community, or maybe not but when it comes to deaths there is a better side to be wrong on.

Of course that is what helps slow the spread.

Both of which have serious consequences people should have expected instead of shouting down the questioners who stopped and asked, "hey what happens when this happens".

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

If Italy and Spain are already starting to ease some of their lockdown restrictions, and France is planning to re-open their schools by May 11th... all countries with far more COVID-19 deaths/cases per capita than the US... it is entirely reasonable for many states to ease restrictions starting in May.

So the 3 countries who dealt with the pandemic horribly are the ones you want to follow?