What’s the importance of ventilation in preventing SARS-CoV-2?
Infection and Spread Masks Reopening School Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: How can I best manage the ventilation in my own office/school/home? A: Scientists are calling for more attention to VENTILATION in prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. You can help manage risk by opening doors and windows where possible, increasing outside airflow and filtration in HVAC systems, using portable HEPA air filters, and wearing masks indoors. Read more…
Reopening Schools
Reopening School Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Malia Jones, PhD, MPH on reopening schools Interview of Malia Jones, PhD, MPH on reopening schools on Channel 3000, Madison, WI.
What are teachers saying about returning to school?
Families/Kids Reopening School Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A couple of weeks ago, Dear Pandemic posted our joint opinion on reopening schools, and several teachers left feedback that indicated they have not felt heard in the ongoing discussion. Taking that to heart, we asked a few K-12 teachers to do what they do best: educate us. What it would take for THEM to Read more…
Ugh, what’s the deal with this new study from South Korea about kids transmitting COVID-19?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Does this mean going back to school is more dangerous than we thought? A: As you’ve noticed by now, headlines are often more sensational than the underlying facts. This is a large, solidly conducted study but doesn’t move the needle on what we already know: younger children seem less likely to contract and spread SARS-CoV-2, Read more…
Should K-12 schools reopen in the fall, and if so, how?
Reopening School
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
** Updated on 7/18/2020 to clarify that our position is that community outbreak control is a pre-req for safe school reopening plans. Schools can only reopen safely IF there is already good community control of the outbreak in place. ** A: If we want schools to reopen for in-person instruction, here is what is needed: Read more…
With so much talk about schools and reopening, what factors are important to consider when weighing risks/benefits of doing so?
Families/Kids Reopening School Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As nerdy girls, parents, and educators, we want so much to have clarity around school reopening. But, we just don’t yet know everything we need to know (and may not in 6 weeks!). So our best offering to you, our dear followers, is to share our ideas about how to assess the issue. We hope Read more…
Will temperature checks actually work? What else can schools and businesses do to quickly scan for potentially infectious people?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Reopening School
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: There’s reason to be skeptical about temperature checks. COVID-19 is infectious for several days before symptoms appear. Scanning folks as they enter a building for a fever won’t do much to prevent people who are pre-symptomatic from entering and spewing infectious droplets all over the place. Gross. At this point, we need to embrace Read more…
How on earth are schools going to safely re-open in the Fall?! And please, for the love of God tell me schools can open in Fall?!
Reopening School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We know these questions are on everyone’s mind, and we have to be honest that this is still very much a “wait and see” question as the circumstances on the ground, as well as our knowledge of the science develop. The Nerdy Girls are very sympathetic to the huge educational and social costs of keeping Read more…
Restaurants in my city are reopening for outdoor dining. Is that safe?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: It’s probably safe for you as a diner. But also consider if it’s safe for kitchen crew and wait staff. Several Nerdy Girls live in Philadelphia, where restaurants were allowed to resume outdoor or sidewalk service as of Friday night. One of us (Alison) was interviewed by a local magazine about the safety of Read more…
How risky are my favorite places and activities?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
Q: How can I best manage the ventilation in my own office/school/home? A: Scientists are calling for more attention to VENTILATION in prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. You can help manage risk by opening doors and windows where possible, increasing outside airflow and filtration in HVAC systems, using portable HEPA air filters, and wearing masks indoors. Read more…
Reopening Schools
Reopening School VideosMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Malia Jones, PhD, MPH on reopening schools Interview of Malia Jones, PhD, MPH on reopening schools on Channel 3000, Madison, WI.
What are teachers saying about returning to school?
Families/Kids Reopening School Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A couple of weeks ago, Dear Pandemic posted our joint opinion on reopening schools, and several teachers left feedback that indicated they have not felt heard in the ongoing discussion. Taking that to heart, we asked a few K-12 teachers to do what they do best: educate us. What it would take for THEM to Read more…
Ugh, what’s the deal with this new study from South Korea about kids transmitting COVID-19?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Does this mean going back to school is more dangerous than we thought? A: As you’ve noticed by now, headlines are often more sensational than the underlying facts. This is a large, solidly conducted study but doesn’t move the needle on what we already know: younger children seem less likely to contract and spread SARS-CoV-2, Read more…
Should K-12 schools reopen in the fall, and if so, how?
Reopening School
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
** Updated on 7/18/2020 to clarify that our position is that community outbreak control is a pre-req for safe school reopening plans. Schools can only reopen safely IF there is already good community control of the outbreak in place. ** A: If we want schools to reopen for in-person instruction, here is what is needed: Read more…
With so much talk about schools and reopening, what factors are important to consider when weighing risks/benefits of doing so?
Families/Kids Reopening School Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As nerdy girls, parents, and educators, we want so much to have clarity around school reopening. But, we just don’t yet know everything we need to know (and may not in 6 weeks!). So our best offering to you, our dear followers, is to share our ideas about how to assess the issue. We hope Read more…
Will temperature checks actually work? What else can schools and businesses do to quickly scan for potentially infectious people?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Reopening School
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: There’s reason to be skeptical about temperature checks. COVID-19 is infectious for several days before symptoms appear. Scanning folks as they enter a building for a fever won’t do much to prevent people who are pre-symptomatic from entering and spewing infectious droplets all over the place. Gross. At this point, we need to embrace Read more…
How on earth are schools going to safely re-open in the Fall?! And please, for the love of God tell me schools can open in Fall?!
Reopening School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We know these questions are on everyone’s mind, and we have to be honest that this is still very much a “wait and see” question as the circumstances on the ground, as well as our knowledge of the science develop. The Nerdy Girls are very sympathetic to the huge educational and social costs of keeping Read more…
Restaurants in my city are reopening for outdoor dining. Is that safe?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: It’s probably safe for you as a diner. But also consider if it’s safe for kitchen crew and wait staff. Several Nerdy Girls live in Philadelphia, where restaurants were allowed to resume outdoor or sidewalk service as of Friday night. One of us (Alison) was interviewed by a local magazine about the safety of Read more…
How risky are my favorite places and activities?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
Malia Jones, PhD, MPH on reopening schools Interview of Malia Jones, PhD, MPH on reopening schools on Channel 3000, Madison, WI.
What are teachers saying about returning to school?
Families/Kids Reopening School Staying SafeMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A couple of weeks ago, Dear Pandemic posted our joint opinion on reopening schools, and several teachers left feedback that indicated they have not felt heard in the ongoing discussion. Taking that to heart, we asked a few K-12 teachers to do what they do best: educate us. What it would take for THEM to Read more…
Ugh, what’s the deal with this new study from South Korea about kids transmitting COVID-19?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Does this mean going back to school is more dangerous than we thought? A: As you’ve noticed by now, headlines are often more sensational than the underlying facts. This is a large, solidly conducted study but doesn’t move the needle on what we already know: younger children seem less likely to contract and spread SARS-CoV-2, Read more…
Should K-12 schools reopen in the fall, and if so, how?
Reopening School
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
** Updated on 7/18/2020 to clarify that our position is that community outbreak control is a pre-req for safe school reopening plans. Schools can only reopen safely IF there is already good community control of the outbreak in place. ** A: If we want schools to reopen for in-person instruction, here is what is needed: Read more…
With so much talk about schools and reopening, what factors are important to consider when weighing risks/benefits of doing so?
Families/Kids Reopening School Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As nerdy girls, parents, and educators, we want so much to have clarity around school reopening. But, we just don’t yet know everything we need to know (and may not in 6 weeks!). So our best offering to you, our dear followers, is to share our ideas about how to assess the issue. We hope Read more…
Will temperature checks actually work? What else can schools and businesses do to quickly scan for potentially infectious people?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Reopening School
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: There’s reason to be skeptical about temperature checks. COVID-19 is infectious for several days before symptoms appear. Scanning folks as they enter a building for a fever won’t do much to prevent people who are pre-symptomatic from entering and spewing infectious droplets all over the place. Gross. At this point, we need to embrace Read more…
How on earth are schools going to safely re-open in the Fall?! And please, for the love of God tell me schools can open in Fall?!
Reopening School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We know these questions are on everyone’s mind, and we have to be honest that this is still very much a “wait and see” question as the circumstances on the ground, as well as our knowledge of the science develop. The Nerdy Girls are very sympathetic to the huge educational and social costs of keeping Read more…
Restaurants in my city are reopening for outdoor dining. Is that safe?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: It’s probably safe for you as a diner. But also consider if it’s safe for kitchen crew and wait staff. Several Nerdy Girls live in Philadelphia, where restaurants were allowed to resume outdoor or sidewalk service as of Friday night. One of us (Alison) was interviewed by a local magazine about the safety of Read more…
How risky are my favorite places and activities?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A couple of weeks ago, Dear Pandemic posted our joint opinion on reopening schools, and several teachers left feedback that indicated they have not felt heard in the ongoing discussion. Taking that to heart, we asked a few K-12 teachers to do what they do best: educate us. What it would take for THEM to Read more…
Ugh, what’s the deal with this new study from South Korea about kids transmitting COVID-19?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread ReopeningJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Does this mean going back to school is more dangerous than we thought? A: As you’ve noticed by now, headlines are often more sensational than the underlying facts. This is a large, solidly conducted study but doesn’t move the needle on what we already know: younger children seem less likely to contract and spread SARS-CoV-2, Read more…
Should K-12 schools reopen in the fall, and if so, how?
Reopening School
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
** Updated on 7/18/2020 to clarify that our position is that community outbreak control is a pre-req for safe school reopening plans. Schools can only reopen safely IF there is already good community control of the outbreak in place. ** A: If we want schools to reopen for in-person instruction, here is what is needed: Read more…
With so much talk about schools and reopening, what factors are important to consider when weighing risks/benefits of doing so?
Families/Kids Reopening School Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As nerdy girls, parents, and educators, we want so much to have clarity around school reopening. But, we just don’t yet know everything we need to know (and may not in 6 weeks!). So our best offering to you, our dear followers, is to share our ideas about how to assess the issue. We hope Read more…
Will temperature checks actually work? What else can schools and businesses do to quickly scan for potentially infectious people?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Reopening School
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: There’s reason to be skeptical about temperature checks. COVID-19 is infectious for several days before symptoms appear. Scanning folks as they enter a building for a fever won’t do much to prevent people who are pre-symptomatic from entering and spewing infectious droplets all over the place. Gross. At this point, we need to embrace Read more…
How on earth are schools going to safely re-open in the Fall?! And please, for the love of God tell me schools can open in Fall?!
Reopening School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We know these questions are on everyone’s mind, and we have to be honest that this is still very much a “wait and see” question as the circumstances on the ground, as well as our knowledge of the science develop. The Nerdy Girls are very sympathetic to the huge educational and social costs of keeping Read more…
Restaurants in my city are reopening for outdoor dining. Is that safe?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: It’s probably safe for you as a diner. But also consider if it’s safe for kitchen crew and wait staff. Several Nerdy Girls live in Philadelphia, where restaurants were allowed to resume outdoor or sidewalk service as of Friday night. One of us (Alison) was interviewed by a local magazine about the safety of Read more…
How risky are my favorite places and activities?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
Does this mean going back to school is more dangerous than we thought? A: As you’ve noticed by now, headlines are often more sensational than the underlying facts. This is a large, solidly conducted study but doesn’t move the needle on what we already know: younger children seem less likely to contract and spread SARS-CoV-2, Read more…
Should K-12 schools reopen in the fall, and if so, how?
Reopening SchoolMalia Jones, PhD MPH
** Updated on 7/18/2020 to clarify that our position is that community outbreak control is a pre-req for safe school reopening plans. Schools can only reopen safely IF there is already good community control of the outbreak in place. ** A: If we want schools to reopen for in-person instruction, here is what is needed: Read more…
With so much talk about schools and reopening, what factors are important to consider when weighing risks/benefits of doing so?
Families/Kids Reopening School Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As nerdy girls, parents, and educators, we want so much to have clarity around school reopening. But, we just don’t yet know everything we need to know (and may not in 6 weeks!). So our best offering to you, our dear followers, is to share our ideas about how to assess the issue. We hope Read more…
Will temperature checks actually work? What else can schools and businesses do to quickly scan for potentially infectious people?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Reopening School
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: There’s reason to be skeptical about temperature checks. COVID-19 is infectious for several days before symptoms appear. Scanning folks as they enter a building for a fever won’t do much to prevent people who are pre-symptomatic from entering and spewing infectious droplets all over the place. Gross. At this point, we need to embrace Read more…
How on earth are schools going to safely re-open in the Fall?! And please, for the love of God tell me schools can open in Fall?!
Reopening School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We know these questions are on everyone’s mind, and we have to be honest that this is still very much a “wait and see” question as the circumstances on the ground, as well as our knowledge of the science develop. The Nerdy Girls are very sympathetic to the huge educational and social costs of keeping Read more…
Restaurants in my city are reopening for outdoor dining. Is that safe?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: It’s probably safe for you as a diner. But also consider if it’s safe for kitchen crew and wait staff. Several Nerdy Girls live in Philadelphia, where restaurants were allowed to resume outdoor or sidewalk service as of Friday night. One of us (Alison) was interviewed by a local magazine about the safety of Read more…
How risky are my favorite places and activities?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
** Updated on 7/18/2020 to clarify that our position is that community outbreak control is a pre-req for safe school reopening plans. Schools can only reopen safely IF there is already good community control of the outbreak in place. ** A: If we want schools to reopen for in-person instruction, here is what is needed: Read more…
With so much talk about schools and reopening, what factors are important to consider when weighing risks/benefits of doing so?
Families/Kids Reopening School Staying SafeAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
As nerdy girls, parents, and educators, we want so much to have clarity around school reopening. But, we just don’t yet know everything we need to know (and may not in 6 weeks!). So our best offering to you, our dear followers, is to share our ideas about how to assess the issue. We hope Read more…
Will temperature checks actually work? What else can schools and businesses do to quickly scan for potentially infectious people?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Reopening School
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: There’s reason to be skeptical about temperature checks. COVID-19 is infectious for several days before symptoms appear. Scanning folks as they enter a building for a fever won’t do much to prevent people who are pre-symptomatic from entering and spewing infectious droplets all over the place. Gross. At this point, we need to embrace Read more…
How on earth are schools going to safely re-open in the Fall?! And please, for the love of God tell me schools can open in Fall?!
Reopening School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We know these questions are on everyone’s mind, and we have to be honest that this is still very much a “wait and see” question as the circumstances on the ground, as well as our knowledge of the science develop. The Nerdy Girls are very sympathetic to the huge educational and social costs of keeping Read more…
Restaurants in my city are reopening for outdoor dining. Is that safe?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: It’s probably safe for you as a diner. But also consider if it’s safe for kitchen crew and wait staff. Several Nerdy Girls live in Philadelphia, where restaurants were allowed to resume outdoor or sidewalk service as of Friday night. One of us (Alison) was interviewed by a local magazine about the safety of Read more…
How risky are my favorite places and activities?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
As nerdy girls, parents, and educators, we want so much to have clarity around school reopening. But, we just don’t yet know everything we need to know (and may not in 6 weeks!). So our best offering to you, our dear followers, is to share our ideas about how to assess the issue. We hope Read more…
Will temperature checks actually work? What else can schools and businesses do to quickly scan for potentially infectious people?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Reopening SchoolLauren Hale, PhD MA
A: There’s reason to be skeptical about temperature checks. COVID-19 is infectious for several days before symptoms appear. Scanning folks as they enter a building for a fever won’t do much to prevent people who are pre-symptomatic from entering and spewing infectious droplets all over the place. Gross. At this point, we need to embrace Read more…
How on earth are schools going to safely re-open in the Fall?! And please, for the love of God tell me schools can open in Fall?!
Reopening School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We know these questions are on everyone’s mind, and we have to be honest that this is still very much a “wait and see” question as the circumstances on the ground, as well as our knowledge of the science develop. The Nerdy Girls are very sympathetic to the huge educational and social costs of keeping Read more…
Restaurants in my city are reopening for outdoor dining. Is that safe?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: It’s probably safe for you as a diner. But also consider if it’s safe for kitchen crew and wait staff. Several Nerdy Girls live in Philadelphia, where restaurants were allowed to resume outdoor or sidewalk service as of Friday night. One of us (Alison) was interviewed by a local magazine about the safety of Read more…
How risky are my favorite places and activities?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: There’s reason to be skeptical about temperature checks. COVID-19 is infectious for several days before symptoms appear. Scanning folks as they enter a building for a fever won’t do much to prevent people who are pre-symptomatic from entering and spewing infectious droplets all over the place. Gross. At this point, we need to embrace Read more…
How on earth are schools going to safely re-open in the Fall?! And please, for the love of God tell me schools can open in Fall?!
Reopening SchoolJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We know these questions are on everyone’s mind, and we have to be honest that this is still very much a “wait and see” question as the circumstances on the ground, as well as our knowledge of the science develop. The Nerdy Girls are very sympathetic to the huge educational and social costs of keeping Read more…
Restaurants in my city are reopening for outdoor dining. Is that safe?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: It’s probably safe for you as a diner. But also consider if it’s safe for kitchen crew and wait staff. Several Nerdy Girls live in Philadelphia, where restaurants were allowed to resume outdoor or sidewalk service as of Friday night. One of us (Alison) was interviewed by a local magazine about the safety of Read more…
How risky are my favorite places and activities?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
We know these questions are on everyone’s mind, and we have to be honest that this is still very much a “wait and see” question as the circumstances on the ground, as well as our knowledge of the science develop. The Nerdy Girls are very sympathetic to the huge educational and social costs of keeping Read more…
Restaurants in my city are reopening for outdoor dining. Is that safe?
Reopening Socializing Staying SafeAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: It’s probably safe for you as a diner. But also consider if it’s safe for kitchen crew and wait staff. Several Nerdy Girls live in Philadelphia, where restaurants were allowed to resume outdoor or sidewalk service as of Friday night. One of us (Alison) was interviewed by a local magazine about the safety of Read more…
How risky are my favorite places and activities?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe Travel
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: It’s probably safe for you as a diner. But also consider if it’s safe for kitchen crew and wait staff. Several Nerdy Girls live in Philadelphia, where restaurants were allowed to resume outdoor or sidewalk service as of Friday night. One of us (Alison) was interviewed by a local magazine about the safety of Read more…
How risky are my favorite places and activities?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe TravelLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: A group of Michigan-based COVID-19 experts has put together a helpful set of activity “rankings.” TL;DR: Skip the buffet. Opt for tennis instead. Context: Nerdy Girls are here to help you #StaySMART this summer! A refresher of our SMART principles: S – Space. Keep your distance. M – Mask. Keep it on. A – Read more…
There’s inevitably going to be some socializing this summer. How do I stay safe?
Families/Kids Reopening Socializing Staying SafeAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
Q: How do I tell my kids and my parents to stay safe? A: Stay SMART! Wow, these are some unusual times! Some of us are in the streets every day with large groups (see our recent posts on that), some of us haven’t left our homes in months. But many of us are starting Read more…
How do I know what is going on in my county/state in order to calibrate my activities and risk as things open up?
Data and Metrics Reopening Staying SafeJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: “Covid Act Now” has put together a really useful website with COVID data and risk levels for all 50 states and 2100+ counties. They use four key indicators for gauging risk: 1) Is COVID spreading? Are cases and deaths increasing? 2) Are we testing enough? Is COVID testing widespread enough to identify new cases? Read more…
What activities can we do safely and which are better to avoid this summer?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Socializing Staying SafeAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: With some modifications, there are opportunities to have some fun this summer. Promise. Risk happens on a continuum with all events outside your home carrying some level of risk. Some activities carry higher risks than others. It’s best to choose lower risk activities to limit transmission of the virus within your community and beyond. Read more…
Our neighborhood pool plans to reopen in a couple of weeks when our state eases lockdowns. Is the pool a risky place for COVID-19 transmission?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Reopening Staying SafeAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: You’re unlikely to get COVID-19 *from* the pool, but you could certainly be exposed *at* the pool. To clarify: Pool water is heavily chlorinated, and COVID-19 is not waterborne in any case. So, being immersed in the pool or otherwise exposed to pool water is not risky in and of itself. The problem, of Read more…
What else do I need to know about my risks as my state reopens?
Reopening Staying SafeAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: The nerdy girls have answered several questions about this topic recently, but we love another amazing smart lady’s interpretation (#DrLeanaWen), detailed here with a few more pearls. 1-Relative risk: For COVID-19, this is determined by type of activity, duration of activity, and how close you are to other people (see our previous posts). The Read more…
What’s brought you hope this week?
Reopening Staying SafeLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: Food trucks! Pittsburgh Magazine’s recent article showcases scrappy food truck owners working hard to re-open *safely.* It’s a joy to see the amazing work ethic and bright minds of these small business owners innovating evidence-based ways forward. What’s in their secret sauce? (Please pardon the pun). Three key themes: (1) METRICS: The food truck Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
ReopeningAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying SafeAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying SafeAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
ReopeningLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
