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.”
Someone asked if there was going to be a vaccination dashboard. Sounds like it:
About 20 million people are expected to get their first shots by the end of this month. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said officials will soon provide a dashboard with the number of Covid-19 vaccinations completed, "so we know exactly how we're doing on getting shots in arms." [Reply]
“I believe by the end of February, the end of March, of course, depending on the decisions by our governors, but I believe we’ll have enough supply out there to be reaching out to the general public for administration — at your CVS, Walgreens, Kroegers — by the end of February into March,” Azar said. [Reply]
Closest hit to home for me. My cousin is in the hospital due to COVID issues. While I know we all have varying levels of concern about the virus, I just wish people would be a TINY bit conservative about it. Don't want to wear a mask? I think it's a silly take, but if you have zero symptoms, I get it. But when you have good reason to isolate...just do it already.
In this situation, my cousin's boss's wife tested positive for COVID. His boss went to work anyway because he felt fine, and he infected half of their employees (including my cousin). Separately, my aunt and uncle decided to visit my cousin a week ago, and when they got there he was fighting a "cold" (without knowing it was COVID). They stayed for the visit, but he went to get tested shortly after they left to drive home (12 hour drive). Just prior to them arriving home, he called them to tell them he was positive.
My aunt and uncle are the caregivers for my grandparents who are in their 90s, and normally they would have immediately gone over there when they got home to check on them. If the phone call had come in an hour later, there's a good chance that my 93-year-old grandpa who is on oxygen 100% of the time would now be fighting for his life.
As it is, my cousin (ex firefighter in his 40s who has asthma) is in the hospital, and my aunt and uncle are both severely lethargic. Separately (non-covid), their brother-in-law has been put into hospice, and they can't visit him in his final days.
My grandparents are fine for the time being, but there's no one to come over and help with chores. Small issue, but still.
If someone around you tests positive, just stay home for chrissakes. And if you feel like you're fighting off a cold, maybe don't have a big family gathering?
Sorry to hear about this. Hopefully they cycle through it fine and stop the spread themselves. [Reply]
“I believe by the end of February, the end of March, of course, depending on the decisions by our governors, but I believe we’ll have enough supply out there to be reaching out to the general public for administration — at your CVS, Walgreens, Kroegers — by the end of February into March,” Azar said.
That would be great. Hopefully he's not full of s**t. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Monticore:
Minimizing the effectiveness of masks during a pandemic could also be worse that just saying absolutely nothing at all , but Pete.
:-) you are such a ****ing twat. Did you even read the article? It was talking about wearing used masks....
They really minimized it didn't they??
Originally Posted by : “We hope public health authorities strengthen the current preventative measures to curb COVID-19 transmission, like choosing a more effective mask, wearing it properly for the highest protection, and avoid using an excessively used or expired surgical mask,” said Xi.
Closest hit to home for me. My cousin is in the hospital due to COVID issues. While I know we all have varying levels of concern about the virus, I just wish people would be a TINY bit conservative about it. Don't want to wear a mask? I think it's a silly take, but if you have zero symptoms, I get it. But when you have good reason to isolate...just do it already.
In this situation, my cousin's boss's wife tested positive for COVID. His boss went to work anyway because he felt fine, and he infected half of their employees (including my cousin). Separately, my aunt and uncle decided to visit my cousin a week ago, and when they got there he was fighting a "cold" (without knowing it was COVID). They stayed for the visit, but he went to get tested shortly after they left to drive home (12 hour drive). Just prior to them arriving home, he called them to tell them he was positive.
My aunt and uncle are the caregivers for my grandparents who are in their 90s, and normally they would have immediately gone over there when they got home to check on them. If the phone call had come in an hour later, there's a good chance that my 93-year-old grandpa who is on oxygen 100% of the time would now be fighting for his life.
As it is, my cousin (ex firefighter in his 40s who has asthma) is in the hospital, and my aunt and uncle are both severely lethargic. Separately (non-covid), their brother-in-law has been put into hospice, and they can't visit him in his final days.
My grandparents are fine for the time being, but there's no one to come over and help with chores. Small issue, but still.
If someone around you tests positive, just stay home for chrissakes. And if you feel like you're fighting off a cold, maybe don't have a big family gathering?
Sorry to hear about this DaFace. I hope your family gets better. [Reply]
(CNN)With about 50 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine coming this year and about 1.3 billion slated to be manufactured next year, Pfizer is working to meet US demands for more doses, company CEO Albert Bourla said Monday.
The 50 million doses scheduled for distribution this year have already been manufactured, the CEO said, and half will go to the United States, while the other 25 million will go to the rest of the world.
Next year, Bourla expects US and European manufacturers to create another 1.3 billion doses. Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, are maxing out capacity on both sides of the Atlantic, he said.
Of those, about 100 milliion will go to the States in the first quarter of 2021, per an agreement between the government and the vaccine makers, and 1.2 billion will be sent to other countries, he said.
The US government would like another 100 million doses in the second quarter, but as of right now, there is no deal in place and Bourla sees the third quarter of 2021 being a more realistic target. [Reply]
Originally Posted by notorious:
They are going to make 3.6 million doses....PER DAY?!
HOLY SHIT
Yes, but:
Of those, about 100 million will go to the States in the first quarter of 2021, per an agreement between the government and the vaccine makers, and 1.2 billion will be sent to other countries, he said.
Good thing we have the others coming soon. That's only 50 million vaccinations. We have a population of 330 million. [Reply]
Of those, about 100 million will go to the States in the first quarter of 2021, per an agreement between the government and the vaccine makers, and 1.2 billion will be sent to other countries, he said.
Good thing we have the others coming soon. That's only 50 million vaccinations. We have a population of 330 million.
Of course, but that number is eye opening. [Reply]
