***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]

Another possibly dumb question. We're requiring no more than 10 people gather together right? Why are we allowing tons and tons of people into grocery stores?

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I agree and I think to a point we are going to have to assume a certain amount of cases "might" have it but we aren't going to necessarily test it unless there is a cause such as underlying medical conditions, etc.

Why 90% negative? That's a good question. All I can give you is we have seen one of the worst seasons for influenza in almost ever. I mean to the point that we were told at work that even if you did not work in a patient facing facility you had to wear a mask if you did not get the flu shot. Treatment for pneumonia has been very high this year as well.

So perhaps people just have the flu but symptoms are enough to require testing for Covid?

I saw somewhere, sorry no link , there was 10% false negative, there were testing people 2-3 times it might have been korea . Not sure how much that would affect the numbers.


Testing might have improved since then.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

So is there any positive news today....?

[candyman]

Originally Posted by TLO

This might be a dumb question, but can we just borrow some ventilators from somewhere in the world that doesn't need them right now?

"Hey Russia, mind if we borrow your ventilators since you dont need them right now? If it gets bad there we promise we'll send them back"

[Stanley Nickels]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Why 90% negative? That's a good question. All I can give you is we have seen one of the worst seasons for influenza in almost ever. I mean to the point that we were told at work that even if you did not work in a patient facing facility you had to wear a mask if you did not get the flu shot. Treatment for pneumonia has been very high this year as well.

So perhaps people just have the flu but symptoms are enough to require testing for Covid?

Great points. Doesn't help that there is no clear constellation of symptoms for coronavirus. The only two symptoms reported in more than one-half of patients are flu and cough. https://i2.wp.com/www.mercurynews.co...2C9999px&ssl=1

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by TLO

Another possibly dumb question. We're requiring no more than 10 people gather together right? Why are we allowing tons and tons of people into grocery stores?

Practicality to a point. I just left Costco and I got lucky. I walked right in, even got a package of TP. Line is very long because they can only have so manu cashiers but it moved fast.

When I left I saw a herd of people being held at the entrance. They were not being allowed in until some people left.

[Stanley Nickels]

Originally Posted by TLO

Another possibly dumb question. We're requiring no more than 10 people gather together right? Why are we allowing tons and tons of people into grocery stores?

...Because people have to eat?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by TLO

This might be a dumb question, but can we just borrow some ventilators from somewhere in the world that doesn't need them right now?

they said that all together ventilator manufactures have a backlog of 100K ventilator orders. Every country in the world didn’t have enough ventilators in reserve. Wasn’t just us.

So although it wasn’t asked or talked about on the call, it’s a good assumption that no country has extra ventilators right now.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Stanley Nickels

Great points. Doesn't help that there is no clear constellation of symptoms for coronavirus. The only two symptoms reported in more than one-half of patients are flu and cough. https://i2.wp.com/www.mercurynews.co...2C9999px&ssl=1

Flu and cough?

[Demonpenz]

Most of america is obese. they don't need to eat.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by candyman

"Hey Russia, mind if we borrow your ventilators since you dont need them right now? If it gets bad there we promise we'll send them back"

Russia has like zero cases. North Korea too. Maybe they'll let us borrow some?

Originally Posted by Stanley Nickels

...Because people have to eat?

Sure they do. They can go inside 10 at a time. Or better yet, grocery stores can find a way to go to an all online ordering pickup /delivery option.

I'm sure this is nowhere near feasible

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

So is there any positive news today....?

Testing is up, which means that cases are up, but that also suggests that death rates will be lower if we can keep from overloading hospitals.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by TLO

This might be a dumb question, but can we just borrow some ventilators from somewhere in the world that doesn't need them right now?

There's no such thing as a dumb question.

But There's always dumb people asking questions.



Sorry ,couldn't help myself!

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

they said that all together ventilator manufactures have a backlog of 100K ventilator orders. Every country in the world didn’t have enough ventilators in reserve. Wasn’t just us.

So although it wasn’t asked or talked about on the call, it’s a good assumption that no country has extra ventilators right now.

Infact we have more on hand now that any other country.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

So is there any positive news today....?

Yep. I'm not sick!