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.”
Originally Posted by loochy:
I thought the whole point of "flatten the curve" was to make the "peak" lower (like near what it is now) but drag it out over a super long period of time. It doesn't mean that any fewer total people will get infected. Doesn't that imply that we will keep what is going on now indefinitely?
The biggest challenge we have is that we completely fucked up containing this thing in the first place. Taiwan has removed many of their restrictions, but they were doing proactive testing and contact tracing back when they had essentially zero cases. When those systems are in place, it's easier to open things up because you are able to identify new problem areas and quickly snuff them out.
The goal is to get the numbers of new cases down to a very low level, which seems difficult, but is achievable. Once we do that, you can start relaxing things strategically. We won't have large gatherings for a while, but low-risk activities can be opened back up. If things get out of hand, you contract back.
So in short, yes, things will open up a bit, so no, the full restrictions won't go on indefinitely. However, it will likely be a dance between loosening restrictions, seeing cases climb, tightening restrictions, etc. until a vaccine is widely in place. [Reply]
Originally Posted by loochy:
I thought the whole point of "flatten the curve" was to make the "peak" lower (like near what it is now) but drag it out over a super long period of time. It doesn't mean that any fewer total people will get infected. Doesn't that imply that we will keep what is going on now indefinitely?
Originally Posted by Chief Roundup:
Never seen that from a reputable source. What I have seen repeatedly is immuno compromised, respiratory disease and heart disease.
I think these people need to be ready to cut the date short if things are getting better. I have said that the end of May was about as long as they could go without people rioting. Judging by some of the things I am seeing and hearing here and elsewhere, we may not even get to the end of May before shit starts.
Mayor of Las Vegas is screaming to re-open.
Just keep this in mind, the more we extend the lock down the more we come closer to killing the headache by cutting off the head. People who are staunch supporters of these lock downs have a tendency to discount the ancillary impacts they have on people. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chief Roundup:
Never seen that from a reputable source. What I have seen repeatedly is immuno compromised, respiratory disease and heart disease.
Originally Posted by :
Severe obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above, puts people at higher risk for complications from COVID-19.
Actions to take
Take your medications for any underlying health conditions exactly as prescribed.
Why you might be at higher risk
Severe obesity increases the risk of a serious breathing problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is a major complication of COVID-19 and can cause difficulties with a doctor’s ability to provide respiratory support for seriously ill patients. People living with severe obesity can have multiple serious chronic diseases and underlying health conditions that can increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
But the body can and will use refined sugar in small doses for energy. It’s not an all or none health hazard like you’re claiming. Alcohol literally isn’t shown to have health benefits and if it does, it’s very weak evidence and poor studies. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower:
Ya just now figured that out?
No, I'm saying that because everyone keeps talking about opening back up. Opening back up isn't consistent with the flatten the curve ideology. [Reply]
