October 31, 2020

My husband is working at a place where everyone wears masks. I am higher risk & retired… Should he be sleeping in a separate room from me?

Families Infection and Spread Staying Safe

A: When bed partners have varying degrees of risk of exposure and vulnerability to the disease, it’s worth discussing sleeping in separate spaces. The Nerdy Girls call this COVID Bed Spread. Here are some benefits to sleeping apart from other household members: 1.) REDUCED RISK OF VIRAL EXPOSURE (in both directions). Spending six or more …

October 31, 2020

Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A

Socializing Staying Safe Videos

Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and …

October 30, 2020

What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?

Infection and Spread

A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than …

October 28, 2020

What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?

Uncertainty and Misinformation

A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled …

October 28, 2020

How do I safely take off, store, and reapply my mask?

Masks Staying Safe

A: Designate a CLEAN SIDE/DIRTY SIDE for your mask, USE THE STRINGS to put on and take off, and SANITIZE your hands and mask often. Evidence indicates wearing a mask reduces the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Developing routines around mask wearing will help improve your practice of this useful harm reduction strategy. *CLEAN SIDE/DIRTY SIDE* The …

October 27, 2020

How can I stay safe while voting in person?

Staying Safe

A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long …

October 27, 2020

What do we currently know about SARS-CoV-2 re-infection?

Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread

A: So far it seems that short-term re-infection with SARS-CoV-2 is possible, but (hopefully) rare. A key question from the beginning of the pandemic has been what is the duration of immunity for SARS-CoV-2. Viruses like measles can provide lifelong immunity, but immunity to seasonal coronaviruses has generally been short-lived (around 12 months). One challenge …