***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]

https://twitter.com/enirenberg/statu...862725125?s=21

Here’s an interesting thread about vaccines and their history

[dirk digler]

Feds sending a COVID surge team to Springfield.

[O.city]

A new study shows COVID-19 vaccines are fundamentally restricting the evolutionary and antigenic escape pathways accessible to SARS-CoV-2 AND vaccinated breakthrough patients displayed fewer COVID-associated complications and pre-existing conditions relative to unvaccinated-

— Mac n’ Chise ������ (@sailorrooscout) July 5, 2021

[eDave]

Originally Posted by NotDonger

Here you go:

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tra...nt-proportions

Sorry, but I didn't use to be able to post links. I guess I can now.

I'm not sure what you mean by context. Those are the percentages of Delta variant cases per state. It's now the predominant variant in Missouri by far, and growing substantially in other states.

Weird that the SE is being spared so far.

[sedated]

Is Delta more dangerous, or just more contagious? Ive seen conflicting stories, so not sure if it should be a big deal other than its the new buzz word for covid.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by sedated

Is Delta more dangerous, or just more contagious? Ive seen conflicting stories, so not sure if it should be a big deal other than its the new buzz word for covid.

It definitely seems to be more contagious, but I don't see a ton of evidence that it's more dangerous. It's impacting younger people more as a percentage of cases, but that could simply be driven by vaccination rates being lower among younger ages.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by DaFace

It definitely seems to be more contagious, but I don't see a ton of evidence that it's more dangerous. It's impacting younger people more as a percentage of cases, but that could simply be driven by vaccination rates being lower among younger ages.

My read is it's been more deadly or at least more severe for younger ages. Previous versions it seemed like COVID was a mild cold for most. When this Delta variant hit India it raised it to a whole new level of crisis. A guy on my team who was 25 and healthy (and in India) caught it and did die. (He never had the opportunity to receive a vaccine.) I don't have hard data but feel like I've seen comparisons in addition to that anecdote that back that up.

[Cntrygal]

Strange that SD's percentage is so high, they reported on the news yesterday that we only had 3 cases of the Delta variant. But then, our news isn't always known for being accurate......

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by wazu

My read is it's been more deadly or at least more severe for younger ages. Previous versions it seemed like COVID was a mild cold for most. When this Delta variant hit India it raised it to a whole new level of crisis. A guy on my team who was 25 and healthy (and in India) caught it and did die. (He never had the opportunity to receive a vaccine.) I don't have hard data but feel like I've seen comparisons in addition to that anecdote that back that up.

Yeah, I just haven't really seen much data one way or the other. There were plenty of younger people who were knocked flat by version 1.0, but the stories didn't get as much traction when older people were so much more commonly affected.

[dirk digler]

Pfizer is going file a EUA for a booster shot since there might be some waning in their vaccine.

Pfizer plans to file an EUA for a booster vaccine to counter Delta (+ do a clinical trial)
There are currently insufficient data to warrant that it'll be necessary. Beyond neutralizing antibodies, our immune response consists of memory B cells, T cellshttps://t.co/9z6WTyUBfm pic.twitter.com/5azhx7luSd

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 8, 2021

[TLO]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Pfizer is going file a EUA for a booster shot since there might be some waning in their vaccine.

Pfizer plans to file an EUA for a booster vaccine to counter Delta (+ do a clinical trial)
There are currently insufficient data to warrant that it'll be necessary. Beyond neutralizing antibodies, our immune response consists of memory B cells, T cellshttps://t.co/9z6WTyUBfm pic.twitter.com/5azhx7luSd

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 8, 2021

Not a bad idea to have it ready if necessary?

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by TLO

Not a bad idea to have it ready if necessary?

Definitely not a bad idea. Sounds like they had a initial study showing the booster shot showed good results.

Update to @Reuters w/ @JDSteenhuysen (same link as attached)
and @WSJ coverage @joewalkerWSJ https://t.co/vkWTRiwcJu
Let's see the data from their "encouraging initial study" pic.twitter.com/6JX3M5CDDD

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 8, 2021

[Chief Roundup]

How much longer until Lambda is here in the U.S.?

[Fish]

Tokyo Olympics will be held without spectators - Games minister

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

How much longer until Lambda is here in the U.S.?

Maybe never. It doesn't seem to be all that infectious from what I've read.