***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.”

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Not necessarily true. N95 masks definitely reduce the ability to get the virus. Surgical masks even give SOME resistance for droplets. The media frenzy giving off false information that masks do not help at all, is concerning. It's a blatant lie.

Maybe so - but if healthy people hoard all the masks it's going to make the outbreak a lot more dangerous.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Maybe so - but if healthy people hoard all the masks it's going to make the outbreak a lot more dangerous.

How hard is it to make more masks? Either way, don't lie to us. I've read countless media articles that say masks WILL NOT help. Complete lie. Say masks MAY help a little to alot depending on the kind of mask, but do not buy them because first responders need them more than you do. It's not the medias purpose to protect me, it's to tell me the truth.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by BWillie

but do not buy them because first responders need them more than you do.

That is the truth.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Los Angeles County is declaring a health emergency as the number of coronavirus cases increased to six

—-

Six is a health emergency?

They know a lot more than what has made public. Where the infected got it, where they went while infected, number of other suspected cases but not confirmed yet etc.


They will err on the side of caution. You want to be the Mayor to possibly head off a major outbreak and you said nah, too much hassle.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

I live in Houston, my perception of humidity is skewed

Try living or visiting Florida. Oppressive Humidity is our middle name. Ask anyone whose been to Disney World, Universal.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by loochy

Seattle is the same, just cooler

Not really. 60-70% in the summer. Wetter than the east side where I'm at but no where near what the humidity in the South is like.

[Rukdafaidas]

Originally Posted by Donger

That is the truth.

Here's my thoughts on the masks. The N95 masks that are being bought and resold are mostly masks marketed for painting, drywall, lawn mowers, etc. that are being bought from Lowes, Walmart, Sherwin Williams, etc.
Medical get their masks from medical distributors that don't generally sell to the public. I'm guessing if there's a massive shortage, 3M will send them to the medical distributors before sending them to Sherwin Williams, but I could be wrong.
But, if I'm a painter, I'm pissed about the mask situation right now.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

I was in a briefing yesterday. They aren't expecting the boom in cases for another 9 days....

Anyone care to speculate on this?

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Rukdafaidas

Here's my thoughts on the masks. The N95 masks that are being bought and resold are mostly masks marketed for painting, drywall, lawn mowers, etc. that are being bought from Lowes, Walmart, Sherwin Williams, etc.
Medical get their masks from medical distributors that don't generally sell to the public. I'm guessing if there's a massive shortage, 3M will send them to the medical distributors before sending them to Sherwin Williams, but I could be wrong.
But, if I'm a painter, I'm pissed about the mask situation right now.

I got my N95s during the SARS outbreak, from a medical supply distributor.

[Rukdafaidas]

Originally Posted by Donger

I got my N95s during the SARS outbreak, from a medical supply distributor.

I got mine from Walmart Lawn and Garden.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by KC_Lee

Coronavirus instructions.
Wait for it...pic.twitter.com/WvnKBwKUtb

— Rex Chapman���� (@RexChapman) March 4, 2020

If you touch your face, you will get the coronavirus, and you will die.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Rukdafaidas

I got mine from Walmart Lawn and Garden.

Thanks for dooming all of our first responders.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Not really. 60-70% in the summer. Wetter than the east side where I'm at but no where near what the humidity in the South is like.

Summer is the dry season here. It's much wetter the rest of the time.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

Summer is the dry season here. It's much wetter the rest of the time.

I meant wetter in a humidity sense, not rain.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I meant wetter in a humidity sense, not rain.

Me too.