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:
considering 90% of tests are still negative id say the total number tested means more. as of March 15th they had only tested 30k to Germanys 160k
Completely irrelevant. Do I actually have to explain this to you? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
Well its hard to give it to potatoes.
heh Boise area and Sun Valley will get the worst of it the rest is pretty spread out. Sun Valley is small but were unprotected too long. They are 2 weeks ahead of the rest of the state. [Reply]
The face coverings do not have to be hospital grade, but need to cover the nose and mouth. For example, bandanas, fabric masks and neck gaiters are acceptable and can be washed and used again.
I've been wearing bandanas for 2 weeks. A mask isn't going to do shit with this Santa beard. [Reply]
Long story related to family drama (aka my brother)...
So, my brother has been staying in DC since September and protesting five days per week (don't ask, I don't know the whole story and don't really care). One thing you should know is that my brother is a self-centered pathological liar. Okay, so, he's told my mom that, because of the virus, they cannot protest, so he has to come home. He's been staying with (freeloading on) two female roommates in the area who were also gullible enough to put him on their phone bill. I guarantee that he has simply overstayed his welcome and they are kicking him out. That's beside the point. DC is an area with a ton of positive tests, and he plans to take the bus home. He lives with my mom and stepdad (and, yes, he's 47 years old). My mom is constantly sick with bronchitis and has chronic heart disease. My stepdad has compromised immune system (very low white blood cell count) and lung issues. My mom says that she's going to have him get tested when he gets back. I told her...
1. With the limited number of tests, you can't just get tested because you want to, and
2. Even if he could, and he tests negative, he could be a carrier for up to two weeks.
She said that my stepdad is getting pretty nervous, and I'm like "uh, duh". I told her she shouldn't go pick him up from the bus terminal, let alone let him in their house for at least two weeks. Even though my mom says she doesn't believe half of what my brother says, she acts as though she does. Plus, she's his mom. She doesn't want him out on the streets (even though he's been there before and prefers it to working).
I don't know much about shelters or weekly rentals, but my boyfriend suggested maybe we try looking for something for him temporarily in order to quarantine instead of going to my mom's house. I'm just worried about them and need to vent. And my boyfriend is suggesting nicer things than me...lol. I wasn't even trying to think of a way to try to help him. I already told my mom that she was not to come over to our house for three weeks after he gets back. Hoping that deters her, but I doubt it will.
BCG (TB) vaccine might protect against Covid19. Vaccinated Older people less likely to die. BCG could be a ‘game-changer’. Australia is fast tracking testing of BCG vaccination for health workers. Mechanism involves what’s called innate immune memory. https://t.co/C0FyBAmnyy
The face coverings do not have to be hospital grade, but need to cover the nose and mouth. For example, bandanas, fabric masks and neck gaiters are acceptable and can be washed and used again.
So wait, they are saying that ANY type of mask shielding the mouth, nose, eyes etc could be beneficial?
Kind of like many of us have been trying to say for sometime.
People still keep believing if you just wash your hands you can't get it.
Masks matter. Any kind. Some are better than others but any kind will mitigate this crisis. [Reply]