How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
I suspect that my kids may have been exposed to COVID-19 at summer camp. What can I do to protect my family and my community from the risk of infection?
Families/Kids Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing
Thanks to guest author Dr. Katie Schenk (who recently picked up her kids at camp) for offering to write this post. It’s a great American summer tradition: sleepaway camp! Campfires, singing, sports, smores, and now… COVID-19? Despite best intentions and precautions, the BA.5 surge has already contributed to many COVID-19 outbreaks at summer camp. Camps Read more…
Q: How can I protect myself during this BA.5 surge?
Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The new variants don’t defy the laws of physics and are transmitted the same way as all the other variants of SARS-CoV-2, so you can reduce risk by using your #SMARTS. We NEVER thought when we made this infographic in Summer 2020 together with Impact (updated in 2021 with “SHOTS”) that these basic principles Read more…
Q: What should I do if I get COVID on vacation 🌴?
Staying Safe Travel
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
The “Summer of BA.5” is here (with apologies to Bryan Adams). BA.5 is better at evading existing immunity than even the super sneaky original Omicron variants. If you’re like us, you’re hearing of more COVID-19 infections than ever in your social circles, especially people who are traveling. We *totally* understand the urge to travel and Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 07-08-22
Families/Kids Long COVID Socializing Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Those Nerdy Girls will answer questions about long COVID, outdoor transmission, rapid antigen testing, and more. Featuring: Amanda Simanek, PhD, MPH, DP Founding Member Chana Davis, PhD – DP Contributing Writer ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and chit chat (0:00-0:53) ➡️ Should I vaccinate my child against COVID-19? (0:54-3:39) Check out this link to the live Q&A Read more…
How To Protect Yourself from COVID Outdoors
Socializing Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🇺🇸 Gathering for the 4th of July? ☀️ Outdoors is much lower risk, but not “no” risk for COVID-19 transmission, especially during a surge with extra contagious variants. 🌬️ Even outside, “if you’re close enough, say, to smell on their breath what they chose for dinner, you’re close enough to inhale the viral particles on Read more…
What’s the point of making an effort anymore if COVID-19 is everywhere?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Remember “flatten the curve”? We still need to “flatten the waves.” Much has changed since this rallying cry of Spring 2020, but keeping the infamous reproductive rate (or “R-value”) down is still a worthy goal. While we *totally* feel everyone’s pandemic fatigue and frustration with fellow humans, it’s not all or nothing with prevention Read more…
Is it safe to . . .?!
Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
“How risky is being indoors with our 10-year-old granddaughter without masks? We have plans to have birthday tea together. Are we safe?” That question, from a woman named Debby in California, is just one of hundreds I’ve received from concerned people who are worried about COVID-19. I’m an epidemiologist and one of the women behind Read more…
Can you catch COVID-19 from a fart?
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Unlikely. It’s been a while since we’ve had novel fart and poop content on Dear Pandemic, so let’s address this classic question about the risk of catching COVID-19 from a fart. In April 2020, when the pandemic was fresh and many of us were hoarding toilet paper, there were several articles flying around Read more…
Can you get COVID-19 by sharing a drink?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. For sure. You can get COVID-19 by sharing a drinking glass–even if the glass contains an adult beverage. The virus that causes COVID-19 is present in saliva, and although it isn’t the most common transmission route, it can be transmitted orally. The concentration of alcohol in a drink is not high enough to Read more…
Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help
Mental Health Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I haven’t gone out in 2 years, 🆘 help 🆘! Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help! ✅ While we can’t tell you that leaving your house will be 100% safe at any given time (COVID-19 times or not), there are things you can do to increase your tolerance Read more…
Can I sing safely with my choir? I want to sing my heart out.
Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
I suspect that my kids may have been exposed to COVID-19 at summer camp. What can I do to protect my family and my community from the risk of infection?
Families/Kids Staying Safe Testing and Contact TracingThanks to guest author Dr. Katie Schenk (who recently picked up her kids at camp) for offering to write this post. It’s a great American summer tradition: sleepaway camp! Campfires, singing, sports, smores, and now… COVID-19? Despite best intentions and precautions, the BA.5 surge has already contributed to many COVID-19 outbreaks at summer camp. Camps Read more…
Q: How can I protect myself during this BA.5 surge?
Staying SafeJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The new variants don’t defy the laws of physics and are transmitted the same way as all the other variants of SARS-CoV-2, so you can reduce risk by using your #SMARTS. We NEVER thought when we made this infographic in Summer 2020 together with Impact (updated in 2021 with “SHOTS”) that these basic principles Read more…
Q: What should I do if I get COVID on vacation 🌴?
Staying Safe Travel
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
The “Summer of BA.5” is here (with apologies to Bryan Adams). BA.5 is better at evading existing immunity than even the super sneaky original Omicron variants. If you’re like us, you’re hearing of more COVID-19 infections than ever in your social circles, especially people who are traveling. We *totally* understand the urge to travel and Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 07-08-22
Families/Kids Long COVID Socializing Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Those Nerdy Girls will answer questions about long COVID, outdoor transmission, rapid antigen testing, and more. Featuring: Amanda Simanek, PhD, MPH, DP Founding Member Chana Davis, PhD – DP Contributing Writer ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and chit chat (0:00-0:53) ➡️ Should I vaccinate my child against COVID-19? (0:54-3:39) Check out this link to the live Q&A Read more…
How To Protect Yourself from COVID Outdoors
Socializing Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🇺🇸 Gathering for the 4th of July? ☀️ Outdoors is much lower risk, but not “no” risk for COVID-19 transmission, especially during a surge with extra contagious variants. 🌬️ Even outside, “if you’re close enough, say, to smell on their breath what they chose for dinner, you’re close enough to inhale the viral particles on Read more…
What’s the point of making an effort anymore if COVID-19 is everywhere?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Remember “flatten the curve”? We still need to “flatten the waves.” Much has changed since this rallying cry of Spring 2020, but keeping the infamous reproductive rate (or “R-value”) down is still a worthy goal. While we *totally* feel everyone’s pandemic fatigue and frustration with fellow humans, it’s not all or nothing with prevention Read more…
Is it safe to . . .?!
Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
“How risky is being indoors with our 10-year-old granddaughter without masks? We have plans to have birthday tea together. Are we safe?” That question, from a woman named Debby in California, is just one of hundreds I’ve received from concerned people who are worried about COVID-19. I’m an epidemiologist and one of the women behind Read more…
Can you catch COVID-19 from a fart?
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Unlikely. It’s been a while since we’ve had novel fart and poop content on Dear Pandemic, so let’s address this classic question about the risk of catching COVID-19 from a fart. In April 2020, when the pandemic was fresh and many of us were hoarding toilet paper, there were several articles flying around Read more…
Can you get COVID-19 by sharing a drink?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. For sure. You can get COVID-19 by sharing a drinking glass–even if the glass contains an adult beverage. The virus that causes COVID-19 is present in saliva, and although it isn’t the most common transmission route, it can be transmitted orally. The concentration of alcohol in a drink is not high enough to Read more…
Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help
Mental Health Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I haven’t gone out in 2 years, 🆘 help 🆘! Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help! ✅ While we can’t tell you that leaving your house will be 100% safe at any given time (COVID-19 times or not), there are things you can do to increase your tolerance Read more…
Can I sing safely with my choir? I want to sing my heart out.
Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
A: The new variants don’t defy the laws of physics and are transmitted the same way as all the other variants of SARS-CoV-2, so you can reduce risk by using your #SMARTS. We NEVER thought when we made this infographic in Summer 2020 together with Impact (updated in 2021 with “SHOTS”) that these basic principles Read more…
Q: What should I do if I get COVID on vacation 🌴?
Staying Safe TravelJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
The “Summer of BA.5” is here (with apologies to Bryan Adams). BA.5 is better at evading existing immunity than even the super sneaky original Omicron variants. If you’re like us, you’re hearing of more COVID-19 infections than ever in your social circles, especially people who are traveling. We *totally* understand the urge to travel and Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 07-08-22
Families/Kids Long COVID Socializing Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Those Nerdy Girls will answer questions about long COVID, outdoor transmission, rapid antigen testing, and more. Featuring: Amanda Simanek, PhD, MPH, DP Founding Member Chana Davis, PhD – DP Contributing Writer ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and chit chat (0:00-0:53) ➡️ Should I vaccinate my child against COVID-19? (0:54-3:39) Check out this link to the live Q&A Read more…
How To Protect Yourself from COVID Outdoors
Socializing Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🇺🇸 Gathering for the 4th of July? ☀️ Outdoors is much lower risk, but not “no” risk for COVID-19 transmission, especially during a surge with extra contagious variants. 🌬️ Even outside, “if you’re close enough, say, to smell on their breath what they chose for dinner, you’re close enough to inhale the viral particles on Read more…
What’s the point of making an effort anymore if COVID-19 is everywhere?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Remember “flatten the curve”? We still need to “flatten the waves.” Much has changed since this rallying cry of Spring 2020, but keeping the infamous reproductive rate (or “R-value”) down is still a worthy goal. While we *totally* feel everyone’s pandemic fatigue and frustration with fellow humans, it’s not all or nothing with prevention Read more…
Is it safe to . . .?!
Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
“How risky is being indoors with our 10-year-old granddaughter without masks? We have plans to have birthday tea together. Are we safe?” That question, from a woman named Debby in California, is just one of hundreds I’ve received from concerned people who are worried about COVID-19. I’m an epidemiologist and one of the women behind Read more…
Can you catch COVID-19 from a fart?
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Unlikely. It’s been a while since we’ve had novel fart and poop content on Dear Pandemic, so let’s address this classic question about the risk of catching COVID-19 from a fart. In April 2020, when the pandemic was fresh and many of us were hoarding toilet paper, there were several articles flying around Read more…
Can you get COVID-19 by sharing a drink?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. For sure. You can get COVID-19 by sharing a drinking glass–even if the glass contains an adult beverage. The virus that causes COVID-19 is present in saliva, and although it isn’t the most common transmission route, it can be transmitted orally. The concentration of alcohol in a drink is not high enough to Read more…
Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help
Mental Health Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I haven’t gone out in 2 years, 🆘 help 🆘! Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help! ✅ While we can’t tell you that leaving your house will be 100% safe at any given time (COVID-19 times or not), there are things you can do to increase your tolerance Read more…
Can I sing safely with my choir? I want to sing my heart out.
Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
The “Summer of BA.5” is here (with apologies to Bryan Adams). BA.5 is better at evading existing immunity than even the super sneaky original Omicron variants. If you’re like us, you’re hearing of more COVID-19 infections than ever in your social circles, especially people who are traveling. We *totally* understand the urge to travel and Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 07-08-22
Families/Kids Long COVID Socializing Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Those Nerdy Girls will answer questions about long COVID, outdoor transmission, rapid antigen testing, and more. Featuring: Amanda Simanek, PhD, MPH, DP Founding Member Chana Davis, PhD – DP Contributing Writer ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and chit chat (0:00-0:53) ➡️ Should I vaccinate my child against COVID-19? (0:54-3:39) Check out this link to the live Q&A Read more…
How To Protect Yourself from COVID Outdoors
Socializing Staying SafeJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🇺🇸 Gathering for the 4th of July? ☀️ Outdoors is much lower risk, but not “no” risk for COVID-19 transmission, especially during a surge with extra contagious variants. 🌬️ Even outside, “if you’re close enough, say, to smell on their breath what they chose for dinner, you’re close enough to inhale the viral particles on Read more…
What’s the point of making an effort anymore if COVID-19 is everywhere?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Remember “flatten the curve”? We still need to “flatten the waves.” Much has changed since this rallying cry of Spring 2020, but keeping the infamous reproductive rate (or “R-value”) down is still a worthy goal. While we *totally* feel everyone’s pandemic fatigue and frustration with fellow humans, it’s not all or nothing with prevention Read more…
Is it safe to . . .?!
Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
“How risky is being indoors with our 10-year-old granddaughter without masks? We have plans to have birthday tea together. Are we safe?” That question, from a woman named Debby in California, is just one of hundreds I’ve received from concerned people who are worried about COVID-19. I’m an epidemiologist and one of the women behind Read more…
Can you catch COVID-19 from a fart?
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Unlikely. It’s been a while since we’ve had novel fart and poop content on Dear Pandemic, so let’s address this classic question about the risk of catching COVID-19 from a fart. In April 2020, when the pandemic was fresh and many of us were hoarding toilet paper, there were several articles flying around Read more…
Can you get COVID-19 by sharing a drink?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. For sure. You can get COVID-19 by sharing a drinking glass–even if the glass contains an adult beverage. The virus that causes COVID-19 is present in saliva, and although it isn’t the most common transmission route, it can be transmitted orally. The concentration of alcohol in a drink is not high enough to Read more…
Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help
Mental Health Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I haven’t gone out in 2 years, 🆘 help 🆘! Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help! ✅ While we can’t tell you that leaving your house will be 100% safe at any given time (COVID-19 times or not), there are things you can do to increase your tolerance Read more…
Can I sing safely with my choir? I want to sing my heart out.
Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
🇺🇸 Gathering for the 4th of July? ☀️ Outdoors is much lower risk, but not “no” risk for COVID-19 transmission, especially during a surge with extra contagious variants. 🌬️ Even outside, “if you’re close enough, say, to smell on their breath what they chose for dinner, you’re close enough to inhale the viral particles on Read more…
What’s the point of making an effort anymore if COVID-19 is everywhere?
Infection and Spread Staying SafeJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Remember “flatten the curve”? We still need to “flatten the waves.” Much has changed since this rallying cry of Spring 2020, but keeping the infamous reproductive rate (or “R-value”) down is still a worthy goal. While we *totally* feel everyone’s pandemic fatigue and frustration with fellow humans, it’s not all or nothing with prevention Read more…
Is it safe to . . .?!
Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
“How risky is being indoors with our 10-year-old granddaughter without masks? We have plans to have birthday tea together. Are we safe?” That question, from a woman named Debby in California, is just one of hundreds I’ve received from concerned people who are worried about COVID-19. I’m an epidemiologist and one of the women behind Read more…
Can you catch COVID-19 from a fart?
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Unlikely. It’s been a while since we’ve had novel fart and poop content on Dear Pandemic, so let’s address this classic question about the risk of catching COVID-19 from a fart. In April 2020, when the pandemic was fresh and many of us were hoarding toilet paper, there were several articles flying around Read more…
Can you get COVID-19 by sharing a drink?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. For sure. You can get COVID-19 by sharing a drinking glass–even if the glass contains an adult beverage. The virus that causes COVID-19 is present in saliva, and although it isn’t the most common transmission route, it can be transmitted orally. The concentration of alcohol in a drink is not high enough to Read more…
Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help
Mental Health Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I haven’t gone out in 2 years, 🆘 help 🆘! Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help! ✅ While we can’t tell you that leaving your house will be 100% safe at any given time (COVID-19 times or not), there are things you can do to increase your tolerance Read more…
Can I sing safely with my choir? I want to sing my heart out.
Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
A: Remember “flatten the curve”? We still need to “flatten the waves.” Much has changed since this rallying cry of Spring 2020, but keeping the infamous reproductive rate (or “R-value”) down is still a worthy goal. While we *totally* feel everyone’s pandemic fatigue and frustration with fellow humans, it’s not all or nothing with prevention Read more…
Is it safe to . . .?!
Staying SafeMalia Jones, PhD MPH
“How risky is being indoors with our 10-year-old granddaughter without masks? We have plans to have birthday tea together. Are we safe?” That question, from a woman named Debby in California, is just one of hundreds I’ve received from concerned people who are worried about COVID-19. I’m an epidemiologist and one of the women behind Read more…
Can you catch COVID-19 from a fart?
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Unlikely. It’s been a while since we’ve had novel fart and poop content on Dear Pandemic, so let’s address this classic question about the risk of catching COVID-19 from a fart. In April 2020, when the pandemic was fresh and many of us were hoarding toilet paper, there were several articles flying around Read more…
Can you get COVID-19 by sharing a drink?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. For sure. You can get COVID-19 by sharing a drinking glass–even if the glass contains an adult beverage. The virus that causes COVID-19 is present in saliva, and although it isn’t the most common transmission route, it can be transmitted orally. The concentration of alcohol in a drink is not high enough to Read more…
Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help
Mental Health Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I haven’t gone out in 2 years, 🆘 help 🆘! Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help! ✅ While we can’t tell you that leaving your house will be 100% safe at any given time (COVID-19 times or not), there are things you can do to increase your tolerance Read more…
Can I sing safely with my choir? I want to sing my heart out.
Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
“How risky is being indoors with our 10-year-old granddaughter without masks? We have plans to have birthday tea together. Are we safe?” That question, from a woman named Debby in California, is just one of hundreds I’ve received from concerned people who are worried about COVID-19. I’m an epidemiologist and one of the women behind Read more…
Can you catch COVID-19 from a fart?
Staying Safe Uncertainty and MisinformationLauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Unlikely. It’s been a while since we’ve had novel fart and poop content on Dear Pandemic, so let’s address this classic question about the risk of catching COVID-19 from a fart. In April 2020, when the pandemic was fresh and many of us were hoarding toilet paper, there were several articles flying around Read more…
Can you get COVID-19 by sharing a drink?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. For sure. You can get COVID-19 by sharing a drinking glass–even if the glass contains an adult beverage. The virus that causes COVID-19 is present in saliva, and although it isn’t the most common transmission route, it can be transmitted orally. The concentration of alcohol in a drink is not high enough to Read more…
Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help
Mental Health Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I haven’t gone out in 2 years, 🆘 help 🆘! Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help! ✅ While we can’t tell you that leaving your house will be 100% safe at any given time (COVID-19 times or not), there are things you can do to increase your tolerance Read more…
Can I sing safely with my choir? I want to sing my heart out.
Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
A: TL;DR. Unlikely. It’s been a while since we’ve had novel fart and poop content on Dear Pandemic, so let’s address this classic question about the risk of catching COVID-19 from a fart. In April 2020, when the pandemic was fresh and many of us were hoarding toilet paper, there were several articles flying around Read more…
Can you get COVID-19 by sharing a drink?
Infection and Spread Staying SafeMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. For sure. You can get COVID-19 by sharing a drinking glass–even if the glass contains an adult beverage. The virus that causes COVID-19 is present in saliva, and although it isn’t the most common transmission route, it can be transmitted orally. The concentration of alcohol in a drink is not high enough to Read more…
Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help
Mental Health Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I haven’t gone out in 2 years, 🆘 help 🆘! Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help! ✅ While we can’t tell you that leaving your house will be 100% safe at any given time (COVID-19 times or not), there are things you can do to increase your tolerance Read more…
Can I sing safely with my choir? I want to sing my heart out.
Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
A: Yes. For sure. You can get COVID-19 by sharing a drinking glass–even if the glass contains an adult beverage. The virus that causes COVID-19 is present in saliva, and although it isn’t the most common transmission route, it can be transmitted orally. The concentration of alcohol in a drink is not high enough to Read more…
Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help
Mental Health Staying SafeAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I haven’t gone out in 2 years, 🆘 help 🆘! Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help! ✅ While we can’t tell you that leaving your house will be 100% safe at any given time (COVID-19 times or not), there are things you can do to increase your tolerance Read more…
Can I sing safely with my choir? I want to sing my heart out.
Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
I haven’t gone out in 2 years, 🆘 help 🆘! Will I ever be able to feel safe leaving the house again? Help! ✅ While we can’t tell you that leaving your house will be 100% safe at any given time (COVID-19 times or not), there are things you can do to increase your tolerance Read more…
Can I sing safely with my choir? I want to sing my heart out.
Infection and Spread Socializing Staying SafeAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
A: While no activity is risk free, you can certainly sing safer! TL; DR: COVID-19 is spread by tiny droplets floating around in the air. Talking makes more of these and singing makes even more. Because of this, singing is a higher risk activity for spreading COVID-19. With COVID-19 transmission decreasing in many places in Read more…
Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine?
Infection and Spread Staying SafeAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
A: Yes! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a handy on-line calculator! Enter answers to a few short questions into the calculator here and get an estimate of the date you can stop isolating if you have COVID-19 or quarantining if you were exposed to someone who does! The calculator takes Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe VaccinesAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
