***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.”

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Well yeah, but the mask mandates are an attempt to protect the unvaccinated, which is incredibly frustrating because they don't seem to care enough to protect themselves by and large.

Meanwhile, I'm dissolving my small production company next month and selling off all the equipment for pennies on the dollar because the plague has now cost me two years of work.

Just get the damned shots, people.

That's simultaneously true and probably counterproductive. If you want people to get the vaccine, they need to know that the world isn't going to keep trying to protect them forever.

I continue to believe that Colorado has handled this very well. People keep clutching pearls about the numbers going up, and our governor just keeps saying, "Well, they should get vaccinated."

The vaccines work, and they work well. That's all there is to it. But stories about breakthroughs are compelling, so that's the thing that sticks in everyone's mind (and the stories that get more clicks). At this point, I don't really see any compelling reason that we should have any restrictions whatsoever for vaccinated people.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Well yeah, but the mask mandates are an attempt to protect the unvaccinated, which is incredibly frustrating because they don't seem to care enough to protect themselves by and large.

Meanwhile, I'm dissolving my small production company next month and selling off all the equipment for pennies on the dollar because the plague has now cost me two years of work.

Just get the damned shots, people.

That sucks, man. Sorry to hear.

[carlos3652]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Meanwhile, I'm dissolving my small production company next month and selling off all the equipment for pennies on the dollar because the plague has now cost me two years of work.

Sorry dude. That stinks.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by DaFace

That's simultaneously true and probably counterproductive. If you want people to get the vaccine, they need to know that the world isn't going to keep trying to protect them forever.

I continue to believe that Colorado has handled this very well. People keep clutching pearls about the numbers going up, and our governor just keeps saying, "Well, they should get vaccinated."

The vaccines work, and they work well. That's all there is to it. But stories about breakthroughs are compelling, so that's the thing that sticks in everyone's mind (and the stories that get more clicks). At this point, I don't really see any compelling reason that we should have any restrictions whatsoever for vaccinated people.

The restrictions on vaccinated people are only in place to put peer pressure on the unvaccinated. It's kind of like punishing the whole class because of the kid that keeps talking out of turn.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by loochy

The restrictions on vaccinated people are only in place to put peer pressure on the unvaccinated. It's kind of like punishing the whole class because of the kid that keeps talking out of turn.

And the issue is that the kids talking out of turn don't give a shit about the impact that they're having on the rest of the class, so that approach isn't really accomplishing much at this point.

[O.city]

AMAZING report from @PHE_uk on vaccination impact on #COVID19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths in England

2 things stand out:
- Vaccines work astoundingly well
- Even unvaccinated kids are lower risk of death than fully vaccinated adults of any agehttps://t.co/E1oHhKrCCA pic.twitter.com/rUadEWusOp

— Alasdair Munro (@apsmunro) September 9, 2021

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by O.city

AMAZING report from @PHE_uk on vaccination impact on #COVID19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths in England

2 things stand out:
- Vaccines work astoundingly well
- Even unvaccinated kids are lower risk of death than fully vaccinated adults of any agehttps://t.co/E1oHhKrCCA pic.twitter.com/rUadEWusOp

— Alasdair Munro (@apsmunro) September 9, 2021

That's another message that I think is really getting lost. Yes, kids 0-12 can't get the vaccine yet, but their risk is super low even without it.

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by DaFace

And the issue is that the kids talking out of turn don't give a shit about the impact that they're having on the rest of the class, so that approach isn't really accomplishing much at this point.

In fact those kids are pointing an laughing at everyone else.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by DaFace

That's another message that I think is really getting lost. Yes, kids 0-12 can't get the vaccine yet, but their risk is super low even without it.

But what if they get it and 40 years down the road they develop Covid related lung issues!!!!

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I continue to believe that Colorado has handled this very well. People keep clutching pearls about the numbers going up, and our governor just keeps saying, "Well, they should get vaccinated."

Sweet, so no mask mandates out there? We're on our way out the door for Estes Park as soon as I submit this post. Hopefully we don't get chased out by wildfires again.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Sweet, so no mask mandates out there? We're on our way out the door for Estes Park as soon as I submit this post. Hopefully we don't get chased out by wildfires again.

You should be good in Estes. https://data.coloradoan.com/fires/

If you plan on going to RMNP make sure you get your timed entry permit. https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvis...mit-system.htm

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by O.city

AMAZING report from @PHE_uk on vaccination impact on #COVID19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths in England

2 things stand out:
- Vaccines work astoundingly well
- Even unvaccinated kids are lower risk of death than fully vaccinated adults of any agehttps://t.co/E1oHhKrCCA pic.twitter.com/rUadEWusOp

— Alasdair Munro (@apsmunro) September 9, 2021

One would think that would be insanely compelling. Yet, I'm still not convinced it helps counter the idiocy of posts like this:

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

I just don’t get why or how people can defend the vaccine anymore lol

How does one counter the complete idiots that have not the ability nor the desire to understand what the data is actually telling us?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Sweet, so no mask mandates out there? We're on our way out the door for Estes Park as soon as I submit this post. Hopefully we don't get chased out by wildfires again.

Nothing at the state level. Local counties can add their own mandates, but as far as I know no one has done so except Boulder County. And obviously individual businesses can do whatever they want.

In short, I'd carry a mask in your pocket, and you'll see people wearing them here and there, but I'd be surprised if you go anywhere that requires it.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Here's the thing.

I don't understand how protecting your neighbor became a political argument.

Maybe you are confident you'd be fine and get through covid. But what about every single person you come in contact with?

If everybody gets the vaccine, then we can all get on with our lives as relatively normal.

Without it, ICU's are full and not only are people dying of covid, but there's not adequate resources for ANYONE who needs medical care for any reason due to the massive burden on the medical sector.

Just get the damned shot. We live in a society. We interact with each other. Rugged individualism, yeah, yeah-but you don't exist in a vacuum. Why is such a small thing to do such a problem? Is a couple of shots (or just one even) so much to ask to not kill the greeter at Wal-Mart? Or the lady in front of you in line at the gas station? Or her spouse who's a cancer patient?

Why do people not understand that it's not all about YOU. It's about everyone you come in contact with, and everyone they come in contact with and so on and so on.

This is madness.

There exists a certain segment of the population that are cowards. That's the long and short of it.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

There exists a certain segment of the population that are cowards. That's the long and short of it.

Eh, that's going too far from my perspective. From a different vantage point, people say the same thing about people being "afraid" of COVID in the first place.