***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.”

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Another one of your classic “non political” posts. This time with the addition of some conspiracy.

I don't see that as political but maybe because I have no clue what Party he belongs to , but I a see a potential bone head move by a guy who happens to be a politician.

We should probably leave that distinction to the mods.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

Doesn't make a lot of sense that he died from complications of covid-19 with family members by his side. I have been under the impression that if you were in for Covid you were allowed no visitors.

If that family had been exposed to the patient and maybe considered/already infected maybe they made an exception but who knows.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by Mecca

The governor of Georgia is calling for restaurants, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors, gyms, salons, etc. to be reopened, but not banks, schools, factories, and places like that. Most likely reason? The state isn't equipped to pay out unemployment to too many people for very long, he's not willing to raise taxes on anyone capable of paying, and the people who work the reopened jobs are more likely to be in need of unemployment benefits, so this offers a chance to kick them off the rolls.

None of this is being done with health in mind.

These are actually a lot of sole proprietors that typically wouldn't get unemployment. Not only would these owners not get unemployment, but they have rent to pay on their place of employment.

Also, we aren't going to stop all infections, we were told at the beginning we need to flatten the curve so we don't overrun the hospitals. We are to the point where the harm of closing things down based on current CFR projections, especially for those 60 and under and healthy, is way worse than the risk for those individuals.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I understand if the guy who had a heart attack was found dead in room full of hookers and blow and tests positive it might not be COVID related but why would a Doctor risk their license to pad the stats or mislead the family.

They are reimbursed for any Covid-19 deaths, so assume they died at home with Covid-19 instead of testing them upon death to be sure. No risk to the license...

['Hamas' Jenkins]

People need to understand that although this is a respiratory virus it does not just affect the respiratory system. A substantial number of patients suffer from coagulopathies and neurological effects as well.

This is why when writing patient notes clinicians use the term "secondary to". Someone can develop renal failure secondary to a massive heart attack, or a develop a clot secondary to venous stasis and endothelial injury caused by inflammatory reactions to a virus.

[TLO]

Nods approvingly at 'Hamas Jenkins' post.

(Google's coagulopathies)

*continues to nod approvingly*

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

They are reimbursed for any Covid-19 deaths, so assume they died at home with Covid-19 instead of testing them upon death to be sure. No risk to the license...

I meant if they die of something obviously unrelated to covid (car accident/gun shot) I don't think they would put covid on there for just stats.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Monticore

It might be years before we see definite numbers on the effects of this pandemic.

Yet the "bad news" stats are believed without question.

The USC and Stanford studies are shining a light on this, yet a lot of people want to immediately discredit the info.

I am getting tired of this.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by notorious

Yet the "bad news" stats are believed without question.

The USC and Stanford studies are shining a light on this, yet a lot of people want to immediately discredit the info.

I am getting tired of this.

D U N N I N G
K R U G E R

[TLO]

It appears we've either hit the peak of "that time of day" in this thread. Or may have already peaked and are coming down the other side of the mountain. Perhaps it's just the tip of the iceberg. We'll know more in about 2 weeks.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by Monticore

I meant if they die of something obviously unrelated to covid (car accident/gun shot) I don't think they would put covid on there for just stats.

From what I understand, anyone that died at home of an unknown nature in NYC was labeled as Covid-19. They attributed it to more "at home" deaths than normal... Well if you are in a "stay at home" environment, there would be more at home deaths from other causes.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by notorious

Yet the "bad news" stats are believed without question.

The USC and Stanford studies are shining a light on this, yet a lot of people want to immediately discredit the info.

I am getting tired of this.

Unfortunately bad news or contradictory news seems to be big selling points , in the end it is usually somewhere in the middle.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by notorious

Yet the "bad news" stats are believed without question.

The USC and Stanford studies are shining a light on this, yet a lot of people want to immediately discredit the info.

I am getting tired of this.

I've noticed this too. I've mentioned there's always a swift kick to the balls whenever good news is discovered.

Maybe there's a reason for that. Some of the good news we've heard in the past has turned out to be false. But that's also true of bad news we've heard.

But not ALL the good news can be wrong.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Unfortunately bad news or contradictory news seems to be big selling points , in the end it is usually somewhere in the middle.

Absolutely.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

From what I understand, anyone that died at home of an unknown nature in NYC was labeled as Covid-19. They attributed it to more "at home" deaths than normal... Well if you are in a "stay at home" environment, there would be more at home deaths from other causes.

I thought they were still testing them.