My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
MasksSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and SpreadLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
ReopeningLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health SocializingAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact TracingLauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
TreatmentsSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying SafeAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying SafeJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
UncategorizedAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Is daily employee temperature screening sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID at work?
Staying SafeLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: Sadly, no. Not even close. As society slowly gets “back to business” employers are working hard to figure out how best to keep employees and their families safe. While employers will have large latitude to implement policies that work best for their specific contexts, the CDC and affiliated state and local agencies have set Read more…
How high a priority is it to get my kid to the pediatrician’s office for routine vaccines? Is it safe to go there?!?
Families/Kids Staying SafeAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: High priority. Super high. *Please* try to keep your kids up-to-date on their vaccination schedule. It’s better for them, and better for all, but there is evidence that coverage is slipping as parents skip or delay well-child visits. Wrapping up our weekend special series on kids + COVID with an up-close look at a Read more…
Should I be worried about my child spreading COVID-19 and/or getting strange and serious COVID-19 symptoms?
Clinical Symptoms Data and Metrics Families/Kids Infection and SpreadAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical Symptoms
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: If we look at the data to date (we can’t know about data that we don’t have!), children are much less likely to get COVID-19 than adults after exposure. The data also tell us that it is likely that fewer children are infected in the community than adults and that they are less likely Read more…
What is Kawasaki disease? Is it linked to Covid-19 in children?
Clinical SymptomsAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory condition that affects children, typically under 5 years of age. Cases of Kawasaki-like illness, currently referred to as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, appear to be linked to Covid-19 infection. This condition remains a very rare complication of Covid-19 in children and teenagers. Further tracking and study is required. Read more…
Are doctors over-reporting COVID-19 deaths?
Data and Metrics Data LiteracyLauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: Nope. Based on recent data from the CDC, we can see that starting in mid-March there have been thousands of excess deaths (overall deaths compared to historical mortality patterns) that have not been counted as COVID-19 deaths. This likely under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths is especially true in places that have been harder hit by Read more…
Shelter-in-place orders are beginning to lift in my area. What activities are safe to resume?
Reopening Socializing Staying SafeAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: “The safest thing you can do, if you are able, is to stay at home.” The rationale for reopening states varies with persistent health risks posed by Covid-19. With more options for social engagement, the next phase of the pandemic will require each of us to make choices on what to resume, how to Read more…
Help!! How do I figure out if a news story is SOLID or SENSATIONAL?
Uncertainty and MisinformationLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: We’re all fighting an “infodemic” along with this pandemic. Here are three evidence-based tips for practicing INFORMATION HYGIENE: (1) Demand extraordinary vetting for extraordinary claims; (2) Proactively seek out competing views; (3) Amplify good information, and cut off the oxygen to the toxic stuff. We’ve received many inquiries this week about sniffing out misinformation Read more…
Why are people with COVID-19 suddenly developing blood clots?
Clinical SymptomsAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/Immunity
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: While it is scary, it isn’t surprising. We still don’t know why this is happening. But here are a few key hopeful points. 1-This isn’t rare. Clots have long been a concern for critically ill patients in the ICU. We have also seen similar patterns in previous viral outbreaks (H1N1, SARS). Given the rise Read more…
Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system?
Biology/ImmunityJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
Q: Is lockdown and all this infection prevention bad for my immune system? Don’t we need to be exposed to enough colds and bugs to keep our immune systems strong? A: Great question from one of our followers! This is a tricky concept for sure. You might have heard of the “hygiene” hypotheses, which suggests Read more…
Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Staying SafeAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
A: For the love of peanut butter and jelly, please NO, 1000 X NO! “Health officials in a county in southern Washington state say a rise in coronavirus cases is linked to “COVID-19 parties.” NBC News Link “Walla Walla County health officials are receiving reports of COVID-19 parties occurring in our community, where noninfected people Read more…
