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 Bugeater:
If "we" did "let it happen", it's more than likely because "we" never really looked into what exactly goes on in nursing homes as far as how they're staffed and managed, and what kind of "care" the people in them are truly receiving.
I think the one thing that would substantially increase the quality of care at nursing homes is to increase the pay of the people that are more directly involved in the care of the residents. Nursing homes are cess pools because the people that run them want to keep costs to a minimum. I'd be all for state/federal funding of nursing homes as long as that funding doesn't just go into the pocket of the person running the place. [Reply]
Originally Posted by dlphg9:
What did they list her C.O.D as?
I don’t remember the exact way is was worded because it was over 20 years ago, but I do remember it was some sort of heart failure. I guess technically that is true because her heart did stop beating. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Monticore:
The nursing homes tend to be under staffed and underequipped where I live to deal with something like this.
The nursing staff are not always as well trained either and being private entities cost cutting can be an issue.
Yup, both of my parents were in a nursing office\assisted living facility before they passed and most of all the staff there probably couldn't get a job in a real hospital. [Reply]
Originally Posted by dirk digler:
It is awful and truly heart breaking. It also is a good example among others why it is going to be hard for corporate America to go back to work anytime soon.
We have seen now time and time again, keeping large amounts of people in an enclosed space for hours on end = large amounts of infections and death.
Going to a restaurant or store for a short period of time you will probably be ok but not sitting in your office for 8 hours.
I know it's become taboo to speak of them here it seems, but Sweden had the same problem. We need to go above and beyond with the workers and such at these places to do our best to keep this from getting in there. [Reply]
IIRC, most of the people that go into nursing homes have like a 6 month expectancy of life from the point they enter. I just recently read that, had no idea that was the case. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
I know it's become taboo to speak of them here it seems, but Sweden had the same problem. We need to go above and beyond with the workers and such at these places to do our best to keep this from getting in there.
It is going to be hard without force quarantining them. We don't have the testing capability to test them so I don't know... [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bugeater:
So everyone protesting is a Nazi because of her? Is that what this twatter is implying?
I don’t use twatter, but she probably should have written that in English. I had to google what was written on her sign to see why it was such a big deal. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bugeater:
We're talking about the same nursing homes that charge thousands of dollars a month, correct?
Yup, we had one patient who was still pretty active for his age (well as much as somebody is active with 2 missing legs) die from a UTI because the home was rationing diapers to 1 per patient for per day for some stupid reasons (changing vendors I think).Family was not very pleased. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Spott:
I don’t use twatter, but she probably should have written that in English. I had to google what was written on her sign to see why it was such a big deal.
I had to as well, guess I'm not as well-versed in Nazi slogans as some. Her intent is clear but I'm still not sure how it's a microcosm of the nature of the protests. It doesn't even make sense to imply that. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
IIRC, most of the people that go into nursing homes have like a 6 month expectancy of life from the point they enter. I just recently read that, had no idea that was the case.
My grandmother was in for more than 2 years and most people that I know of that died in a nursing home were suffering from Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or dementia.
Most of them were in for 4 years, minimum.
Also, regardless of where you live, even decent nursing homes are $7k per month, which becomes quite expensive if a patient is there for years on end. [Reply]