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.”
Cancelling schools, events, and other large gatherings is really the most effective option which we are seeing done all over the place now. Whether you think it’s an appropriate response or not is another question.
And if any of these cancellations were effective in limiting the spread of infection, we'd never know about it.
And then the naysayers would be here with the, "See that was totally unnecessary".
This virus will inevitably pass with most of us gone unaffected. So of course they'll be here with the, "See! total over reaction". [Reply]
Originally Posted by BleedingRed:
I mean how are we going to stop China from lying? Our own government cut travel very early. I don't know what they have LIED about.
Just a few of the many..... 0 cases in a few days. Millions of test kits are available last week. Just go ask your doctor for a test and you can get one. Everything has been perfect. This is contained. Etc. etc.
The White House and everyone who worked there mocked and made fun of anyone who voiced concern 2 weeks ago. That’s not going to age well.
They fired and eliminated the whole pandemic department. Having those health care professionals on the job about right now would be good for America. [Reply]
Originally Posted by mr. tegu:
People that keep taking about how great other places are doing with testing are being fooled into how much it matters. Testing makes no difference in the transfer of the virus unless people actually follow through and stay home or are forced to do so. I am happy if people that need to go the hospital get tested and the more available for them the better, but acting like it’s a government failure or scandal to not run around testing everyone or having testing stations for the purposes of distorting the numbers is just hysteria.
Think about the numbers posted for South Korea. They have tested almost 200,000 people which sounds like a lot, but that is only 0.4% of the population. Think about how small that number is. In a group of 10,000 people, 40 would be tested. Do those tests give you any confidence to stand in that group? Does anyone really think that minuscule number is a major reason why they are having success? It’s a small contributor at best as I’m sure there are clusters where a larger percentage are tested and more information is nice about who is getting it and in what ways, but still unless they don’t have the chance of passing it on it doesn’t really matter they got tested.
Cancelling schools, events, and other large gatherings is really the most effective option which we are seeing done all over the place now. Whether you think it’s an appropriate response or not is another question.
Testing absolutely makes a difference. It lets you know where the hotpots are so you can focus more efforts cleaning or shutting things down, etc.
That father in St. Louis took his daughter to the dance while they were still waiting for the test. He said if they knew she was positive he wouldn't' have went. His wife went out shopping and got her nails done. How many times does that repeat across the country because people with symptoms can't get tested?
S. Korea is controlling this thing. Aggressive testing is the biggest thing they're doing. It's crazy to think that isn't playing a huge role in their relative success so far vs. other countries that aren't aggressively testing. [Reply]
NCAA source to me: “Things are moving quickly. Right now, it’s no fans. But we don’t know where this is headed. There have been discussions about canceling or postponing the NCAA Tournament, but we’re hoping it doesn’t get to that point.”
Originally Posted by suzzer99:
Testing absolutely makes a difference. It lets you know where the hotpots are so you can focus more efforts cleaning or shutting things down, etc.
That father in St. Louis took his daughter to the dance while they were still waiting for the test. He said if they knew she was positive he wouldn't' have went. His wife went out shopping and got her nails done. How many times does that repeat across the country because people with symptoms can't get tested?
S. Korea is controlling this thing. Aggressive testing is the biggest thing they're doing. It's crazy to think that isn't playing a huge role in their relative success so far vs. other countries that aren't aggressively testing.
While I agree with you we need a quantum leap in testing that family never should have left quarantine. That is their fault only fucking idiots. [Reply]
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The University of Missouri announced it has suspended classes beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday and classes will remain out of session through Sunday because of concern for the coronavirus, MU Chancellor Alexander N. Cartwright said.
“During that time, faculty are instructed to put in place their plans to deliver instruction remotely,” Cartwright said. “Existing online classes will continue as originally scheduled.”
Mizzou said during the week of March 16-20 classes will be held remotely with plans to resume in-person classes following spring break on Monday, March 30.
Mizzou said all nonessential university events will be cancelled until March 29, but necessary small meetings and athletic events will be allowed. [Reply]
