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 carlos3652:
This is a reasonable take. I honestly don’t think we will get to the point that people won’t be allowed in a grocery store if they don’t have a vaccine. We have never done that with any disease that I know of.
I understand restrictions. But vaccine requirements to work remotely, or to go to the grocery store seem heavy handed to me. I don’t understand the I have the vaccine, but you don’t have the vaccine so you are putting me in danger. When anyone can pass the disease to anyone. Some people have not had the traditional vaccines that everyone else has (whatever their reasons may be) , but we don’t treat them as second hand citizens that can’t participate in society like some Europeans are treating their citizens over this.
I think mRNA is the future just need to keep testing it.
So maybe its not at the level of not participating in society, but we have, at times, kept kids out of school for not having a measles vaccine.
The US has a stronger tradition, and a stronger constitution, for individual rights than most countries. Which of course has trade offs.
There have been hospital ICU beds that have at various times filled up and negatively impacted the health outcomes of non covid patients.
Some European countries are facing that prospect again. I think heavy handed tactics aren't unreasonable.
As far as the US, our political situation and traditions are different. I don't think anything productive would come out of suggesting another lockdown of the type some European countries are implementing. Even if local ICU beds were overfilled and emergency tents were in the parking lots... [Reply]
There's some interesting stuff there. I notice that...
The rate of vaccinated cases versus unvaccinated is higher than I expected. I was thinking that the unvaccinated rate was ten times higher, and it's only three times higher. It's interesting that the median age of the cases is so different too, but I wonder how much of that might be driven by the under-18 crowd that is more likely to be unvaxxed.
The hospitalization median age is 73 for vaccinated people, and it 1/10 the hospitalization rate for unvaccinated people. That says a lot - it's really primarily people with less robust immune systems who will get it seriously.
And then the median age of deaths is really telling. It's 1/13th of the rate for vaccinated people, but the median ages of both groups says that this is still a disease that is primarily killing vulnerable elderly people. It's a rough time to be a senior citizen. [Reply]
There's some interesting stuff there. I notice that...
The rate of vaccinated cases versus unvaccinated is higher than I expected. I was thinking that the unvaccinated rate was ten times higher, and it's only three times higher. It's interesting that the median age of the cases is so different too, but I wonder how much of that might be driven by the under-18 crowd that is more likely to be unvaxxed.
The hospitalization median age is 73 for vaccinated people, and it 1/10 the hospitalization rate for unvaccinated people. That says a lot - it's really primarily people with less robust immune systems who will get it seriously.
And then the median age of deaths is really telling. It's 1/13th of the rate for vaccinated people, but the median ages of both groups says that this is still a disease that is primarily killing vulnerable elderly people. It's a rough time to be a senior citizen.
Sure. More like 3.8 x though. And, 74.3% of the Colorado population 18 and over is fully vaccinated. Pretty telling. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TLO:
You get that 3rd dose yet?
I don't believe that we've ever interfaced. I'm NotDonger. It's nice to e-meet you.
No, I have not received my second boost shot yet. I've looked into getting it scheduled, but I've been told that while I'm technically eligible, there's a wait list to get the higher risk people stuck before I get a shot (intended). [Reply]
From an msn article:
The Oklahoma Wildlife Department said there is no known risk of COVID-19 exposure associated with cleaning deer or eating cooked venison. However, since deer hunting is prevalent in the state, the department has tips for handling the animal.
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection when handling harvested deer, people should follow the same guidelines recommended to reduce human-to-human transmission, such as hand washing, gloves and masks. Personal vaccination can also greatly reduce the risk of catching the virus, the department said.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has similar advice for hunters in that state. Hunters should always "avoid handling or consuming wild animals that appear sick or those found dead," "wear gloves and a face shield when handling" game, and minimize contact with the brain or spinal tissue.
"Out of an abundance of caution for COVID-19, additional preventative measures include avoiding the head, lungs and digestive tract," the division said.
Other best practices include processing game outdoors or in a well-ventilated location, handling knives carefully to prevent accidental cuts and thoroughly washing hands and sanitizing all tools. Game meat should be cooked thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill pathogens, the division said.