***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.”

[O.city]

My mom fell at work this morning and hit her head. They think she’s ok but she’s on blood thinners so they are worried about a bleed and wanna transfer her to Springfield to the ER

Both hospitals here are on diversion due to covid. It’s bad here

[Donger]

The US Food and Drug Administration will meet this week to consider giving half-doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine to people aged 18 to 55.

The move could make the vaccine available to twice as many people in this age group, according to Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific adviser of Operation Warp Speed, the US government's vaccine program.

Slaoui told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta that the decision to cut the current 100-microgram dose in half, with another half-dose 28 days later, ultimately rests in the hands of the FDA.

Earlier data showed that binding and neutralizing antibody responses were similar among participants under 55 who received either 100-microgram or 50-microgram doses, Slaoui said. While an FDA briefing document last month also references these “comparable” immune responses from Moderna’s phase 2 study, the full data have not yet been published.

Slaoui said he’s “not sure it holds for Pfizer,” whose dose contains 30 micrograms. But that’s a conversation that has yet to happen, he added.

CNN has reached out to Moderna and Pfizer for comment. The US government previously secured 200 million doses each of Moderna’s and Pfizer’s vaccines.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

UK going to a stronger lockdown too. We need to get vaccines out quick

We need to fill convention centers, ball rooms, warmer areas parking lots with vaccine centers. Staff with volunteers. You can choose to go there voluntarily or wait in line for some hospital, CVS etc. spot to open up. We have done this with every major vaccine.

Here in Florida we have 67 counties doing their own thing in their own way. Every state. county scrambling with already maxed out health care services is an idiotic way to get everyone vaccinated.

We need more urgency here. People are sick of this shitshow. We need to move on but cant until we get the vaccine into arms.

[Donger]

Total Doses Distributed

13,071,925

Total Number of People Initiating Vaccination (1st Dose Received)

4,225,756

CDC | Updated: Jan 02 2021 As of 9:00am ET

[TLO]

Originally Posted by O.city

With this new strain being that much more and quicker spread, you’re only option is vaccination. Test and trace and whatever isn’t gonna help

Our health department thinks it could be 3-4 weeks before they can even get their hands on any doses.

[RunKC]

My wife is getting the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine today. She works in healthcare but isn’t frontline. She’s on the corporate business side

[loochy]

Originally Posted by RunKC

My wife is getting the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine today. She works in healthcare but isn’t frontline. She’s on the corporate business side

At this point, I don't really care WHO gets it, just get it to people so we can be that much closer to capping this crap off.

[dirk digler]

I see that UK approved the Oxford vaccine and started vaccinations today. No idea when we will.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by O.city

My mom fell at work this morning and hit her head. They think she’s ok but she’s on blood thinners so they are worried about a bleed and wanna transfer her to Springfield to the ER

Both hospitals here are on diversion due to covid. It’s bad here

They're transferring her to Barnes in STL, think she has a small bleed but that it should be ok. Want her close to better service if it were to get worse.

2021 off to a great start. ****.

[Kman34]

Originally Posted by O.city

They're transferring her to Barnes in STL, think she has a small bleed but that it should be ok. Want her close to better service if it were to get worse.

2021 off to a great start. ****.

Hope everything works out ok for your mom..

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by RunKC

My wife is getting the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine today. She works in healthcare but isn’t frontline. She’s on the corporate business side

My sister in law got vaccinated last week she is in administration at a hospital in Illinois, my ex got vaccinated before Christmas she is a nurse practitioner here in MO.

Not sure how they are prioritizing this stuff it seems to be willy nilly.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by O.city

They're transferring her to Barnes in STL, think she has a small bleed but that it should be ok. Want her close to better service if it were to get worse.

2021 off to a great start. ****.

Good luck man.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

My sister in law got vaccinated last week she is in administration at a hospital in Illinois, my ex got vaccinated before Christmas she is a nurse practitioner here in MO.

Not sure how they are prioritizing this stuff it seems to be willy nilly.

Do they already have their second shots scheduled?


My wife gets the second dose on Sunday. The first shot was uneventful. The government did not use it to mind control her (yet).

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by O.city

They're transferring her to Barnes in STL, think she has a small bleed but that it should be ok. Want her close to better service if it were to get worse.

2021 off to a great start. ****.

Thoughts are with you O.City and your mom.

[petegz28]

Meanwhile, New Zealand is setting up "mandatory quarantine camps"......