***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.”

[BigRedChief]

Talked to my Respiratory Therapists buddies yesterday. The USA companies and the government waited too long and cant buy more ventilators any time soon. Other countries have over 100K ventilators on order in front of us. The hospitals were told what we have is it for the crisis. Thats why the military announced their 2000 ventilators can be used by the civilian hospitals.

I guess we could bribe some countries to give us their order but if their citizens found out you sold out their citizens for money.....

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Talked to my Respiratory Therapists buddies yesterday. The USA companies and the government waited too long and cant buy more ventilators any time soon. Other countries have over 100K ventilators on order in front of us. The hospitals were told what we have is it for the crisis. Thats why the military announced their 2000 ventilators can be used by the civilian hospitals.



I guess we could bribe some countries to give us their order but if their citizens found out you sold out their citizens for money.....

If only they were made in the good old USA.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by notorious

You have bald eagles out there?

That's freaking cool as hell!

We see them occasionally when fishing on Truman.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

If only they were made in the good old USA.

What the hell is made here anymore?

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

What the hell is made here anymore?

After this hope it changes if not Never will.

[Kman34]

Originally Posted by neech

that negative thinking isn't healthy my friend.

I think my main problem is too much time on the internet..

[O.city]

Originally Posted by notorious

I posted that on Facebook as my results

My mom was not amused

[O.city]

Go wwii and have some of these other manufacturing companies here start making respirators

[Kman34]

Can I use my CPAP as a respirator??

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by ShowtimeSBMVP

After this hope it changes if not Never will.

Yeah, I hope that at least some crucial equipment for our economy and health be made in America going forward. Even if he have to subsidize the manufacturing. So the next crisis we are not dependent on other countries for our critical and safety needs.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Kman34

Can I use my CPAP as a respirator??

If its a newer bi-level model, possibly, you could.

Hospitals are thinking of it in a pinch. The motors are not made to run 24 hours straight like the vents. You have no ventilators, worst case run it till the motor gives out. Also the pressure and stress going through a small tube will put stress on the motor.


Just an FYI, a "respirator" in the medical field is a mask to protect you from germs.

[lewdog]

Healthcare workers should be tax exempt this year. Won’t hurt companies bottom line but can be kickback from government for hazard pay.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Healthcare workers should be tax exempt this year. Won’t hurt companies bottom line but can be kickback from government for hazard pay.

The VA has the largest and most wide spread medical care facilities in the USA. As far as I know or heard that has been no discussion of using our best option to increase capacity to handle the coming need of our citizens.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

And a 5.7 earthquake near Salt Lake City with aftershocks of 3+

Yep the airport is shut down. My folks were scheduled to fly through there today and are now rerouted to Minneapolis. It looks like their layover is only 35 minutes before their next flight, ****ing Delta.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

The VA has the largest and most wide spread medical care facilities in the USA. As far as I know or heard that has been no discussion of using our best option to increase capacity to handle the coming need of our citizens.

Aren't they pretty much packed as is?