***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.”

[mdchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by TLO

It sticks out to me that of 100,000 people that needed a test roughly only 20% of them tested positive..

That is the other thing that is great to see, for sure.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by TLO

Yeah and in the UK they said 250,000 deaths to less than 20k.

Nobody seems to know anything. I appreciate the people trying to project this stuff, but they legitimately have no idea

Yes, this is true. The survey of experts each gave their own estimate of uncertainty. It's high.

But the number best estimate of 248K can still be useful to prepare people for the mindset that we are in the early stages and that this is very serious.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by Bwana

Really?

Originally Posted by wazu

KC is same.

At first I thought it was odd that they were keeping tobacco outlets and liquor stores open as well. Then I realized these are stores that legal deal their "drugs" to addicts. If they didn't stay open people would be breaking into them.

[mdchiefsfan]

PA has closed all liquor stores. I’ll be curious to see the sociological reaction to such a decision.

*grabs beer just purchased and takes a hearty sip*

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by mdchiefsfan

PA has closed all liquor stores. I’ll be curious to see the sociological reaction to such a decision.

*grabs beer just purchased and takes a hearty sip*

And the medical reaction....now the hospitals will get flooded with people needing to detox

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by wazu

KC is same.

If McDonald's is essential then the liquor stores can be too.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by mdchiefsfan

PA has closed all liquor stores. I’ll be curious to see the sociological reaction to such a decision.

*grabs beer just purchased and takes a hearty sip*

There will be a run on hand sanitizer, well more of one.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I have thought about this before but since there is around 500 cases in AZ according to https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...-us-cases.html what is the number that a state should put in a shelter in place order?

We should be doing that everywhere now (hammer phase). For every confirmed case there are approximately 9 additional cases that have not been confirmed. So there are likely something like 5000 cases in AZ now, that will continue to grow according to a power law until shelter in place type restrictions are in place. The sooner we put it in place the quicker we might be able to open portions of the economy.

[mdchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by Monticore

There will be a run on hand sanitizer, well more of one.

Damn... hadn’t thought of that. May want to stock up on listerine.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I have thought about this before but since there is around 500 cases in AZ according to https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...-us-cases.html what is the number that a state should put in a shelter in place order?

When dipshittery gets too high. Other than the day everyone flocked to the trails, we've kept dipshittery at bay it seems.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by Monticore

There will be a run on hand sanitizer, well more of one.

AT least buy limits are in place at most places.

[Abba-Dabba]

Originally Posted by mdchiefsfan

PA has closed all liquor stores. I’ll be curious to see the sociological reaction to such a decision.

*grabs beer just purchased and takes a hearty sip*

Closing is a dumb idea.

Do they allow sales in grocery stores or convenience stores?

If so, no reason to close liquor stores.

What if a liquor store sells snacks as well?

[eDave]

Originally Posted by RubberSponge

Do they allow sales in grocery stores or convenience stores?

Yes. C-stores as well.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by eDave

When dipshittery gets too high. Other than the day everyone flocked to the trails, we've kept dipshittery at bay it seems.

Honestly, and I don’t give a shit about politics so that’s not a factor, I think Ducey is doing a great job at balancing everything in regards to AZ.

[mdchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by RubberSponge

Do they allow sales in grocery stores or convenience stores?

I live in MD, so I’m not certain. I don’t think liquor is sold in grocery stores in PA. It isn’t in MD.