***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 ptlyon

Where on earth is it 7:19 pm right now, as I quote this at 3:45 central time?

On the server I copied those from - it's on UTC for some reason.

[007]

Wow no fans at the NCAA tournament

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

March Madness with no fans for one.......

Perhaps, although, perhaps it's very prudent. Do you think such a decision might slow the spread of the virus?

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Don't hug them.

Make sure you check out Rain Man's Ermine

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

It's amazing to think that many people are that stupid.

It's amazing to think people are putting this somewhere between SARS and Spanish Flu.......

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by SupDock

I think I will trust the experts on this.

Nah BleedingRed has clearly crunched the numbers and knows what's best.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Nah BleedingRed has clearly crunched the numbers and knows what's best.

.6 in South Korea more than "Crunched" the numbers on that one.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

.6 in South Korea more than "Crunched" the numbers on that one.

Cool. So it's a good thing that we're cancelling events like South Korea did, right?

[displacedinMN]

Fans will not be allowed at NCAA events, including Minneapolis' wrestling championships, due to coronavirus.

MPLS paper

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by Donger

And if they are reading this thread, they can see the facts at hand. If they want to read about the politics involved, disgusting as they are all around, they can read the thread in DC.

What leadership is doing in times of crisis is a huge part of this imo. I agree we shouldn't go on partisan diatribes and get into squabbles. But to ignore all the messaging and actions coming from our health leadership and political leadership, or tip-toe around it, is missing a lot of information and counter-productive imo.

[displacedinMN]

Crazy.

[007]

Originally Posted by Fish

E3 2020 is officially canceled due to coronavirus



The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) confirmed Wednesday that the Electronic Entertainment Expo, North America’s largest video game convention better known as E3, has been officially canceled due to coronavirus.



“After careful consultation with our member companies regarding the health and safety of everyone in our industry – our fans, our employees, our exhibitors and our longtime E3 partners – we have made the difficult decision to cancel E3 2020, scheduled for June 9-11 in Los Angeles,” the ESA wrote in a statement sent to The Washington Post. “Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation. We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our fans and supporters. But we know it’s the right decision based on the information we have today.”

Now that's a step too far.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

.6 in South Korea more than "Crunched" the numbers on that one.

How are we handling this - closer to S. Korea or closer to Italy?



We're not testing at all. We're still in denial.

.6 is still bare minimum 350k dead in the US and hospitals overwhelmed (which will massively drive up the death rate) if we don't slow the spread of this with drastic measures.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Cool. So it's a good thing that we're cancelling events like South Korea did, right?

I mean, sure.... Lets send the world into a global depression over something that in the end might end up being less deadly than Swine Flu in the end.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Cool. So it's a good thing that we're cancelling events like South Korea did, right?

No. Nothing can be learned from S. Korea - we can do whatever we want and everything will be fine. Stop trying to scare people.