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:
Welp, guess we need to stop being humans in order to beat this.
I'm really starting to think we haven't a clue as to where most community transmission is happening, or even where it is most likely to happen. So we're clinging to masks as our lifeboat and praying we don't sink.
Originally Posted by Bugeater:
Either the masks aren't working...or something is going on that we're not being told.
It’s compliance with masks and social distancing. It’s not happening in a high enough percentage to be extremely effective. People still don’t understand just how contagious this virus is. It transmits easily and quickly. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bugeater:
Welp, guess we need to stop being humans in order to beat this.
I'm really starting to think we haven't a clue as to where most community transmission is happening, or even where it is most likely to happen. So we're clinging to masks as our lifeboat and praying we don't sink.
I couldn't agree more.People are wearing masks now more than they ever were and I would say the impact has been minimal from what we were told to expect. There are various reasons for that and I would say most because people don't wear masks properly or engage in other unhelpful behaviors because they think a mask protects them. [Reply]
I went to Wal-Mart for the first time in years today and did not see a single person not wearing a mask. In fact I cannot remember the last place I went other than a restaurant where I didn't see the vast majority of not everyone wearing a mask unless it was outside. [Reply]
Originally Posted by petegz28:
I couldn't agree more.People are wearing masks now more than they ever were and I would say the impact has been minimal from what we were told to expect. There are various reasons for that and I would say most because people don't wear masks properly or engage in other unhelpful behaviors because they think a mask protects them.
Yup. It’s improper mask use and those ignoring social distancing while wearing a mask because the mask is “preventative.” A HUGE reason is the second. Ignoring social distancing while wearing a mask. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bugeater:
Either the masks aren't working...or something is going on that we're not being told.
I wouldn't be surprised if it's a combo of things. I don't think masks help as much as people think though they do help some. Secondly I don't think the tests are very good.Thirdly I think the representation of the data is bunk not to mention the data in and of itself is inherently dirty in and of itself.
Just looking at the JoCo numbers throws water on a lot the common statements about Covid.
1. The age group with the most cases in JoCo is 20-29
2. Fever is a symptom in only 40% of cases
3. The age group of 70+ is the 3rd smallest age group for number of total cases but the largest group for total deaths
Thee are local numbers are are reasonably extrapolated across the entire state. [Reply]
In the case for opening schools in the state of Ks here are some important stats we don't hear from the local media ...
Covid cases in people ages 0-24 is roughly 8,800
Covid deaths in people ages 0-24 is 2
Youngest age of Covid death is 18
I have to say that any other point in time if someone came to you and say 2 people out of 8,000 who got sick died do you think we should close the schools your answer would be a resounding no. I would say anyone who says different is a liar.
But the Teachers....
Number of cases in ages 25-64 (typical working age range) is 20,268
Deaths in that age range is 86 or .03%
So the take there is those with underlying or who are otherwise at high risk need to be accommodated for by being allowed to teach remotely which at least our district is done.
Nonetheless again I think at any other point in time if you were presented with the above numbers that closing schools wouldn't even begin to be a discussion.
That's just looking at the data here in Kansas and I don't pretend to say that's how it is everywhere else. [Reply]
Originally Posted by sedated:
This is the thing that still dumbfounds me. "The 'experts' were wrong about X, so F everything they say!"
Yet, those same people are ready to believe the opinion of some idiot on twitter that you can’t breathe with a mask on, or it creates deadly levels of carbon dioxide, etc.
