A: The CDC urges people to consider four factors prior to engaging in any given activity:
(1) Extent of disease burden in your community;
(2) Likelihood you’ll be coming into contact with potentially exposed individuals;
(3) Your personal/household risk for a bad COVID outcome should you be exposed;
(4) Ability to adapt personally protective behaviors (in Nerdy Girl speak: the #StaySMART practices……see more below!)
Context:
Late last week the CDC put forth recommendations for staying safe while returning to the activities of daily life. The four guiding principles listed above provide a general framework for assessing personal risk; along with these principles, the CDC has also offered tips and best-practices for a variety of specific activities.
Specific activities covered: going to a bank; eating out at a restaurant (see DP’s weekend post about outdoor restaurant dining for a restaurant-specific deeper dive…link below for reference); hosting a cook-out/dinner party; going to the gym; patronizing a nail salon; traveling overnight; visiting libraries.
Activities not covered (at least not yet): safer dating/sex; church-going; visiting grandparents.
As quoted by PBS News Hour (link below), CDC’s Dr. Jay Butler provides the important caveat that these guidelines are “not intended to endorse any particular type of event” and that activities should be pursued “in accordance with what local health officials are advising.”
The good news is that each of us has the power to protect ourselves and our communities by adapting simple “harm reduction” strategies such as those put forth by the CDC. Thanks to our awesome community for keeping up the good work with hand washing and staying SMART! Please know that we Nerdy Girls have your back and will continue to share out harm reduction guidance from the CDC and other thought leaders as it emerges.
Links and references:
A review of the Nerdy Girl/IMPACT “StaySMART” practices:
S: SPACE. Keep your distance! >= 6 feet is best.
M: MASK. Keep it on!
A: AIR. All else equal, outside is best! Be especially wary of poorly-ventilated indoor spaces.
R: RESTRICT. Keep your social group SMALL and STABLE.
T: TIME. Keep it short!
And as always, wash the heck out of your hands!
CDC “personal and social” guidance webpage
PBS NewsHour write-up of CDC guidance
Dear Pandemic weekend post about outdoor restaurant dining
