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 cdcox:
So understanding that decisions have consequences, how many people are you willing to kill?
We’re seeing all around Europe that kids aren’t much for vectors here with this. We’ve got prime case studies on what’s happening with it there right before our eyes.
What are the consequences of no in school classes this year? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chief Pagan:
Schools are already facing a logistical nightmare. With time they can do better but they aren't currently doing that well with online especially at the very youngest levels.
I would prefer governments of all levels were willing to spend more money to prepare schools.
For instance if a mouth swab/saliva test can be reliable enough, then test students all the time whether their throat is sore or not.
The other part that I have not seen mentioned yet is liability. If one student dies from Covid and it is proven that the student was infected at the school they will be sued for wrongful death. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
The biggest game changer would be immediate saliva tests. That would allow us to go forward and get back to somewhat normal
How or why aren’t we putting all our efforts on that?
Yeah I kinda wonder what happened to the whole 5 minute test we kept hearing about. I think we will see protocols where kids will have their temps taken everyday at the beginning of school. When we drop my Son off at camp they take his temp before he even gets out of the car.
But a quick test of some sort is sorely needed. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bugeater:
That's probably as good of a strategy as anything else. Should go over great in a press conference....Mr Mayor, how did you arrive at this decision? Well, I took a lot of factors into consideration...read the recommendations from the CDC and local health officials....studied the data...finally said fuck it and flipped a coin.
Not really any reasonable person will understand that if you are forced into a situation like our country is in right now you err on the side of caution when lives are on the line. You postpone schools to protect our children. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chief Roundup:
Not really any reasonable person will understand that if you are forced into a situation like our country is in right now you err on the side of caution when lives are on the line. You postpone schools to protect our children.
Originally Posted by O.city:
The reason schools were shut down was straight from the influenza vectoring playbook
Now we’re seeing that kids aren’t that with Covid.
Exactly. We had no idea what we were dealing with. We do now. And most districts are still offering an opt-out option to families.
People say "cancel school" like it has little impact. It not only impacts the child's education drastically, it also impacts families economically as well. Parents can't just "work from home" on a whim and when they do they have to work, not play Teacher. Not to mention people like single parents or families with multiple children.
And studies have shown that elementary students retain very little of what they learn online.
I'm sorry but unless there is an obvious and direct threat in my area my child is going to school. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chief Roundup:
Not really any reasonable person will understand that if you are forced into a situation like our country is in right now you err on the side of caution when lives are on the line. You postpone schools to protect our children.
I wish it was that simple. But it's not. As I mentioned, they've had months to plan for this. Analyze every aspect of a child's day at your school. Identify risks, either eliminate or mitigate. Get it fucking done. Or send me half of my fucking property tax money back. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
The biggest game changer would be immediate saliva tests. That would allow us to go forward and get back to somewhat normal
How or why aren’t we putting all our efforts on that?
Given the primary method of transferring the disease seems to be breath droplets - I'd settle for some kind of breathalyzer people have to blow into. [Reply]