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 Chiefspants:
This happened en masse during The Great Depression. It’s easy to criticize moves like this when we’re in the comforts of a modern living and a good economy. We do not have that luxury right now.
I agree. I'm fully aware of what goes on within the closed walls of the industry, but if today's media choses to make a big deal out of thousands of iso weans currently being euthanized while pork shelves are near bare it's probably not going to go over very well with Sally the soccer mom and the bands of TP hoarding morons. While the media runs circles with that fiasco, a generation of barn owners will quietly be filing bankruptcy on half million dollar units when their contracts get yanked. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TLO:
I've had 1.5 cigarettes today. It was cold as balls outside so I didn't even feel like finishing the second one.
I think I'm feeling some withdrawal - but I'm doing ok. I'm a little shaky. Goal for today is 5 or less.
very few people quit by smoking less cigarettes. Maybe you will be different or one of the ones who are successful at quitting using that method. But.........
If you feel cold turkey won’t work for you try the patches or the pouches. Part of what you have to overcome beyond the addiction to a drug is the habit. If you use the pouches or patches you can titrate the drug use like your current plan of smoking less cigarettes but your also quitting the habit of smoking an actual cigarette. Most say that helped them finally quit. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigRedChief:
very few people quit by smoking less cigarettes. Maybe you will be different or one of the ones who are successful at quitting using that method. But.........
If you feel cold turkey won’t work for you try the patches or the pouches. Part of what you have to overcome beyond the addiction to a drug is the habit. If you use the pouches or patches you can titrate the drug use like your smoking less but your also quitting the habit of smoking an actual cigarette. Most say that helped them finally quit.
Once upon a time I tried the lozenges, then the gum.
They both made me jittery as hell. I hated them - a lot. I did notice the lack of desire to smoke, but it wasn't pleasant. I doubt I'm going to be able to actually quit at a time like this, but I figure cutting back has to have some benifit, right? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Kiimosabi:
I quit by doing exactly that. Less less less none
I had a doctor tell me one time that you are essentially making it harder on yourself because you're prolonging the withdrawal symptoms doing it this way. He said he'd seen people prefer this method though.
It has done ok for me. I was a religious pack a day guy a month ago. I've been half a pack or less for the past month or so. Some days right around 10. Some days less than 5. It has just varied. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigRedChief:
very few people quit by smoking less cigarettes. Maybe you will be different or one of the ones who are successful at quitting using that method. But.........
If you feel cold turkey won’t work for you try the patches or the pouches. Part of what you have to overcome beyond the addiction to a drug is the habit. If you use the pouches or patches you can titrate the drug use like your current plan of smoking less cigarettes but your also quitting the habit of smoking an actual cigarette. Most say that helped them finally quit.
Thats how my dad quit, he cut it in half for a week, then half of that for the next week, and he said by like the 3rd or 4th week, he didnt feel the need anymore! Then again, he smoked Marijuana all the damned time, so im sure that helped him even in his late 50's at the time. [Reply]
Cold turkey is the way to go. Just do it and focus ALL of your attention to not smoking. Be strongestest through that morning smoke craving, then the boredom cravings, then the post meal cravings. Copy/paste.
Once you start, talk like a non smoker. "Want a smoke?" "Nah, I don't smoke anymore." Remember how shitty it tastes, how gross is makes you feel, how shitty you smell, the shame you feel every time you light up.
Originally Posted by TLO:
Once upon a time I tried the lozenges, then the gum.
They both made me jittery as hell. I hated them - a lot. I did notice the lack of desire to smoke, but it wasn't pleasant. I doubt I'm going to be able to actually quit at a time like this, but I figure cutting back has to have some benifit, right?
you do you. Whatever works for you.
Yes, 5 cigarettes a day is way better for your health than a pack a day. Besides not getting cancer down the road, your burning off the cilia that line your throat and lungs that help you get phlegm out of your lungs. The cilia will grow back as long as there is not long term damage like with COPD. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigRedChief:
very few people quit by smoking less cigarettes. Maybe you will be different or one of the ones who are successful at quitting using that method. But.........
If you feel cold turkey won’t work for you try the patches or the pouches. Part of what you have to overcome beyond the addiction to a drug is the habit. If you use the pouches or patches you can titrate the drug use like your current plan of smoking less cigarettes but your also quitting the habit of smoking an actual cigarette. Most say that helped them finally quit.
That’s how I finally quit. Crunched up the last pack, went and bought patches and put one on. After 3-4 nights I took em off at night because they caused me to have wild dreams.
Nah, no COPD for me. I've smoked 7 or 8 years, I can't remember the exact length. But its been long enough. I'm ready to put it behind me for good. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TLO:
Nah, no COPD for me. I've smoked 7 or 8 years, I can't remember the exact length. But its been long enough. I'm ready to put it behind me for good.
potential damage is defined by pack years. I smoked about 1.5 packs of cigarettes for 6 years and 1/2-1 pack for 3 years. Combining the amount + length = pack years.
I have a 13 pack history of smoking. But, quit 30 years ago. My risk is so low that it’s basically non-existent. [Reply]