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 wazu:
Thanks. I guess I don't really have any of those experiences other than wearing a mask for the occasional Uber ride. Main lasting effect on my life has been working from home, which I actually love.
Regarding the unvaccinated, I think a lot of people have been led astray. I find the responses to cases like Stephen Harmon to be shockingly uncompassionate. I suppose my main hope would be that the good thing to come out of these viral stories would be convincing more people to get vaccinated so that they don't become "that guy".
I have a hard time ginning up much sympathy for people who voluntarily and unnecessarily temped this fate.
2 of my relatives are in the hospital. 1 dying.
And I’m not surprised.My mother’s family is, by and large, a bunch of dumb****s in the Missourah hotspots. [Reply]
It really is crazy how unregulated vitamins are. I mean, there are things out there that people put in their bodies to IMPACT HOW YOUR GENITALS WORK and they'll take it without even a worry. [Reply]
Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501:
Ive reached the point where I just let the unvaccinated assume the risk. I'm vaccinated and mostly carefree. What I don't like is that this is going to slow normalcy. Hospitals are overwhelmed at a time when health care workers are burnt out.
Originally Posted by DaFace:
It really is crazy how unregulated vitamins are. I mean, there are things out there that people put in their bodies to IMPACT HOW YOUR GENITALS WORK and they'll take it without even a worry.
The FDA, like a great many government entities, has long been next to useless. And that has nothing to do with COVID. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaFace:
It really is crazy how unregulated vitamins are. I mean, there are things out there that people put in their bodies to IMPACT HOW YOUR GENITALS WORK and they'll take it without even a worry.
I think a lot of the herbal/organic treatment affect the body the same way as their pharma competitive but one is highly regulated and the other isn't but they consider the less regulated version safer. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Indian Chief:
The FDA, like a great many government entities, has long been next to useless. And that has nothing to do with COVID.
I get the sentiment, but that's hyperbole that you're presenting as fact. Have there been instances where the FDA has failed? Sure. But you're focusing on the handful of failures against literally thousands of decisions they make every year that keep people safer.
It's ludicrous to imply that we'd be better off without them. [Reply]
Most dietary supplements don't need to be regulated because they don't do shit. Goes super double for anything homeopathic. But you can get in trouble with a few things like mixing St. Johns Wort and Prozac. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Marcellus:
This is ridiculous. You are basically saying 50% of hospitalized patients die and that's nonsense. There are MANY treatments for covid right now including anti viral meds and giving oxygen.
We have had probably 10-15 employees end up in the hospital at some point due to covid the last 18 months, probably 5 in the last 2 weeks and 0 have died.
I'm not downplaying the severity I am just saying you are exaggerating quite a large bit. Thing is you dont hear about the people who don't die or have long term issues, they just move on with their lives.
Originally Posted by O.city:
I would guess he's talking about ICU vs just hospitalization.
What I am saying is they are doing the same treatment options as last year which is throw everything at them and HOPE one or more work. Monoclonal antibodies are an effective treatment option but they have to get it early on and by the time people usually go to the hospital it is too late. Also probably only the big hospitals have MA's.
My daughter is on Round 3 of Covid ICU duty and she told me last night she and her fellow ICU's RN's are telling people when they admit them, we will do what we can so good luck and you should have gotten vaccinated. Call it what you want. :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by Indian Chief:
The FDA, like a great many government entities, has long been next to useless. And that has nothing to do with COVID.
The FDA doesn't really have much to do with vitamins and supplements though. That's why manufacturers are legally required to put this disclaimer on vitamins and supplements.
