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 duncan_idaho:
Do you understand how insurance premiums work?
Because they already account for these factors. And health insurance companies have been incentivizing like crazy to get people to make better health decisions (premium reductions and etc.).
You guys are missing the point, I am directly referring to the impact on overall healthcare cost.
Also most hospitals write off millions of $ in heath care given to people who cant or won't pay.
So the "cost" in all of this from unhealthy people has always been there, covid is not different in that aspect. I think its disingenuous to be complaining about he $ aspect of it when it comes to healthcare and costing people $.
Also it seems odd one day we are told hospitals are losing their asses due to covid and then we see complaining about the cost of taking care of covid patients being exorbitant. [Reply]
Originally Posted by sedated:
[Devil's advocate] I don't think health insurance premiums are the main area of concern, they would want the same treatment for those that are willingly "unhealthy". Ie, no cancer treatment for smokers, since they made that choice. No treatment for heart disease for anyone who has a certain body fat percentage, since they should have made healthier choices. Etc.
Just like doctors are having to triage and pick who gets a bed, I would say the industry as a whole must triage in the same kind of way... worry less about the slippery slope and unrelated arguments and focus on the one tipping point until it's under control again. [Reply]
Originally Posted by sedated:
[Devil's advocate] I don't think health insurance premiums are the main area of concern, they would want the same treatment for those that are willingly "unhealthy". Ie, no cancer treatment for smokers, since they made that choice. No treatment for heart disease for anyone who has a certain body fat percentage, since they should have made healthier choices. Etc.
A fair point.
This situation is probably most comparable to things like liver transplants for alcoholics.
But the point I was making is that people DO already face incentives/disincentives/financial punishments for choices that burden the system.
Originally Posted by Marcellus:
You guys are missing the point, I am directly referring to the impact on overall healthcare cost.
Also most hospitals write off millions of $ in heath care given to people who cant or won't pay.
So the "cost" in all of this from unhealthy people has always been there, covid is not different in that aspect. I think its disingenuous to be complaining about he $ aspect of it when it comes to healthcare and costing people $.
Also it seems odd one day we are told hospitals are losing their asses due to covid and then we see complaining about the cost of taking care of covid patients being exorbitant.
Why is that odd?
It does hammer hospitals financially. Not only does it take up huge amounts of bed and manpower resources, it drastically increases the amount of write-offs the hospital has to do.
Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla:
People already pay for those decisions, though. Premiums are typically more for smokers and fatasses.
If it were remotely a 1:1 ratio you would have a point. But the minuscule difference doesn't come close to covering it. Our company's insurance for example charges about $120 a month more for tobacco users. I cant imagine that covers the average difference in usage rate.
I dont know of very many companies that do physicals for insurance to cover the fatass part of it, I know some do.
Then again the real fiasco is the pricing system and the fact you have no idea what most procedures will cost until after the fact etc....
I listened to a podcast with a guy on there who wrote a book called "Never Pay The First Bill" or something like that, it was some eye opening data. But thats another topic all together. [Reply]
South Florida doctors stage walkout amid surge in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients
Many Florida hospitals are nearing capacity in their intensive care units as the state contends with a surge of COVID-19 cases
By Thomas Barrabi
A group of 75 South Florida doctors staged a symbolic walkout on Monday to highlight a surge in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the state, according to a report.
The doctors who participated in the demonstration in Palm Beach Gardens cited fatigue and frustration with misinformation that has contributed to vaccine hesitancy in the state. Some of the doctors briefly walked out of their shifts to participate in the protest.
"It’s incredibly frustrating because we know the vaccines are safe and effective and it’s people that go out and talk against them that really go against physicians and medicine and science. It’s not the message we want to get across to people," JT Snarkski, one of the doctors who participated in the walkout, told MSNBC. "Vaccines are safe and we need to get our communities vaccinated."
Many Florida hospitals are nearing capacity in their intensive care units as the state contends with a surge of COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant. As of this week, about 86% of the state’s hospital beds were full, prompting alarm from public health officials. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Stewie:
South Florida doctors stage walkout amid surge in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients
Many Florida hospitals are nearing capacity in their intensive care units as the state contends with a surge of COVID-19 cases
By Thomas Barrabi
A group of 75 South Florida doctors staged a symbolic walkout on Monday to highlight a surge in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the state, according to a report.
The doctors who participated in the demonstration in Palm Beach Gardens cited fatigue and frustration with misinformation that has contributed to vaccine hesitancy in the state. Some of the doctors briefly walked out of their shifts to participate in the protest.
"It’s incredibly frustrating because we know the vaccines are safe and effective and it’s people that go out and talk against them that really go against physicians and medicine and science. It’s not the message we want to get across to people," JT Snarkski, one of the doctors who participated in the walkout, told MSNBC. "Vaccines are safe and we need to get our communities vaccinated."
Many Florida hospitals are nearing capacity in their intensive care units as the state contends with a surge of COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant. As of this week, about 86% of the state’s hospital beds were full, prompting alarm from public health officials.
That was posted earlier. While they intended to make a statement, calling it a walk out is irresponsible. They didn't miss work. [Reply]