Those Nerdy Girls on the 6 month-iversary of the COVID-19 pandemic
Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Those Nerdy Girls on the 6 month-iversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective. Link to original FB post
How do I facilitate outdoor playdates?! Please help!
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Boy how we empathize – safer socializing outdoors with kids is tricky. We’re here to help! The Nerdy Girls’ Outdoor Playdate Checklist helps you balance the need for children’s socialization with the need to reduce infection risk. Context: Yesterday the Nerdy Girl/IMPACT4HC team had the opportunity to talk about outdoor socializing with the wonderful Read more…
PIG NEWS! A NEW PANDEMIC FLU VIRUS IS NIGH!
Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NOT SO FAST….. despite the clickbait headlines, this particular scientific study only points to a virus that we need to keep a careful eye on, NOT an immediate public health threat. For the quick take on this story, we turn to University of Washington biologist (and amazing COVID-19 twitter source) Dr. Carl Bergstrom. Carl Read more…
Cases are going up in my area, should I freak out?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Even if your local or state public health department hasn’t come out and said so, a sharp increase in COVID-19 in your local area is cause for major concern and deserves a speedy response from you – and hopefully, also your local public health department! Time to cut back your nonessential activities and double-down Read more…
Why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS!
Families/Kids Staying Safe Videos
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Our own Dr. Aparna Kumar explains why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS! And if we’re being honest, adults too. Link to original FB post
How can I get my younger child/sibling to wear a mask?
Families/Kids Masks Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: With lots of encouragement! The Nerdy Girls have talked a lot about kids and transmission risks. And we hope that as more data comes out, we will know more about transmission dynamics in children. A few updated links here: NPR Stat News In the meantime, many states require that children wear masks. We continue Read more…
Why don’t my pants fit? Can I blame it on Covid-19?
Uncategorized
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Weight changes can occur for a number of reasons. Covid-19 has triggered a multitude of opportunities to mess with your wardrobe and nutritional health. While some are experiencing the “Quarantine -15”, a fluctuation up or down of 15 pounds in your typical body weight, others are struggling with food insecurity. Here are a few Read more…
Maybe this increase in cases is good…. aren’t we getting closer to herd immunity?
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NO and NO! It’s been a while since we touched on herd immunity, so first some quick review. If we think of SARS-CoV-2 infections as sparks, uninfected people are the fuel. The very basic idea of herd immunity is that individuals who are already immune–either through previous infection or a vaccine–act as a “firewall” Read more…
Why is outdoors safer than indoors?
Socializing Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Q: If I’m outside, do I still have to worry about all the other things like staying 6 ft apart and wearing a mask? A: As highlighted in this NYT article, there are two main reasons why transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be lower in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings: Airflow and Space! When a Read more…
Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks?
Masks Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
Those Nerdy Girls on the 6 month-iversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective. Link to original FB post
How do I facilitate outdoor playdates?! Please help!
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Socializing Staying SafeLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Boy how we empathize – safer socializing outdoors with kids is tricky. We’re here to help! The Nerdy Girls’ Outdoor Playdate Checklist helps you balance the need for children’s socialization with the need to reduce infection risk. Context: Yesterday the Nerdy Girl/IMPACT4HC team had the opportunity to talk about outdoor socializing with the wonderful Read more…
PIG NEWS! A NEW PANDEMIC FLU VIRUS IS NIGH!
Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NOT SO FAST….. despite the clickbait headlines, this particular scientific study only points to a virus that we need to keep a careful eye on, NOT an immediate public health threat. For the quick take on this story, we turn to University of Washington biologist (and amazing COVID-19 twitter source) Dr. Carl Bergstrom. Carl Read more…
Cases are going up in my area, should I freak out?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Even if your local or state public health department hasn’t come out and said so, a sharp increase in COVID-19 in your local area is cause for major concern and deserves a speedy response from you – and hopefully, also your local public health department! Time to cut back your nonessential activities and double-down Read more…
Why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS!
Families/Kids Staying Safe Videos
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Our own Dr. Aparna Kumar explains why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS! And if we’re being honest, adults too. Link to original FB post
How can I get my younger child/sibling to wear a mask?
Families/Kids Masks Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: With lots of encouragement! The Nerdy Girls have talked a lot about kids and transmission risks. And we hope that as more data comes out, we will know more about transmission dynamics in children. A few updated links here: NPR Stat News In the meantime, many states require that children wear masks. We continue Read more…
Why don’t my pants fit? Can I blame it on Covid-19?
Uncategorized
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Weight changes can occur for a number of reasons. Covid-19 has triggered a multitude of opportunities to mess with your wardrobe and nutritional health. While some are experiencing the “Quarantine -15”, a fluctuation up or down of 15 pounds in your typical body weight, others are struggling with food insecurity. Here are a few Read more…
Maybe this increase in cases is good…. aren’t we getting closer to herd immunity?
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NO and NO! It’s been a while since we touched on herd immunity, so first some quick review. If we think of SARS-CoV-2 infections as sparks, uninfected people are the fuel. The very basic idea of herd immunity is that individuals who are already immune–either through previous infection or a vaccine–act as a “firewall” Read more…
Why is outdoors safer than indoors?
Socializing Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Q: If I’m outside, do I still have to worry about all the other things like staying 6 ft apart and wearing a mask? A: As highlighted in this NYT article, there are two main reasons why transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be lower in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings: Airflow and Space! When a Read more…
Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks?
Masks Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: Boy how we empathize – safer socializing outdoors with kids is tricky. We’re here to help! The Nerdy Girls’ Outdoor Playdate Checklist helps you balance the need for children’s socialization with the need to reduce infection risk. Context: Yesterday the Nerdy Girl/IMPACT4HC team had the opportunity to talk about outdoor socializing with the wonderful Read more…
PIG NEWS! A NEW PANDEMIC FLU VIRUS IS NIGH!
Infection and Spread Uncertainty and MisinformationJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NOT SO FAST….. despite the clickbait headlines, this particular scientific study only points to a virus that we need to keep a careful eye on, NOT an immediate public health threat. For the quick take on this story, we turn to University of Washington biologist (and amazing COVID-19 twitter source) Dr. Carl Bergstrom. Carl Read more…
Cases are going up in my area, should I freak out?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Even if your local or state public health department hasn’t come out and said so, a sharp increase in COVID-19 in your local area is cause for major concern and deserves a speedy response from you – and hopefully, also your local public health department! Time to cut back your nonessential activities and double-down Read more…
Why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS!
Families/Kids Staying Safe Videos
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Our own Dr. Aparna Kumar explains why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS! And if we’re being honest, adults too. Link to original FB post
How can I get my younger child/sibling to wear a mask?
Families/Kids Masks Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: With lots of encouragement! The Nerdy Girls have talked a lot about kids and transmission risks. And we hope that as more data comes out, we will know more about transmission dynamics in children. A few updated links here: NPR Stat News In the meantime, many states require that children wear masks. We continue Read more…
Why don’t my pants fit? Can I blame it on Covid-19?
Uncategorized
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Weight changes can occur for a number of reasons. Covid-19 has triggered a multitude of opportunities to mess with your wardrobe and nutritional health. While some are experiencing the “Quarantine -15”, a fluctuation up or down of 15 pounds in your typical body weight, others are struggling with food insecurity. Here are a few Read more…
Maybe this increase in cases is good…. aren’t we getting closer to herd immunity?
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NO and NO! It’s been a while since we touched on herd immunity, so first some quick review. If we think of SARS-CoV-2 infections as sparks, uninfected people are the fuel. The very basic idea of herd immunity is that individuals who are already immune–either through previous infection or a vaccine–act as a “firewall” Read more…
Why is outdoors safer than indoors?
Socializing Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Q: If I’m outside, do I still have to worry about all the other things like staying 6 ft apart and wearing a mask? A: As highlighted in this NYT article, there are two main reasons why transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be lower in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings: Airflow and Space! When a Read more…
Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks?
Masks Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: NOT SO FAST….. despite the clickbait headlines, this particular scientific study only points to a virus that we need to keep a careful eye on, NOT an immediate public health threat. For the quick take on this story, we turn to University of Washington biologist (and amazing COVID-19 twitter source) Dr. Carl Bergstrom. Carl Read more…
Cases are going up in my area, should I freak out?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Staying SafeMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Even if your local or state public health department hasn’t come out and said so, a sharp increase in COVID-19 in your local area is cause for major concern and deserves a speedy response from you – and hopefully, also your local public health department! Time to cut back your nonessential activities and double-down Read more…
Why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS!
Families/Kids Staying Safe Videos
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Our own Dr. Aparna Kumar explains why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS! And if we’re being honest, adults too. Link to original FB post
How can I get my younger child/sibling to wear a mask?
Families/Kids Masks Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: With lots of encouragement! The Nerdy Girls have talked a lot about kids and transmission risks. And we hope that as more data comes out, we will know more about transmission dynamics in children. A few updated links here: NPR Stat News In the meantime, many states require that children wear masks. We continue Read more…
Why don’t my pants fit? Can I blame it on Covid-19?
Uncategorized
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Weight changes can occur for a number of reasons. Covid-19 has triggered a multitude of opportunities to mess with your wardrobe and nutritional health. While some are experiencing the “Quarantine -15”, a fluctuation up or down of 15 pounds in your typical body weight, others are struggling with food insecurity. Here are a few Read more…
Maybe this increase in cases is good…. aren’t we getting closer to herd immunity?
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NO and NO! It’s been a while since we touched on herd immunity, so first some quick review. If we think of SARS-CoV-2 infections as sparks, uninfected people are the fuel. The very basic idea of herd immunity is that individuals who are already immune–either through previous infection or a vaccine–act as a “firewall” Read more…
Why is outdoors safer than indoors?
Socializing Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Q: If I’m outside, do I still have to worry about all the other things like staying 6 ft apart and wearing a mask? A: As highlighted in this NYT article, there are two main reasons why transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be lower in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings: Airflow and Space! When a Read more…
Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks?
Masks Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: Even if your local or state public health department hasn’t come out and said so, a sharp increase in COVID-19 in your local area is cause for major concern and deserves a speedy response from you – and hopefully, also your local public health department! Time to cut back your nonessential activities and double-down Read more…
Why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS!
Families/Kids Staying Safe VideosAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Our own Dr. Aparna Kumar explains why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS! And if we’re being honest, adults too. Link to original FB post
How can I get my younger child/sibling to wear a mask?
Families/Kids Masks Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: With lots of encouragement! The Nerdy Girls have talked a lot about kids and transmission risks. And we hope that as more data comes out, we will know more about transmission dynamics in children. A few updated links here: NPR Stat News In the meantime, many states require that children wear masks. We continue Read more…
Why don’t my pants fit? Can I blame it on Covid-19?
Uncategorized
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Weight changes can occur for a number of reasons. Covid-19 has triggered a multitude of opportunities to mess with your wardrobe and nutritional health. While some are experiencing the “Quarantine -15”, a fluctuation up or down of 15 pounds in your typical body weight, others are struggling with food insecurity. Here are a few Read more…
Maybe this increase in cases is good…. aren’t we getting closer to herd immunity?
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NO and NO! It’s been a while since we touched on herd immunity, so first some quick review. If we think of SARS-CoV-2 infections as sparks, uninfected people are the fuel. The very basic idea of herd immunity is that individuals who are already immune–either through previous infection or a vaccine–act as a “firewall” Read more…
Why is outdoors safer than indoors?
Socializing Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Q: If I’m outside, do I still have to worry about all the other things like staying 6 ft apart and wearing a mask? A: As highlighted in this NYT article, there are two main reasons why transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be lower in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings: Airflow and Space! When a Read more…
Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks?
Masks Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
Our own Dr. Aparna Kumar explains why & how to wear your mask FOR KIDS! And if we’re being honest, adults too. Link to original FB post
How can I get my younger child/sibling to wear a mask?
Families/Kids Masks Staying SafeAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: With lots of encouragement! The Nerdy Girls have talked a lot about kids and transmission risks. And we hope that as more data comes out, we will know more about transmission dynamics in children. A few updated links here: NPR Stat News In the meantime, many states require that children wear masks. We continue Read more…
Why don’t my pants fit? Can I blame it on Covid-19?
Uncategorized
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Weight changes can occur for a number of reasons. Covid-19 has triggered a multitude of opportunities to mess with your wardrobe and nutritional health. While some are experiencing the “Quarantine -15”, a fluctuation up or down of 15 pounds in your typical body weight, others are struggling with food insecurity. Here are a few Read more…
Maybe this increase in cases is good…. aren’t we getting closer to herd immunity?
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NO and NO! It’s been a while since we touched on herd immunity, so first some quick review. If we think of SARS-CoV-2 infections as sparks, uninfected people are the fuel. The very basic idea of herd immunity is that individuals who are already immune–either through previous infection or a vaccine–act as a “firewall” Read more…
Why is outdoors safer than indoors?
Socializing Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Q: If I’m outside, do I still have to worry about all the other things like staying 6 ft apart and wearing a mask? A: As highlighted in this NYT article, there are two main reasons why transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be lower in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings: Airflow and Space! When a Read more…
Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks?
Masks Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: With lots of encouragement! The Nerdy Girls have talked a lot about kids and transmission risks. And we hope that as more data comes out, we will know more about transmission dynamics in children. A few updated links here: NPR Stat News In the meantime, many states require that children wear masks. We continue Read more…
Why don’t my pants fit? Can I blame it on Covid-19?
UncategorizedAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Weight changes can occur for a number of reasons. Covid-19 has triggered a multitude of opportunities to mess with your wardrobe and nutritional health. While some are experiencing the “Quarantine -15”, a fluctuation up or down of 15 pounds in your typical body weight, others are struggling with food insecurity. Here are a few Read more…
Maybe this increase in cases is good…. aren’t we getting closer to herd immunity?
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NO and NO! It’s been a while since we touched on herd immunity, so first some quick review. If we think of SARS-CoV-2 infections as sparks, uninfected people are the fuel. The very basic idea of herd immunity is that individuals who are already immune–either through previous infection or a vaccine–act as a “firewall” Read more…
Why is outdoors safer than indoors?
Socializing Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Q: If I’m outside, do I still have to worry about all the other things like staying 6 ft apart and wearing a mask? A: As highlighted in this NYT article, there are two main reasons why transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be lower in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings: Airflow and Space! When a Read more…
Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks?
Masks Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: Weight changes can occur for a number of reasons. Covid-19 has triggered a multitude of opportunities to mess with your wardrobe and nutritional health. While some are experiencing the “Quarantine -15”, a fluctuation up or down of 15 pounds in your typical body weight, others are struggling with food insecurity. Here are a few Read more…
Maybe this increase in cases is good…. aren’t we getting closer to herd immunity?
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and SpreadJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NO and NO! It’s been a while since we touched on herd immunity, so first some quick review. If we think of SARS-CoV-2 infections as sparks, uninfected people are the fuel. The very basic idea of herd immunity is that individuals who are already immune–either through previous infection or a vaccine–act as a “firewall” Read more…
Why is outdoors safer than indoors?
Socializing Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Q: If I’m outside, do I still have to worry about all the other things like staying 6 ft apart and wearing a mask? A: As highlighted in this NYT article, there are two main reasons why transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be lower in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings: Airflow and Space! When a Read more…
Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks?
Masks Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: NO and NO! It’s been a while since we touched on herd immunity, so first some quick review. If we think of SARS-CoV-2 infections as sparks, uninfected people are the fuel. The very basic idea of herd immunity is that individuals who are already immune–either through previous infection or a vaccine–act as a “firewall” Read more…
Why is outdoors safer than indoors?
Socializing Staying SafeAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Q: If I’m outside, do I still have to worry about all the other things like staying 6 ft apart and wearing a mask? A: As highlighted in this NYT article, there are two main reasons why transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be lower in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings: Airflow and Space! When a Read more…
Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks?
Masks Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
Q: If I’m outside, do I still have to worry about all the other things like staying 6 ft apart and wearing a mask? A: As highlighted in this NYT article, there are two main reasons why transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be lower in outdoor settings compared to indoor settings: Airflow and Space! When a Read more…
Do face shields work? Are face shields better than masks?
Masks Staying SafeLauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: Great question! Most media attention around personal protective equipment has focused on the use of masks. We’re here to report: Face shields are protective too! Face shields create a transparent rigid plastic barrier that covers the entire face from ear to ear and from forehead to the bottom of the chin (the more they Read more…
We are vacationing with another family in a shared rental house in July.
Families/Kids Socializing TravelAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
We wipe down our groceries. They don’t. We wear masks whenever we’re outside. They don’t. How is this going to work? I really need this to be a relaxing break for everyone but I’m already stressed. A: Oh, we hear you! Several Nerdy Girls are negotiating similar arrangements this summer. To help make this smooth Read more…
Texas Stops “Elective Surgeries”: An Immunologist Explains What’s At Stake
Infection and Spread Staying SafeLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
Yesterday the governor of Texas – the beloved home state of Nerdy Girls Jenn and Lindsey – announced that elective surgeries are being placed on hold in several cities as the state experiences a surge of COVID hospitalizations. To understand the related implications, this Nerdy Girl (Lindsey) hopped on the phone with Cathi Murphey Half, 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American 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…
How can I deal with the idea that I don’t know if and when COVID-19 is going to end?
Uncertainty and MisinformationAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
This week we wanted to address one of the biggest questions out there….one that keeps even these nerdy girls up at night. A: This is a difficult question and while we would love to tell you how and when this story ends, it’s just not that that simple. The defining features of this pandemic make Read more…
How does contact tracing work again? With states reopening, how is that component of the test-trace-isolate strategy going so far?
Testing and Contact TracingSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A. Well…there are challenges. Contact tracing is a tried and true public health measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (e.g measles, HIV, food poisoning outbreaks, etc). Indeed, the CDC has indicated that it is a necessary precursor for easing lockdown restrictions. The uploaded graphic illustrates the steps in the process. However, Read more…
How do I make sense of all of the treatments being tested in clinical trials?! I can’t keep up – anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, antibodies….OH MY.
TreatmentsLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: What a confusing jumble! We Nerdy Girls like to keep the following phrase in mind: TREATMENT TIMING MATTERS. Different treatments target different points in the disease course, as helpfully demonstrated in these figures. Punchline: We’ll need an entire bag of treatment tricks to beat this devilishly nasty disease. A little more context: First we Read more…
Is “Superspreading” real? What does it mean, and how can we avoid it?
Infection and SpreadJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: Yes, superspreading is as yucky as it sounds, and seems to have played an important role in early COVID-19 spread. To avoid, stick to the Nerdy Girl stay SMART principles (Space, Mask, Air, Restrict, Time)! This linked article gives an excellent overview of the superspreading clusters that have been identified and what we know Read more…
Its been over 100 days since this all started….what about my mental health?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: While we know that the effects of quarantine, isolation, and stay at home orders can be challenging, it is not a given that we will all develop mental health issues. A bit of optimism….the latest research tells us this: -We all respond differently, so we cannot assume that some of us won’t be resilient Read more…
I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right?
Socializing Testing and Contact TracingAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
A: Not necessarily. You should consider the possibility that you got a negative test result even though you are truly infected. After you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of virus in your body builds up over time, reaching its highest level, right before symptom onset. It can take 2-14 days (average of 5-6) from Read more…
Advice for College-Bound Students and Their Parents
School Staying SafeAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
Time for another Nerdy Guest! This post addresses questions college-bound students and their parents might have about health on campus. Teri Aronowitz, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston & a Family Nurse Practitioner at Boston University Student Health Services. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American Read more…
