***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 Bugeater

She was visiting the UK, got sick and came back.

Hope to hear that she recovers.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

She was visiting the UK, got sick and came back.

I read she's been sick for quite some time. Hopefully she wasn't out in the community much.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

All of this panic and overreaction for a virus that will have a minimal health impact on 80% of those infected (i.e. minimal symptoms or symptoms that are about the same as the common cold).

Originally Posted by BWillie

A 36 year old got it in Omaha. And is in serious condition with pneumonia.

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

And your point is what?

Did you follow what happened at Wuhan at all? A business as usual approach lead to hospitals being overrun with sick patients. First, they filled up the beds, then they filled up the hallways and waiting rooms, then they started filling up things like gymnasiums with cots, then they tried building a new hospital in a few weeks...

The full hospitals meant people couldn't get treatment for other conditions. Whether it was their cancer treatment or ear infection, or hip surgery or whatever.

For people that get it: some will have no symptoms, some will be no worse than a typical flu and can stay home, some will get very sick and need intensive treatment. Typically they will get pneumonia and will need to be in ICU and on a ventilator. Those over 70 even with good treatment could die.

Those 50 or under, typically can make a full recovery, assuming they can get good ICU and ventilator care.

If the hospitals are over flowing, then even the under 50 can die. This happened in Wuhan.

Yes, case number and deaths appear to be at least leveling off in China, if not declining. But the country is still under draconian quarantine. It is not clear what would happen if they suddenly went back to a business as usual approach. Cases might skyrocket again.

So it is worth taking this seriously and trying to be smart without panicking.

Nobody knows for sure how it is going to evolve. Warmer weather may cause it to essentially disappear until next fall/winter. By then, it may have mutated into a less serious form. We might have a vaccine or better treatments by then. Etc.

But we might not.

It appears to have hit Iran pretty hard and they haven't really tried containment. That should presumably tell us quit a lot in a few weeks.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by TLO

I read she's been sick for quite some time. Hopefully she wasn't out in the community much.

Sounds like she made no attempt to self quarantine.

[suzzer99]

This crew in a @KCPubHealth van just showed up, now painting over that Econolodge sign with black paint. It’s likely up to three patients will arrive here tonight #KOMONews pic.twitter.com/fEtpkMwmyb

— Cole Miller (@ColeMillerTV) March 7, 2020

[SuperBowl4]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

This crew in a @KCPubHealth van just showed up, now painting over that Econolodge sign with black paint. It’s likely up to three patients will arrive here tonight #KOMONews pic.twitter.com/fEtpkMwmyb

— Cole Miller (@ColeMillerTV) March 7, 2020

CoronaLodge

[Hammock Parties]

Martial law is right around the corner

Detroit now appears to have a rule allowing for jailing and/or fines if you disobey a quarantine order. Good. Now we just need that everyplace else and for people to care....yep thats a longshot.https://t.co/Ymn5Or4oGj

— Contagion Tracker (@ContagionTrack) March 7, 2020

[suzzer99]

I have a feeling the LiveSteam's of the country are going to go from "meh, whatever happens happens" to "ZOMG lock everyone up! We must have order! Now is the time to panic!" in about a day.

[suzzer99]

At least the Chiefs won the Super Bowl before all this broke out. Imagine if the SB were in 2 weeks and no one knew what to do. That would really suck.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

I have a feeling the LiveSteam's of the country are going to go from "meh, whatever happens happens" to "ZOMG lock everyone up! We must have order! Now is the time to panic!" in about a day.

ok

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Well, at least there is some good news

[eDave]

In New Zealand, health officials have issued a warning to those who attended Tool's Feb. 28 show in Auckland at the Spark Arena, as one fan tested positive for Coronavirus not long after attending the show.

Read More: Coronavirus: Tool Concert Attendee Diagnosed, Ozzy Exits Fest | https://loudwire.com/coronavirus-too...edium=referral

https://loudwire.com/coronavirus-too...pull-out-sxsw/

Music industry is getting killed.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Meanwhile my stupid-ass boss' boss won't let anyone wfh unless they pretend to be sick or are sick. And we could all easily do the exact same job from home.

Last 7.5/9 years I've worked from home in the tech field. Maybe 1/2 a year of that other time was to travel to client site or meet some big bosses and go back home.


With broadband more reliable, cheaper and cloud prices coming down, there is no need to work in offices anymore for many jobs.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Martial law is right around the corner

One of the reason the Chinese were able to stop the spread in their country was that its a communist state. They made it mandatory for 50 Million people to stay in their homes. They track everyone with that free app everyone uses to pay for stuff. They put drones up in the quarantined neighborhoods and warned people if they ventured outside. Sent in troops if they didnt go back inside.

[KCUnited]

New Chicago case is a teacher who was a passenger on a Grand Princess cruise ship.