***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]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Knowingly travels to a virus outbreak and upon returning proceeds to suggests other people are being irresponsible. Okay then.

I don't trust anything anyone says on Twitter, honestly. Great platform for attention seeking.

[suzzer99]

Well I know someone who knows someone who’s tested positive now. It’s a kid in San Francisco. The kid will probably be fine. But little kids coughing and sneezing all over the place is a scary vector. Stay safe out there.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I’m glad the government finally quit lying to the public about being able to go to their doctor and get tested for the Coronavirus.

The CDC decides whether you get a kit or not. Right now, as of this afternoon late, there are 1.6 million requests for a test and around 50K test kits are available.

Do the math. Quit lying to the people. Quit wishful thinking. Quit spouting off BS. Just provide the facts. There is no reason for anyone to panic. Just tell them the ****ing truth.

I think each kit can produce 500 tests. There seems to be a lot of confusion on that.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Setsuna

How goes the fear mongering? I'm not phased.

We're pretty rational in here, truthfully.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Do people routinely not care if they give their elderly parent the flu? Seems like a self quarantine regardless which is pretty much my point. Whether or not you are tested is not really a reason to give someone else the flu.

That said, people with obvious serious symptoms and higher risks could benefit from testing but opening it up to anyone with a sniffle would be a bad idea. People already abuse the ER unnecessarily. This would make it way worst.

Yes people take the regular flu much less seriously than they would this. The regular flu is .1% fatal case rate. This is 10x to 20x higher. Maybe 5x if we're really lucky.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

I think each kit can produce 500 tests. There seems to be a lot of confusion on that.

Is that how it works? I feel super uneducated.

[Discuss Thrower]

Seems to me the time to have been proactive about this was probably a week before Wuhan was quarantined by the CCP. And that proactive measure would have been to completely shut down the USA from flights originating from across the Pacific and to isolate anyone who had been in China with a readiness to shut down all incoming international air travel.

But that would have just needlessly caused a panic, right?

[KCUnited]

Canceled everything, only surfacing for a fried chicken taco shell, a blooming onion, flavored vape oil and a 6er of 4 loko.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Do people routinely not care if they give their elderly parent the flu? Seems like a self quarantine regardless which is pretty much my point. Whether or not you are tested is not really a reason to give someone else the flu.

That said, people with obvious serious symptoms and higher risks could benefit from testing but opening it up to anyone with a sniffle would be a bad idea. People already abuse the ER unnecessarily. This would make it way worst.

If it turns out to be the flu, staying home is sufficient. If it turns out to be C19, then you want to, ideally, inform anyone that you have had close contact with for instance people you work with.

Tracking down contacts and testing/isolating them before they can spread it is the only way to really stay on top of it. You need a lot of testing for this approach to work.

The alternative is to treat it like the flu. This could result in many more getting it at the same time and overwhelming hospitals. But there is no way to exactly predict the outcome of a given approach.

So the choice becomes a political/social one based on incomplete information.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Seems to me the time to have been proactive about this was probably a week before Wuhan was quarantined by the CCP. And that proactive measure would have been to completely shut down the USA from flights originating from across the Pacific and to isolate anyone who had been in China with a readiness to shut down all incoming international air travel.

But that would have just needlessly caused a panic, right?

that’s why you prepare it all up front before an outbreak. Masks, additional medical supplies stashed in say those KC caves. How are we going to ramp up a test? Who gets tested, quarantined? When do you stop travel? What’s the criteria?

No reason for us to panic. The government and medical professionals are just preparing for the next one. There is always going to be a next one so the supplies will not go bad like hoarding WWII cheese. Work with other countries to share information on what the strain is and how far it’s spread. Preparation isn’t rocket science nor should it be political.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

that’s why you prepare it all up front before an outbreak. Masks, additional medical supplies stashed in say those KC caves. How are we going to ramp up a test? Who gets tested, quarantined? When do you stop travel? What’s the criteria?

No reason for us to panic. The government and medical professionals are just preparing for the next one. There is always going to be a next one so the supplies will not go bad like hoarding WWII cheese. Work with other countries to share information on what the strain is and how far it’s spread. Preparation isn’t rocket science nor should it be political.

Masks don't do jack shit. Stop listening to the ****ing media.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

You’ve been able to get a senior discount for the last three years and it’s just now hitting you? 😁

I don’t self-identity with being eligible for senior-citizen discounts.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Masks don't do jack shit. Stop listening to the ****ing media.

the n95 type masks are for the medical professionals to protect themselfs while serving those affected by the outbreak.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

More than anything, why are people going to the doctor for basic cold/flu symptoms?

Tamiflu requires a prescription and is only worthwhile if taken in the first 24-48 hours. It is reasonable behavior.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by cdcox

Tamiflu requires a prescription and is only worthwhile if taken in the first 24-48 hours. It is reasonable behavior.

That's pussy shit