Results for:

Staying Safe

< Back to all posts

With cases rising again around the US, is the concept of a “pod” or “bubble” of connected households still reasonable?

Families/Kids Socializing Staying Safe

A: Yes, but…it’s a good time to make sure your bubble hasn’t gotten so big it is about to burst, and check for any holes you need to patch to avoid COVID-19 leaking in! In fact, if you never bubbled in the first place, this may be the perfect time to scale back your interactions Read more…

What protective gear do I REALLY need?

Masks Staying Safe

A: Masks? CHECK. Gloves? Probably not. Goggles and/or face shields? More complicated. This week Team Nerdy Girls has received many questions about protective gear for everyday living – and have been steadfastly sourcing good information on the topic. We’re happy to share that Consumer Reports has recently written a terrific guide about “gearing up” for Read more…

How might we use information from studies of Covid-19 outbreaks in nursing homes and summer camps to inform the reopening of schools?

Families/Kids Infection and Spread School Staying Safe

A: Let’s consider nursing homes and summer camps. While these environments are different from schools for a host of reasons, the knowledge gained from these settings does inform the critical decisions being made about educating children in the fall. A recent study of Covid-19 spread in nursing homes led by Dr. Elizabeth White found that Read more…

Can I wear a Face Shield by itself?

Masks Staying Safe

A: NOT RECOMMENDED. As more businesses open up, we’re aware of reports of employees wearing ONLY Face Shields/Visors for protection (for example many hairdressers in the UK). This approach is NOT recommended. While face shields provide some additional protection to the wearer, especially for the eyes, they should be used as a complement to face Read more…

Dang it’s hot. Is it unsafe to spend time in places with air conditioning?

Socializing Staying Safe

A. It’s all about air flow! Most air conditioner systems primarily recirculate indoor air without introducing that much air from the outside. Unfortunately, if viral particles are already inside the air-conditioned space, the particles continue to be recirculated, potentially infecting others. One of the early case studies about air conditioning investigated an air-conditioned windowless restaurant Read more…

Do masks work?

Infection and Spread Masks Staying Safe

A: Signs point to YES! As we’ve been heard to say, “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” While our gold standard randomized controlled trials are not very practical for testing the efficacy of masks during a pandemic (how would YOU like to be in that placebo group?!), accumulating evidence from different types of Read more…

With so much talk about schools and reopening, what factors are important to consider when weighing risks/benefits of doing so?

Families/Kids Reopening School Staying Safe

As nerdy girls, parents, and educators, we want so much to have clarity around school reopening. But, we just don’t yet know everything we need to know (and may not in 6 weeks!). So our best offering to you, our dear followers, is to share our ideas about how to assess the issue. We hope Read more…

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

Infection and Spread Staying Safe

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

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

Families/Kids Infection and Spread Staying Safe Travel

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