***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.”

[TLO]

The stock market boomed today.

[Donger]

Now 100 cases.

[TLO]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nyt...state.amp.html

The deaths in Washington State were from that same nursing home.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

Now 100 cases.

Do these still include the diamond princess people?

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

Do these still include the diamond princess people?

Yes. Nine new cases, apparently:

Two dozen new cases were reported over the weekend, including the first two deaths from the virus in the US.

The 91 cases nationwide include:

• 45 former passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, the site of a recent outbreak and quarantine
• 3 Americans recently repatriated from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak
• 17 people believed to have contracted the virus through travel
• 26 people who got sick from another person in the US, including some who don't know who the source was

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Donger

Yes. Nine new cases, apparently:

Two dozen new cases were reported over the weekend, including the first two deaths from the virus in the US.

The 91 cases nationwide include:

• 45 former passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, the site of a recent outbreak and quarantine
• 3 Americans recently repatriated from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak
• 17 people believed to have contracted the virus through travel
• 26 people who got sick from another person in the US, including some who don't know who the source was

9 new cases in one day seems to be a positive sign. Especially with more rapid testing becoming available. Unless there's a slew of reported cases later in the evening.

I imagine we're going to lose a few more folks from the Washington State nursing facility in the coming days. This is incredibly unfortunate, but it seems to be the reality we're facing with elderly individuals and this virus.

With the more rapid testing available hopefully we continue to see only small numbers of cases reported

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Donger

I wonder how many transmissions would be prevented if people just stopped shaking hands and instead did the "elbow bump."

I have a longstanding record of supporting the polite bow over a handshake. I would back this change to social convention.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I have a longstanding record of supporting the polite bow over a handshake. I would back this change to social convention.

High five!

[Donger]

Originally Posted by TLO

9 new cases in one day seems to be a positive sign. Especially with more rapid testing becoming available. Unless there's a slew of reported cases later in the evening.

I imagine we're going to lose a few more folks from the Washington State nursing facility in the coming days. This is incredibly unfortunate, but it seems to be the reality we're facing with elderly individuals and this virus.

With the more rapid testing available hopefully we continue to see only small numbers of cases reported

That takes us higher than Hong Kong and just below Singapore.

USA! USA! USA!

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by TLO

9 new cases in one day seems to be a positive sign. Especially with more rapid testing becoming available. Unless there's a slew of reported cases later in the evening.

I imagine we're going to lose a few more folks from the Washington State nursing facility in the coming days. This is incredibly unfortunate, but it seems to be the reality we're facing with elderly individuals and this virus.

With the more rapid testing available hopefully we continue to see only small numbers of cases reported

The US isn't really testing very many people, only those who are super sick. They even removed the # tested from the CDC website.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...-live-updates/

Washington state announced four more coronavirus deaths on Monday, bringing the total death toll in the the United States to six, officials said, as the virus continues to spread despite travel restrictions aimed at curtailing it.

As the global death toll passed 3,000, South Korea on Monday confirmed 599 new cases, far higher than the daily tally reported in China. With 4,335 confirmed infections and at least 22 deaths, South Korea has the second-largest national caseload. However, it has tested more than 100,000 people, far more than most nations.

In the United States, tests have taken place at a far slower pace. A genetic analysis suggested that the coronavirus, which causes a highly infectious respiratory disease called covid-19, has been spreading undetected for about six weeks in Washington state. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Saturday took steps to sharply expand testing.

There are at least 18 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Washington state. Kirkland, Wash., has become a hub for the coronavirus response, as evidence suggests the virus may have spread undetected in the state for weeks.

If the death toll is 6, the # of actual cases is massively higher than 18.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

The US isn't really testing very many people, only those who are super sick. They even removed the # tested from the CDC website.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...-live-updates/

If the death toll is 6, the # of actual cases is massively higher than 18.

That doesn't really seem to jive with them confirming cases with people that have mild symptoms. Hopefully we start streamlining the testing process to find out some better numbers.

The death toll is 6 because it made a crash course for a nursing home, unfortunately. I'm honestly surprised there hasn't been more impacted.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by TLO

The stock market boomed today.

Buy medical stock.

[TLO]

And again, if this thing has been circulating for 6 weeks in Washington State, and it was THAT severe - why wouldn't that have popped up on any radar screens?

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by TLO

So, maybe locking down King County might not be a bad idea right about now. It's unfortunate, but we're probably going to see more of these nursing home folks pass away.

How about just locking down the old/medically vulnerable people instead?

For 80%+ of the general population the Coronavirus will be no worse than having the common cold.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by TLO

And again, if this thing has been circulating for 6 weeks in Washington State, and it was THAT severe - why wouldn't that have popped up on any radar screens?

Maybe because it took a while to find its way to a population of old people.