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 BleedingRed:
I understand your point of view, but you realize even South Korea hasn't tested even 1% of their population.
Of course.
The point is that people that want to be tested because they *think* they might be infected can't just walk in somewhere to be tested because of the lack of tests available.
No one knows how many Americans are carrying the virus, which is why the so many states and municipalities are choosing to end their academic school year and asking (or in some cases, ordering) their citizens to stay at home.
It's going to be weeks, if not months, before anyone knows the scope of the spread. [Reply]
Originally Posted by petegz28:
Not only are you pretentious, you have a reading comprehension problem. Please just out me on ignore and go back in your bubble and cry because we haven't tested 350 million people.
Bubble? I'm not the person posting the falsehood that positive tests are rising because anyone can get tested.
Originally Posted by BleedingRed:
I understand your point of view, but you realize even South Korea hasn't tested even 1% of their population.
I have no idea why people think we can test our way out of this. If you are sick stay home. If you are really sick seek medical care. It will run its course in short time. Testing honestly doesn't change much of anything. [Reply]
Originally Posted by petegz28:
The masks that most people are wearing? they don't do shit. And the doctors here will tell you that. Washing your hands and keeping away from sick people is the best thing still.
You didn't qualify it as that when you stated it. And yes, N95 and other respirators are much more effective against the virus. But even a dust mask can stop droplet transmission. [Reply]
Oh yes, you are....Mr. 25 Million who thinks we can test 350 million people
Never once did I claim that 25 million could be tested, pete.
The fact of the matter is that a very, very small percentage of Americans have been tested and those that have been tested have shown advanced symptoms. [Reply]
The point is that people that want to be tested because they *think* they might be infected can't just walk in somewhere to be tested because of the lack of tests available.
No one knows how many Americans are carrying the virus, which is why the so many states and municipalities are choosing to end their academic school year and asking (or in some cases, ordering) their citizens to stay at home.
It's going to be weeks, if not months, before anyone knows the scope of the spread.
Right because that wouldn't help the problem. Again the WHO/CDC said 93% of test being done right now are negative.
Those tests are being sent to specific hot zones. So we wont know for months how bad it was. But that has nothing to do with the USA's ability. It has everything to do with China's bullshit in not telling the world correct information.
We have moved patient zero all the way back to 11/7 now... So for 2 whole months China let its citizens fly all around the world. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Donger:
You didn't qualify it as that when you stated it. And yes, N95 and other respirators are much more effective against the virus. But even a dust mask can stop droplet transmission.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The number of COVID-19 cases in Missouri nearly doubled on Friday, going from 28 to to 47, as officials throughout the state sought to get ahead of the coronavirus crisis.
State health officials said St. Louis County and Kansas City have the most cases, with seven each, while Greene County has six. Pulaski, Scott and St. Charles counties each reported their first cases. A person in Boone County is the state’s only known death from the virus. [Reply]
