***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.”

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I guess it comes down to the question of whether vaccinated people can still spread the virus. Do we know the answer to that yet?

If so, it seems like the appropriate thing is to wear them until everyone is vaccinated who is willing to get one. Then you let the laggards determine their own fate.

If not, then the only problem is that the laggards will be spreading the virus and even at 95 percent you'll still be having the virus hit some vaccinated people. But that's always going to happen unless we kill the virus, so it shouldn't drive policy.

We’re rapidly reaching the point where, in many parts of the country, anyone who wants the vaccine can get it.

It’s not my job to protect the idiots who refuse to protect themselves.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

We’re rapidly reaching the point where, in many parts of the country, anyone who wants the vaccine can get it.

It’s not my job to protect the idiots who refuse to protect themselves.

Yep. When we hit that point, we turn it over to Darwin. You just hope that there are few enough of those people to squelch the natural spread of the virus. Even at 95 percent efficacy, some people will still get it. Of course, I'm hearing that the vaccinated people tend to get only a mild case, so as long as that doesn't change we're good.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Yep. When we hit that point, we turn it over to Darwin. You just hope that there are few enough of those people to squelch the natural spread of the virus. Even at 95 percent efficacy, some people will still get it. Of course, I'm hearing that the vaccinated people tend to get only a mild case, so as long as that doesn't change we're good.

There is still a potential for the virus to change rendering the vaccine less effective or potentially useless , so they you still want to reduce the amount of hosts available, so we still need to care a little about people not getting vaccinated.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Monticore

There is still a potential for the virus to change rendering the vaccine less effective or potentially useless , so they you still want to reduce the amount of hosts available, so we still need to care a little about people not getting vaccinated.

Nah, the vaccines are standing up really well.

I woudln't worry too much about variants with escape yet.

Between natural immunity and vaccinations, we're there. Now the rest of the world is getting slammed, so start slinging vaccines everywhere

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by O.city

Nah, the vaccines are standing up really well.

I woudln't worry too much about variants with escape yet.

Between natural immunity and vaccinations, we're there. Now the rest of the world is getting slammed, so start slinging vaccines everywhere

If vaccine are this effective I assume there is still a chance this thing could die out no?

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by Monticore

There is still a potential for the virus to change rendering the vaccine less effective or potentially useless , so they you still want to reduce the amount of hosts available, so we still need to care a little about people not getting vaccinated.

Yeah, the non-vaxxers might be the undoing of all the work and sacrifice the rest of us have done.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Monticore

If vaccine are this effective I assume there is still a chance this thing could die out no?

I doubt we get enough coverage worldwide, but it'll basically become the flu I'd imagine. Or less.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Monticore

If vaccine are this effective I assume there is still a chance this thing could die out no?

No. That is a fantasy.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

No. That is a fantasy.

If you could vaccinate enough people, it would run out of hosts.

That won't happen though.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

No. That is a fantasy.

With that type of attitude maybe, if it doesn't mutate and everybody gets infected/vaccinated in theory it would die out , if not for the possible variants that could cause issues I have no problem if the unvaccinated do their part and get infected .

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by Monticore

With that type of attitude maybe, if it doesn't mutate and everybody gets infected/vaccinated in theory it would die out , if not for the possible variants that could cause issues I have no problem if the unvaccinated do their part and get infected .

Most of the top scientists have been saying that we need to learn to live with this for a while now. This is going to be around, probably will cycle through like another common cold virus.

Zero Covid cult is a totalitarian religion, not based on science.

We have had new coronaviruses before, we will in the future. Asking for more is hubris.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Most of the top scientists have been saying that we need to learn to live with this for a while now. This is going to be around, probably will cycle through like another common cold virus.

Zero Covid cult is a totalitarian religion, not based on science.

We have had new coronaviruses before, we will in the future. Asking for more is hubris.

There's a massive difference between "we should lock everything down until it's 100% eliminated" and "it's possible we could eliminate this through vaccines." I'm fine with opening things up pretty much entirely after we hit 70%+ vaccination or so, but I also think that continuing to be aggressive with vaccines could eventually all but eliminate it.

It's not going to happen overnight, but over the course of a decade or so with additional research and focus? Sure, it could happen.

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by DaFace

There's a massive difference between "we should lock everything down until it's 100% eliminated" and "it's possible we could eliminate this through vaccines." I'm fine with opening things up pretty much entirely after we hit 70%+ vaccination or so, but I also think that continuing to be aggressive with vaccines could eventually all but eliminate it.

It's not going to happen overnight, but over the course of a decade or so with additional research and focus? Sure, it could happen.

Protect the small percentage of our population that is vulnerable. Offer those the vaccine and that's it.

My life as a human is not going to be dedicated to wiping out a minor coronavirus or stopping nature.

Mankind has far bigger problems right now worthy of investment, like children dying of starvation.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Protect the small percentage of our population that is vulnerable. Offer those the vaccine and that's it.

My life as a human is not going to be dedicated to wiping out a minor coronavirus or stopping nature.

Mankind has far bigger problems right now worthy of investment, like children dying of starvation.

Seeing what's happening in India currently, I'd say it's still a pretty big problem.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Protect the small percentage of our population that is vulnerable. Offer those the vaccine and that's it.

My life as a human is not going to be dedicated to wiping out a minor coronavirus or stopping nature.

Mankind has far bigger problems right now worthy of investment, like children dying of starvation.

The vulnerable people now are the unvaccinated.