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.”
I suppose things could really flare back up next fall/winter. But I personally think mask mandates will be a thing of the past very, very soon.
I think some people will wear them for a while. And I see some value in a societal consensus that it's a courteous thing to do if you are out and about when you are sick.
But yeah, the mandates' days are numbered. I've had July 1 as the potential "mission accomplished" celebration for a while now, and I feel confident that most restrictions will be gone by then. Maybe sooner. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaFace:
I think some people will wear them for a while. And I see some value in a societal consensus that it's a courteous thing to do if you are out and about when you are sick.
But yeah, the mandates' days are numbered. I've had July 1 as the potential "mission accomplished" celebration for a while now, and I feel confident that most restrictions will be gone by then. Maybe sooner.
I have thought and said the same thing. I think we even had this conversation in this thread also.
I think, hope, we are going to add another meaning to "Independence Day" over the 4th of July weekend!. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaFace:
I think some people will wear them for a while. And I see some value in a societal consensus that it's a courteous thing to do if you are out and about when you are sick.
But yeah, the mandates' days are numbered. I've had July 1 as the potential "mission accomplished" celebration for a while now, and I feel confident that most restrictions will be gone by then. Maybe sooner.
I don't imagine mask mandates will last through summer either.
The more important question is how much havoc does the mutated viruses cause when they eventually show up.
How well do the vaccines work against them. And how many people eventually get vaccinated either because they think it is a good idea or they get coerced into it because, for instance, their work or college requires it. Hard to say for sure. [Reply]
I could see the current mutations and new mutations still sending patients to the ER next winter. Not in numbers like this past winter. But I could easily see covid causing more misery, time lost from work, and death, than a typical flu year does.
Or maybe it really will all be gone by April and every child will also get a unicorn. Time will tell. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chief Pagan:
I could see the current mutations and new mutations still sending patients to the ER next winter. Not in numbers like this past winter. But I could easily see covid causing more misery, time lost from work, and death, than a typical flu year does.
Or maybe it really will all be gone by April and every child will also get a unicorn. Time will tell.
I'm no expert but it looks like this will just be around now. Much like the flu it will never completely go away we'll just get better at identifying it and dealing with it.
Perhaps some good can come of this and people will put more effort into being proactive with their health. Staying on top of medical conditions, watching their weight, diet, etc... [Reply]
Originally Posted by Rausch:
I'm no expert but it looks like this will just be around now. Much like the flu it will never completely go away we'll just get better at identifying it and dealing with it.
Perhaps some good can come of this and people will put more effort into being proactive with their health. Staying on top of medical conditions, watching their weight, diet, etc...
GTFO with that personal responsibility non sense and wear your damn mask for me! [Reply]
For those of you in the UK, this is wonderful news! Real-world data from the UK’s vaccine rollout program revealed just one dose of Oxford/AstraZeneca’s or Pfizer’s vaccines appear to block transmission and infection by two-thirds regardless of age group! https://t.co/QR8YK4DX98pic.twitter.com/BBdhY5OleA
Speaking of HI, I mentioned way back in October or so, that I read an article in The Lancet that mentioned that there appeared to be some probable immunity to Covid 19 that started from exposure to any of the three recognized cold coronaviruses. Something about similarities in other proteins or something. That would make some more sense as we've come through "cold" season and cases are dropping off a cliff. I'd imagine it's a combination of HI getting close, previous immunity from other coronaviruses, the vaccines, and the fact that most viruses attenuate over time. All adds up to this sonofabitch going away. [Reply]
For those of you in the UK, this is wonderful news! Real-world data from the UK’s vaccine rollout program revealed just one dose of Oxford/AstraZeneca’s or Pfizer’s vaccines appear to block transmission and infection by two-thirds regardless of age group! https://t.co/QR8YK4DX98pic.twitter.com/BBdhY5OleA
I think last week, Pfizer was pushing for the gov to switch to a single dose. There data seems to indicate that's really effective w/o the second shot [Reply]
FYI for those of you wanting the vaccine and not sure how to expedite the process you can get on a wait list at your local Walmart pharmacy.
The way it works is every time they open a vile to start administering doses they have X amount of time to use it all. My understanding is many of the vials have an extra 2 or 3 doses in them (supposed to be 10 per vial but many have more than that) and so if they have extra doses or scheduled people do not show up for appointment they will call you and you have 30 minutes to get there to get your shot.
We have had at least 3 people at work here get the vaccine that way, this is a real thing you can do if you are interested.
When you call WalMart do not use the covid info selection on the automated answering options, you want to talk to the pharmacy directly and tell them you want to be on the call list.
I imagine availability will depend on where you live but give it a shot if interested. (pun intended) [Reply]