***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.”

[sedated]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Mask wearing is either 100% where required, or less than 10% where not required. Humans are funny social creatures.

And yet the argument has been that the government doesn't need to oppress its citizens by requiring them if masks should be implemented.

[suzzer99]

People need to be nudged sometimes imo. Peer pressure is a powerful drug. No dude wants to be the gigantic pussy voluntarily wearing a mask. But “oh, well the stupid govt is telling me I have to, fine whatever but I’m taking it off the second I get out of the store!” is ok.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

People need to be nudged sometimes imo. Peer pressure is a powerful drug. No dude wants to be the gigantic pussy voluntarily wearing a mask. But “oh, well the stupid govt is telling me I have to, fine whatever but I’m taking it off the second I get out of the store!” is ok.

Or instead of forcing people, give them the information that they work and encourage them to wear them.

Force in public health isn't a long term strategy thats going to work.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by O.city

Or instead of forcing people, give them the information that they work and encourage them to wear them.

Force in public health isn't a long term strategy thats going to work.

Mask arent going to do anything besides prolong the nightmare which most eveyone is beyond ready to end.

I agree about the fatigue of it all.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Mask arent going to do anything besides prolong the nightmare which most eveyone is beyond ready to end.

I agree about the fatigue of it all.

Prolonging the nightmare has significantly brought the death rate down as we learn. That was (or should have) always been the framing of this.

The longer time we have dealing with it, the more we learn and develop.

Worn properly, masks will help. They aren't a panacea, but helpful.

[TLO]

Whatever happened to monoclonal antibodies? I was excited about those and now I feel like there hasn't been any new info in like a month.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by TLO

Whatever happened to monoclonal antibodies? I was excited about those and now I feel like there hasn't been any new info in like a month.

Those studies take time. I'm guessing later this month/October they'll be released to be used as emergency stuff.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by O.city

Prolonging the nightmare has significantly brought the death rate down as we learn. That was (or should have) always been the framing of this.

The longer time we have dealing with it, the more we learn and develop.

Worn properly, masks will help. They aren't a panacea, but helpful.

I'm sure they help to an extent but people's expectations of a mandatory mask order are severely misguided.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I'm sure they help to an extent but people's expectations of a mandatory mask order are severely misguided.

Orders aren't gonna work.

If everyone would wear them, properly, it would likely make a difference in transmission etc, especially if we could get respirator masks to everyone.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

Those studies take time. I'm guessing later this month/October they'll be released to be used as emergency stuff.

Ivermectin has my attention now too.

[eDave]

[O.city]

Just to prepare you guys for what's about to happen, AstraZeneca had to pause it's trial on a vaccine because they had an adverse reaction in Europe somewhere. It will be seen as a negative etc.

When in reality, it's both bad (delays suck and adverse effects are never wanted) and good (it shows the companies are doing things the right way and it's expected to have an adverse reaction somewhere, they always do) so it's really par for the course.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

Just to prepare you guys for what's about to happen, AstraZeneca had to pause it's trial on a vaccine because they had an adverse reaction in Europe somewhere. It will be seen as a negative etc.

When in reality, it's both bad (delays suck and adverse effects are never wanted) and good (it shows the companies are doing things the right way and it's expected to have an adverse reaction somewhere, they always do) so it's really par for the course.

As long as Pfizer keeps chugging along I'm ok with this.

They really put a trial on pause for 1 adverse reaction? Did the person die or something?

[TLO]

Originally Posted by TLO

Ivermectin has my attention now too.

Though this might be another hydroxycloriquine situation. I'm not sure yet.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by TLO

As long as Pfizer keeps chugging along I'm ok with this.

They really put a trial on pause for 1 adverse reaction? Did the person die or something?

Don't know the reaction. But, thats normal to put the trial on pause. It's how they always do it.