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.”
I suppose I should clarify that I haven't truly deleted my Facebook account. I just deleted the app from my phone and deleted my bookmark to it, so the only way I can access it is going to the URL bar and typing it in.
I still check in every couple of weeks because my extended family tends to plan stuff on there. But getting it out of my daily life has been a 100% improvement. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaFace:
I agree. Just wish there was some way around it.
I think it became this way because of the botched handling of the situation in the beginning, which many laid directly at the feet of the current administration. While it's true at some level, most of the issues we're dealing with are just because we, as a country, haven't ever had something like this happen and were caught flat footed. That spans multiple administrations. And regardless, we're in it now - just get on with figuring out how to move forward.
But after that started all the way back in February, people divided into camps like they always do, and discussion has suffered ever since. It's infuriating.
I hate the bullshit. Media and people who were saying it wasn’t a big deal same as the administration now get to flip and condemn people for saying it wasn’t a big deal. Fuck that. [Reply]
By paying an additional 20% on top of traditional Medicare rates for COVID-19 patients during the public health emergency, and by reimbursing hospitals for treating the uninsured patients with the disease (at that enhanced Medicare rate).
Both of those provisions stem from the*Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.
So you think hospitals are lying about the cause of deaths for money? Seems a little far fetched..
I'm sure it has happened but probably on such a small scale it is not making a huge difference in the number of deaths due to this virus that are being reported. [Reply]
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
So you think hospitals are lying about the cause of deaths for money? Seems a little far fetched..
I'm sure it has happened but probably on such a small scale it is not making a huge difference in the number of deaths due to this virus that are being reported.
Those two California doctors brought it up in their presser how they and their colleagues have been pressured by their respective boards to add COVID as a cause of death to deceased patients. It's a thing, and it's a problem. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bowser:
Those two California doctors brought it up in their presser how they and their colleagues have been pressured by their respective boards to add COVID as a cause of death to deceased patients. It's a thing, and it's a problem.
It's true, but there are also plenty of deaths that likely ARE COVID that haven't been categorized as such due to a lack of testing.
As is usually the case, the right answer is likely somewhere in between "everyone who dies of similar symptoms is COVID" and "anyone who dies but hasn't been tested isn't COVID". [Reply]
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
So you think hospitals are lying about the cause of deaths for money? Seems a little far fetched..
I'm sure it has happened but probably on such a small scale it is not making a huge difference in the number of deaths due to this virus that are being reported.
I imagine they are classified as probable deaths due to covid [Reply]
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
Unfortunately, I think we definitely will to some extent at least until a vaccine comes out.
And that's an issue, but there has yet to be any sort of vaccine for any of the COVID strains to date (I'm relatively sure that's accurate but will defer if it's not). What are we supposed to do, sit in self isolation until they figure out a treatment that has eluded them so far? It's just not feasible as of right now.
Originally Posted by DaFace:
It's true, but there are also plenty of deaths that likely ARE COVID that haven't been categorized as such due to a lack of testing.
As is usually the case, the right answer is likely somewhere in between "everyone who dies of similar symptoms is COVID" and "anyone who dies but hasn't been tested isn't COVID".
Right. And to bring it kind of full circle, it becomes political when the answer is solidly in some grey area. It's frustrating, and the people we rely on for hope and answers are giving us precisely none. [Reply]
By paying an additional 20% on top of traditional Medicare rates for COVID-19 patients during the public health emergency, and by reimbursing hospitals for treating the uninsured patients with the disease (at that enhanced Medicare rate).
Both of those provisions stem from the*Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.
Do you understand that a patient on ventilator costs the hospital more than a patient who doesn't need one? Why would you expect anything different? I mean, a hospital is also going to get more insurance money treating a cancer patient as opposed to treating a broken arm. Different conditions cost the hospital different amounts. That's how it works. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Fish:
Do you understand that a patient on ventilator costs the hospital more than a patient who doesn't need one? Why would you expect anything different? I mean, a hospital is also going to get more insurance money treating a cancer patient as opposed to treating a broken arm. Different conditions cost the hospital different amounts. That's how it works.
Front line hospital workers in Ontario are getting 4$ extra per hour for the next 16 weeks . I think that should.be going to only specific hospitals or areas , I won’t complain. [Reply]
