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 BigRedChief:
MY understanding..... CDC advisory panel meets tomorrow and Sunday. If approved on either day, the FDA will approve that day and the vaccine goes out.
I’m thinking why not just approve it tomorrow at that meeting?
Could be wrong, but I don't think the CDC has any control over authorization. Obviously it would be pretty weird for the CDC to recommend against it after the FDA authorizes it, but it's possible. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaFace:
Could be wrong, but I don't think the CDC has any control over authorization. Obviously it would be pretty weird for the CDC to recommend against it after the FDA authorizes it, but it's possible.
Seems highly unlikely, and also seems like they could expedite the process a bit at this point. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TLO:
Seems highly unlikely, and also seems like they could expedite the process a bit at this point.
Again, I'm not 100% sure of this, but I think the FDA authorization is all we really need for the ball to start rolling. The CDC makes recommendations like "wear a mask," but they're not binding. [Reply]
TLO 12-10-2020, 05:23 PM
This message has been deleted by TLO.
Reason: Double post
Originally Posted by DaFace:
Could be wrong, but I don't think the CDC has any control over authorization. Obviously it would be pretty weird for the CDC to recommend against it after the FDA authorizes it, but it's possible.
CNN and the Washington post both said it’s going to the CDC. Just stating what I heard. Obviously, no first hand knowledge of the process.
Yeah all these seem like formalities. The reputable and independent scientists and epidemiologists have seen the deep data sets. They say approve. Who’s going to know more than them? [Reply]
The CDC is a public health agency. The FDA is a regulatory body that has the authority to approve drugs under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. While the CDC controls the stock of certain rare drugs, they do not determine approval. [Reply]
Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins:
The CDC is a public health agency. The FDA is a regulatory body that has the authority to approve drugs under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. While the CDC controls the stock of certain rare drugs, they do not determine approval.
So is the FDA is waiting for the CDC to vote for appearance purposes? I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm just not sure what's going on. [Reply]
Who: FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, or VRBPAC -- a committee of independent experts with no stake in any of the companies developing Covid-19 vaccines
What's expected: A vote on a recommendation to the FDA on EUA for Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine
When: 9 a.m. ET start; key testimony at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.; Discussion/vote session starts at 3:10 p.m.; 6 p.m. end
What you'll see: Public and livestreamed remote Zoom meeting -- expect audio, slideshows, possibly some video
Draft agenda for December 10 meeting here.
Thursday, December 11 or later
Who: FDA's emergency use authorization decision
What's expected: The FDA's EUA allows shipping to begin, but shots still can't be administered until the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee recommends vaccine
When: FDA will announce this at any time, likely without warning.
Friday, December 11 and Sunday, December 13
Who: CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP
What's expected: A vote that the CDC should offer the vaccine to the American public; for recommendation to be made official, it must be accepted by CDC and published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
When: 12 p.m.- 5 p.m. ET Friday, December 11; 12 p.m.- 4 p.m. ET Sunday, December 13; vote is currently expected at 3:30 p.m. Sunday
What you'll see: Public and livestreamed remote Zoom meeting -- expect audio, slideshows, minimal video
Draft agenda for both meetings here.
Originally Posted by petegz28:
So when does the vaccine start getting stuck in arms? I mean if the CDC cannot stop this one way or the other then WTF are we waiting on them?
Physicians at Truman are receiving it in December, so I assume Feb [Reply]
Originally Posted by TLO:
So is the FDA is waiting for the CDC to vote for appearance purposes? I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm just not sure what's going on.
ACIP determines what vaccines are put on the recommended schedule which also helps determine insurance coverage. [Reply]
It would be nice if the medical treatment Donald, Rudy and Chris received were available to the general public until vaccines are available to all. It seems to work miracles for older and/or obese people. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chiefnj2:
It would be nice if the medical treatment Donald, Rudy and Chris received were available to the general public until vaccines are available to all. It seems to work miracles for older and/or obese people.
I believe the only thing that wasn't available then was Regeneron which I though had received EUA. [Reply]