***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.”

[Chitownchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by O.city

100k cases today

I've been told the number of cases doesn't matter.

[dirk digler]

Don't know if anyone heard about this Denmark-Mink covid transmissions with everything else going on but it is fascinating and concerning at the same time.

In Denmark they have had human - mink - human transmission and covid has mutated quite a bit before it was transmitted back to human. Currently there is 12-17 people in Denmark with this mutated mink covid that they know of. Denmark was planning to kill all of them by 2024 but now they are going to do it now.

The concern is the mutated virus has a mutation that they found through testing that causes resistance to antibodies and maybe to vaccines.

Doesn't appear so far that this mutated virus is any more or less lethal or symptoms change which is good news.

I have to say though it worries me how easy this virus can spread to animals and then back to us.

There is several other countries including the US that has mink farms.

All mink must be killed as a result of COVID-19

The Statens Serum Institut has found a mutated form of corona virus in mink. It poses such a serious danger to public health that the government has decided that all mink in Denmark must be killed. (Article published by coronasmitte.dk) News , Published: November 4, 2020

The mutated form of the virus that Statens Serum Institut has found, showed reduced sensitivity to antibodies and it is a variant of the virus that can migrate from mink to humans. There is a risk that a future vaccine will not have an effect on the mutated form of virus.

And there is a risk that the mutated form of virus could spread to other countries.

Therefore, the government has decided that it is necessary to kill all mink in Denmark, including the breeding animals, even though it is a serious decision for the country's mink farmers. At the same time, the authorities will announce a number of additional restrictions tomorrow, which will apply to the population in a number of municipalities in North Jutland and Himmerland.

The Government has therefore decided that the situation is now so serious that both the infected herds and the herds in the immediate vicinity of the infected herds must be killed.

Efforts to kill mink throughout the country will be coordinated through the National Operating Staff (NOST). The police and the Armed Forces, together with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, will intensify the killing of the animals.

Mink breeders who kill their animals themselves will receive increased compensation.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by O.city

She woke up this morning with symptoms. So it looks like we were for sure out of the window of infectiousness I guess.

you are the most contagious 2-3 days before symptoms onset.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by O.city

She woke up this morning with symptoms. So it looks like we were for sure out of the window of infectiousness I guess.

quit being a weasel and go lock yourself in a room

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Chitownchiefsfan

I've been told the number of cases doesn't matter.

They dont....

[Pasta Little Brioni]

O the Super Spreading Dentist

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by loochy

quit being a mink and go lock yourself in a room

FYP

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Yep. I know this sounds a bit odd but strictly from a isolation\quarantine time perspective, you're better off getting it and having symptoms. You just hope you don't get so sick you go to the hospital or worse. But your 10 days starts the day of symptom onset vs. day of test result for asympto. And you have 10 days and you're done. If you're "exposed" it's 14 days from date of exposure. If you're living with the person you're exposed too then it's 10 days from either onset or test date plus 14.

So it's almost like you're better off getting it with symptoms and moving on. It's just all the suck that comes along with getting it that, well, sucks.

How are you feeling pete?

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Monticore

FYP

you clever canuck

[dirk digler]

Good news and I think o.city would say very expected.

pic.twitter.com/kHaFg3OPJN

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) November 5, 2020

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

How are you feeling pete?

Back to work today. Still a touch tired and still can't quite taste things like before but overall I am doing good.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

How are you feeling pete?

Back to work today. Still a touch tired and still can't quite taste things like before but overall I am doing good.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Good news and I think o.city would say very expected.

pic.twitter.com/kHaFg3OPJN

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) November 5, 2020

At least

Yes it's very good news.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Don't know if anyone heard about this Denmark-Mink covid transmissions with everything else going on but it is fascinating and concerning at the same time.

In Denmark they have had human - mink - human transmission and covid has mutated quite a bit before it was transmitted back to human. Currently there is 12-17 people in Denmark with this mutated mink covid that they know of. Denmark was planning to kill all of them by 2024 but now they are going to do it now.

The concern is the mutated virus has a mutation that they found through testing that causes resistance to antibodies and maybe to vaccines.

Doesn't appear so far that this mutated virus is any more or less lethal or symptoms change which is good news.

I have to say though it worries me how easy this virus can spread to animals and then back to us.

There is several other countries including the US that has mink farms.

Saw it this morning on the news. Apparently Spain has put down a substantial number of minks as well.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Saw it this morning on the news. Apparently Spain has put down a substantial number of minks as well.

Good time to buy a coat?

[TLO]

Please read this about the mink.

This new mink COVID-19 mutation story, which is making the rounds on Twitter is highly problematic. There are elements of truth in it but the reporting is completely irresponsible.
1/https://t.co/SiZxtmwwKE

— Prof Francois Balloux (@BallouxFrancois) November 4, 2020