Gretchen Peterson

I’m still confused about the “Is the virus airborne?” debate. Practical take-aways, please.

Infection and Spread Staying Safe

A: Individuals: Avoid poorly ventilated, crowded indoor spaces to the extent possible. Building owners/tenants: Beef up air filtration, especially in older buildings. Background: A very loud squabble emerged last week around the classification of SARS-CoV-2 in the scientific taxonomy. Nerdy Girl Alison wrote a wonderful post walking through the science discussing what an “airborne” classification Read more…

When should I get tested?

Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing

Introducing Nerdy Guest Ajay Sethi, PhD, MHS. Dr. Sethi is a leading infectious disease epidemiologist at UW-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health. (@AjayKSethi on Twitter!) ____________________________________________ Q: When should I get tested? When I’m sick? When I have specific symptoms? When I’m sick and not getting better after several days? When a family member Read more…

What is pool testing?

Testing and Contact Tracing

A: In simple terms, pool testing (also referred to as “group testing” or “batch testing”) combines many tests into one sample. The benefit is that it can facilitate an increase in testing capabilities as well as result in cost/resource savings (when supplies are low). This is not a new strategy to test individuals for infectious Read more…

What steps should families who want to visit relatives who are older and/or more vulnerable to complications of COVID-19 take to protect their loved ones?

Families/Kids Infection and Spread Staying Safe Travel

A: We all miss our families (yes, us too!) and while navigating how to keep loved ones safe can feel overwhelming, the Nerdy Girls are here to help you make the best decisions possible based on the best information available! Luckily there are some key things (as highlighted in the NPR article below) you can Read more…

Is it true that Covid-19 symptoms can last for months?

Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread

Introducing Nerdy Guest Michelle L. Frisco, PhD, who joins us to talk about “Covid long haulers”. Dr. Frisco is Associate Professor of Sociology & Demography at Penn State University. She studies population health. A: Yes. Some people who contract Covid-19 seem to deal with consistent or recurring symptoms for a long time. Q: How common Read more…

Will temperature checks actually work? What else can schools and businesses do to quickly scan for potentially infectious people?

Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread Reopening School

A: There’s reason to be skeptical about temperature checks. COVID-19 is infectious for several days before symptoms appear. Scanning folks as they enter a building for a fever won’t do much to prevent people who are pre-symptomatic from entering and spewing infectious droplets all over the place. Gross. At this point, we need to embrace Read more…

What is the real risk of death from COVID-19? Is it actually worse than the flu?

Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation

A: It’s complicated…. but YES! As a demographer and epidemiologist, mortality rates are in my wheelhouse so to speak, but getting a handle on COVID-19 has challenged us all. First some definitions: Case Fatality Rate (CFR): % of confirmed cases who die. In the U.S., the estimated CFR is currently 4.33% In the U.K., the Read more…

Hay información en español sobre los riesgos de ciertas actividades para prevenir la propagación del COVID-19?

Posts en Español

Ahora sí y por fin! Tres expertos se unieron para crear esta infografía para el publico y luego la organización Superchivas la tradujo en español. Esta infografía demuestra las actividades de bajo a alto riesgo. El nivel de riesgo de cada actividad varía basado en los siguientes factores: 1. ESPACIOS CERRADOS: las actividades que ocurren adentro Read more…

How can it be that COVID-19 cases are increasing but deaths are decreasing in the U.S.?

Data and Metrics Data Literacy Infection and Spread

A: Timing, timing, timing. And some other factors too. As this Vox article notes, “The sinking death rates reflect the state of the pandemic a month or more ago, experts say, when the original hot spots had been contained and other states had only just begun to open up restaurants and other businesses.” We have Read more…

What can I do to continue to help the children in my life cope with the realities of the pandemic?

Families/Kids Mental Health Staying Safe

A: Provide children with a sense of control. Keep them informed. Get them engaged. The basic rules: 1. Answer children’s questions in a developmentally appropriate manner (using stories or play is a great way to do this for younger children). 2. Stick to routine and schedule (this is harder to do so many months into Read more…