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 limested:
By this same logic it is pointless to wear protective equipment when dealing with toxic chemicals because if you don’t wash your hands after removing and then touch your eyes you might go blind.
Originally Posted by :
It’s partly because surgical masks, whether store-bought or homemade, don’t protect the wearer against the COVID-19 virus, the CDC says. But face masks can help prevent infected people from spreading the virus, even if they have no symptoms — prompting the change.
“So it’s not going to protect you, but it is going to protect your neighbor,” said infectious disease specialist Dr. Daniel Griffin at Columbia University, NPR reported.
There’s a catch, however. You have to wear the mask correctly and dispose of it properly, or you might actually increase the infection risk to yourself or others.
“That’s what I see all the time,” Griffin said, NPR reported. “That’s why in the studies, masks fail — people don’t use them (correctly). They touch the front of it. They adjust it. They push it down somehow to get their nose stuck out.”
Here’s what you need to know about properly using face masks.
Q. Who shouldn’t wear face masks?
A. The CDC says cloth face masks aren’t for children under age 2, people with breathing problems, and unconscious or incapacitated people who can’t take one off without help.
Q. What makes a good cloth face mask?
A. Cloth face masks should have multiple layers of fabric fit comfortably but snugly, have ear ties or loops, and not lose their shape after being washed, the CDC says. They should allow you to breathe without restriction.
Patterns and guides for creating your own sewn or non-sew face masks are available online.
Disposable or store-bought surgical masks and N95 respirators should be reserved for hospital and medical personnel, CNBC says.
Q. How do I properly put on a face mask?
A. Wash your hands first with soap and water, says the World Health Organization. Get used to this piece of advice — you’re going to read it a lot.
If it's known, or even probable, that wearing a mask prevents others from getting sick from germs you may have (asymptomatic), do the anti-maskers deny that having the vast majority of the population wear a mask would reduce the spread? [Reply]
Originally Posted by sedated:
Here's a simple question -
If it's known, or even probable, that wearing a mask prevents others from getting sick from germs you may have (asymptomatic), do the anti-maskers deny that having the vast majority of the population wear a mask would reduce the spread?
To what end? I asked this question yesterday. I've been locked down for two months. I don't have it and if I had it and didn't know it I don't have it now or shouldn't by all measures.
Do you think we should all just assume we have it and if so until when? How long do I have to go without having it before I can say I don't have it? [Reply]
Originally Posted by petegz28:
To what end? I asked this question yesterday. I've been locked down for two months. I don't have it and if I had it and didn't know it I don't have it now or shouldn't by all measures.
Do you think we should all just assume we have it and if so until when? How long do I have to go without having it before I can say I don't have it?
They have said from the start to just assume everyone has it that is what social distancing is for they just added masks as an added protection.As for how long we don’t know . [Reply]
Originally Posted by petegz28:
To what end? I asked this question yesterday. I've been locked down for two months. I don't have it and if I had it and didn't know it I don't have it now or shouldn't by all measures.
Do you think we should all just assume we have it and if so until when? How long do I have to go without having it before I can say I don't have it?
The nature of the word asymptomatic is that you don't know you have it unless you actively test. This is what makes the virus so dangerous. People who didn't think they had it were, in fact, spreading it.
You, yourself, recently had an event in your life where the possibility that it had somehow made it into you household was very distinct.
I think taking the small step of wearing a mask during the pandemic JUST IN CASE should be everyone's civic and patriotic duty.
Your other question has already been answered, pete. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Monticore:
They have said from the start to just assume everyone has it that is what social distancing is for. As for how long we don’t know .
Okay so then we should just lock things down again? Are you wearing a mask at home? I mean, you might have it but your Wife and kids may not.
Sorry I get the entire asymptomatic thing but there comes a point that you either just say wear the mask for the rest of your days or like with anything else, if you show symptoms perhaps you should take precautions.
What you are essentially asking people to do is live in a perpetual state of fear. And as it has been demonstrated time and time again, wearing a mask can easily be fucked up if you aren't very strict about it and we know most people aren't going to be.
To me the most common sense approach right now is if you have symptoms don't go out, period. If you need to go out then wear a mask and be diligent about it. Otherwise practice your 6 ft and hygiene.
If you're staying away from people, i.e. 6ft you're doing more to protect others than wearing a mask the data seems to show. And a casual stroll of seconds past someone in a grocery store isle isn't exposing you long enough one way or the other. We know this. The mask thing just seems to be kinda along the lines of cell phones on airplanes, I don't know. [Reply]
Originally Posted by petegz28:
To what end? I asked this question yesterday. I've been locked down for two months. I don't have it and if I had it and didn't know it I don't have it now or shouldn't by all measures.
Do you think we should all just assume we have it and if so until when? How long do I have to go without having it before I can say I don't have it?
You seemed pretty concerned about this weak virus when you thought your son could have it. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pants:
The nature of the word asymptomatic is that you don't know you have it unless you actively test. This is what makes the virus so dangerous. People who didn't think they had it were, in fact, spreading it.
You, yourself, recently had an event in your life where the possibility that it had somehow made it into you household was very distinct.
I think taking the small step of wearing a mask during the pandemic JUST IN CASE should be everyone's civic and patriotic duty.
Your other question has already been answered, pete.
Okay don't get conceding. You're free to your opinion but don't start lecturing about what my patriotic and civil duties are. [Reply]
Originally Posted by petegz28:
I supposed you wore a mask at home while you were tainted?
I attempted to quarantine but was unsuccessful outside of sleeping in a different room and using the other bathroom.
I did wear a face mask in common household areas but not outside. I did not do any food prep. My family also did not get it. Think my mask helped? [Reply]
