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 Monticore:
I don't think hospitals and Government are getting their info from talking heads or the media either and have better access to info than what I could dig up myself.
Of course not. People are scared and just want someone to blame and are looking for ways out of saying this isn't going to be so bad. I'm sure Tim Cook shut down Apple and risked the loss of millions of dollars based on one talking head on CNN and not actually doing his own research and seeing what's going to happen is they don't get proactive about it. Same with all the other businesses that are closing down. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tk13:
I'm sure Tim Cook shut down Apple and risked the loss of millions of dollars based on one talking head on CNN and not actually doing his own research and seeing what's going to happen is they don't get proactive about it.
This.
Cook and Trump and Wal-Mart aren't all tanking the economy and losing billions because they want to.
It's because they honestly believe something worse will happen if they don't... [Reply]
Originally Posted by Monticore:
I don't think hospitals and Government are getting their info from talking heads or the media either and have better access to info than what I could dig up myself.
no one should just take whatever the national media or the government are saying as fact.
Best information will be the apolitical medical professionals, scientists with no agenda other than providing the public with factual information. [Reply]
Due to my personal lack of current, detailed information (as opposed to rumor and speculation) on the subject, I spent some time yesterday taking a look at CDC and WHO data regarding COVID-19 and the various known strains of seasonal flu. I also took the time to listen to several researchers and virologists voicing their views on COVID-19 (these were scientists ... NOT American media talking-head types). Based on both the global and US numbers, I'm concerned that we may be in the midst of one of the greatest deceptions in American history (medical or otherwise). Obviously, as a mere layperson, I have no way of knowing with certainty, but I do possess common sense and things simply aren't adding up.
I encourage everyone on this site to dig into the numbers and seek in-depth, professional opinions on the science. Something isn't "right".
If we're going to re-calibrate society, our economy, and our personal behavior, I'd like to think we're doing it based on reality. As of this moment, I have my doubts.
FAX
This a a non-political Covid-19 discussion thread so I won't tell you what I think what's maybe behind this. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Rausch:
As testing rolls out numbers will go up. We just honestly have no idea what the numbers really are right now.
I think they'll lock down, start testing, then make some decisions after they get more info...
The only thing we can hope is that the numbers don't jump exponentially once the testing rolls out. Yes there will be a jump - but how much of jump will there truly be? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bwana:
Yeah things are spiraling out of control quickly. I wonder how many people are going to lose their jobs over this? I got a call this morning and was told that my job had been eliminated due to their perceived notion that there would be lack of business, due to the Corona scare. They basically cut me loose and my entire sales team. At least I have a cash reserve to hold me over, but a lot of my sales team doesn't.
Why not just let you have time off unpaid? Why do they have to actually lay you off and not bring you back later? [Reply]
This will probably cost me my job. Awards companies are getting hurt bad today like so many others. Most of our business is from schools, sporting events, and other functions that involve gatherings of people. Already today we've had several people cancel their orders, some of which we've already ordered the product.
It doesn't help that we weren't doing so hot before all this. [Reply]
Originally Posted by lcarus:
This will probably cost me my job. Awards companies are getting hurt bad today like so many others. Most of our business is from schools, sporting events, and other functions that involve gatherings of people. Already today we've had several people cancel their orders, some of which we've already ordered the product.
It doesn't help that we weren't doing so hot before all this.
Originally Posted by mr. tegu:
Why not just let you have time off unpaid? Why do they have to actually lay you off and not bring you back later?
You can always find more salesmen down the road when you need them, rather quickly for almost any industry. They don't want to carry the bloat now that the writing's on the wall is my guess. Some executive Ivy grad prolly said to get out in front and "streamline" now . Sucks shit, but sales and service folks are essential right up until they aren't. [Reply]