***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.”

[JohnnyHammersticks]

NEW: Cornell University goes remote after reporting over 900 COVID cases this week, VP for University Relations Joel Malina says "virtually every" case has been found in fully-vaccinated students, many of whom received the booster shot - CNN

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 15, 2021

[O.city]

The issue is hospitals and the level of care. It's already strained.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Looking like 3-4 week flare periods in South Africa.

This is essentially a brush-fire. It'll burn hot and fast through undergrowth with no real long-term damage done. In the end it'll probably be a net benefit if it just serves to continue cycling antibodies through the population.

This is just another step forward in thing thing turning into a common cold. The usual suspects just need their fear porn.

I hope you're right

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by O.city

The issue is hospitals and the level of care. It's already strained.

My wife is at Centerpoint Hospital right now and they are at capacity. Nurse said they have some Covid patients but most of the admissions are not Covid related.

[Chiefnj2]

Close to 30% positivity rate in South Africa is insane and climbing.

The positive news about T cell testing and omicron didn't and isn't making quite the news splash as the WARNING WARNING DANGER news about neutralizing anitbodies.

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by penguinz

My wife is at Centerpoint Hospital right now and they are at capacity. Nurse said they have some Covid patients but most of the admissions are not Covid related.

My grandmother just spent a few weeks at a hospital and then a week of recovery at a local hospital. The first large Metro area hospital was near capacity for the whole time, but Covid was not the main issue. Only two people a day could visit her so my visits were rare, but I couldn't get anyone to tell me what was actually filling their beds if it wasn't covid.

A while ago a special needs child I know was in for a long stint. They were "over capacity" then and the large majority of the beds were noncovid. If I remember right, it was a major influenza outbreak among children filling 80% of their beds. That was his reason for being there.

Considering that some are hinting at declining care for the non vaccinated, it might be time people quit pointing the finger at others and start asking why "beds are expensive" has our health care facilities choosing to walk the line instead of being prepared for the known.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by penguinz

My wife is at Centerpoint Hospital right now and they are at capacity. Nurse said they have some Covid patients but most of the admissions are not Covid related.

It's that time of year.

Hospitals were ALWAYS strained from December through about mid-February even before COVID.

It's respiratory virus season - it happens.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ghak99

Considering that some are hinting at declining care for the non vaccinated, it might be time people quit pointing the finger at others and start asking why "beds are expensive" has our health care facilities choosing to walk the line instead of being prepared for the known.

Because many hospitals, and damn near all rural hospitals, lose money as it stands.

They can't staff up and down; the training is simply too intense. So they shoot for the middle and they're overstaffed during summer months, understaffed during the peak. You can't just staff for a 10 week peak and then just carry it for the other 9+ months. Especially not smaller rural hospitals.

They're choosing to 'walk the line' because the alternative is closing their doors. And yes, many try to hire traveling nurses during peak but so is everyone else and they're expensive as HELL on a per unit basis.

Even on a nationwide basis, if you were increase the supply of nurses to an acceptable level for peak season (typically the choke point), they'd be sitting a whole lot of ass the other 9 months of the year. And who wants to do that? Who's going to go through the training and certification to show up for 3 months and then get turfed again?

There's nothing resembling an easy solution here and it's a reality hospitals have faced for literally decades. People acting like this is new simply haven't been paying attention.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by penguinz

My wife is at Centerpoint Hospital right now and they are at capacity. Nurse said they have some Covid patients but most of the admissions are not Covid related.

Have a feeling that is about to change

https://marc2.org/covidhub/

[TimBone]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHammersticks

NEW: Cornell University goes remote after reporting over 900 COVID cases this week, VP for University Relations Joel Malina says "virtually every" case has been found in fully-vaccinated students, many of whom received the booster shot - CNN

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 15, 2021

Are we guessing this is already Omicron running rampant in parts of the U.S.? Or Delta hitting people in their waning months of vaccine immunity prior to a booster?

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

It's that time of year.

Hospitals were ALWAYS strained from December through about mid-February even before COVID.

It's respiratory virus season - it happens.

Thank you. Seems many believe hospitals in normal times are ghost towns with 100`s of empty beds but obviously that is not the case. Hospitals are almost always at near capacity and then truly are at capacity during the flu season.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by TimBone

Are we guessing this is already Omicron running rampant in parts of the U.S.? Or Delta hitting people in their waning months of vaccine immunity prior to a booster?

I'm guessing #2 mostly. In about a month it will be Omicron.

[O.city]

Well, I think we can atleast put to bed the whole "it was widespread in late 19, early 20 everywhere" thing. Either we're seeing alot of reinfections or there was always alot of people who had never had it out there.

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by O.city

Well, I think we can atleast put to bed the whole "it was widespread in late 19, early 20 everywhere" thing. Either we're seeing alot of reinfections or there was always alot of people who had never had it out there.

Why do you say that? Reports out of SA say people with preexisting infections are getting Omicron at a pretty high rate.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

Why do you say that? Reports out of SA say people with preexisting infections are getting Omicron at a pretty high rate.

The amount of infections being found now would lead to there being a gigantic number of reinfections. I would seriously doubt that's the case this quickly but if it is, it puts the whole "natural immunity is sturdy and long term" thing in question as well.