What is Paxlovid Mouth?
Treatments
Megan Madsen, DO
While effective and generally safe, Paxlovid does have the potential for some side effects. One temporary, but particularly distasteful side effect reported is “Paxlovid mouth.” Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir + Ritonavir) has become a household name since its March 2022 Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval as an at-home option to treat COVID-19. It consists of a 5 Read more…
Help! It’s Day 10 and my rapid antigen test is still positive. Am I contagious?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
A: For most people, the risk of spreading to COVID to others is likely minimal after Day 10 – but not so low that you can throw caution to the wind. While rapid antigen tests can be useful as proxies for contagiousness, their value is unclear after Day 10. Infectious disease experts generally support exiting Read more…
Has almost everyone been infected with COVID by now?
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Recent estimates suggest around 58% of the population in the US and over 70% in England have been previously infected, with BIG increases during the Omicron wave. The CDC recently released an MMWR report estimating the percentage of Americans who have been previously infected with COVID-19. The estimates came from the CDC’s National Commercial Read more…
Our Journey Out of This Pandemic
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Our journey out of this pandemic has been longer, more confusing, and messier than a lot of us expected. If you’re feeling emotionally exhausted and burnt-out, you’re not alone. Now is the time to face those feelings head-on and give yourself the gift of a purpose-focused break. Ideally in the sunshine. After a nap. Here’s Read more…
What’s this news about a COVID-19 breath test?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s true that new device was recently approved…but it’s not designed for home use. This week the FDA gave emergency use authorization (EUA) to a new COVID-19 testing device that detects chemical compounds associated with the coronavirus in exhaled breath. The test had good sensitivity and specificity, accurately detecting 91.2% of positive samples 99.3% Read more…
Is it OK to use Flonase, allergy sprays, saline mist, or neti pots before I take a COVID-19 rapid test or will it change my results?
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
The answer: There is no evidence that using a nose spray will alter your test results. TL; DR: The SARS CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (aka COVID-19 rapid tests) become positive if they find a lot of the protein that that comes from SARS CoV-2. It is not likely that allergy sprays would change the amount 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…
With so many people using home tests (which mostly go unreported), how can we rely on COVID-19 data to understand community levels of transmission?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: With more people using home rapid tests interpreting local COVID-19 data does become murkier, but a useful addition is wastewater surveillance! TL; DR Keeping an eye on local wastewater surveillance can help round out understanding of community transmission as it doesn’t rely on testing or reporting of test results. ✳️Home testing is great because Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Megan Madsen
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
It’s time to meet another one of Those Nerdy Girls. This time we are delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Madsen, D.O. 👩‍⚕️ What’s a D.O.? We’re so glad you asked. It stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Dr. Madsen says: “Our education mirrors M.D. programs for medical curriculum, and we also get extra training in musculoskeletal Read more…
Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
While effective and generally safe, Paxlovid does have the potential for some side effects. One temporary, but particularly distasteful side effect reported is “Paxlovid mouth.” Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir + Ritonavir) has become a household name since its March 2022 Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval as an at-home option to treat COVID-19. It consists of a 5 Read more…
Help! It’s Day 10 and my rapid antigen test is still positive. Am I contagious?
Testing and Contact TracingChana Davis, PhD
A: For most people, the risk of spreading to COVID to others is likely minimal after Day 10 – but not so low that you can throw caution to the wind. While rapid antigen tests can be useful as proxies for contagiousness, their value is unclear after Day 10. Infectious disease experts generally support exiting Read more…
Has almost everyone been infected with COVID by now?
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Recent estimates suggest around 58% of the population in the US and over 70% in England have been previously infected, with BIG increases during the Omicron wave. The CDC recently released an MMWR report estimating the percentage of Americans who have been previously infected with COVID-19. The estimates came from the CDC’s National Commercial Read more…
Our Journey Out of This Pandemic
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Our journey out of this pandemic has been longer, more confusing, and messier than a lot of us expected. If you’re feeling emotionally exhausted and burnt-out, you’re not alone. Now is the time to face those feelings head-on and give yourself the gift of a purpose-focused break. Ideally in the sunshine. After a nap. Here’s Read more…
What’s this news about a COVID-19 breath test?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s true that new device was recently approved…but it’s not designed for home use. This week the FDA gave emergency use authorization (EUA) to a new COVID-19 testing device that detects chemical compounds associated with the coronavirus in exhaled breath. The test had good sensitivity and specificity, accurately detecting 91.2% of positive samples 99.3% Read more…
Is it OK to use Flonase, allergy sprays, saline mist, or neti pots before I take a COVID-19 rapid test or will it change my results?
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
The answer: There is no evidence that using a nose spray will alter your test results. TL; DR: The SARS CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (aka COVID-19 rapid tests) become positive if they find a lot of the protein that that comes from SARS CoV-2. It is not likely that allergy sprays would change the amount 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…
With so many people using home tests (which mostly go unreported), how can we rely on COVID-19 data to understand community levels of transmission?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: With more people using home rapid tests interpreting local COVID-19 data does become murkier, but a useful addition is wastewater surveillance! TL; DR Keeping an eye on local wastewater surveillance can help round out understanding of community transmission as it doesn’t rely on testing or reporting of test results. ✳️Home testing is great because Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Megan Madsen
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
It’s time to meet another one of Those Nerdy Girls. This time we are delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Madsen, D.O. 👩‍⚕️ What’s a D.O.? We’re so glad you asked. It stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Dr. Madsen says: “Our education mirrors M.D. programs for medical curriculum, and we also get extra training in musculoskeletal Read more…
Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
A: For most people, the risk of spreading to COVID to others is likely minimal after Day 10 – but not so low that you can throw caution to the wind. While rapid antigen tests can be useful as proxies for contagiousness, their value is unclear after Day 10. Infectious disease experts generally support exiting Read more…
Has almost everyone been infected with COVID by now?
Data and MetricsJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Recent estimates suggest around 58% of the population in the US and over 70% in England have been previously infected, with BIG increases during the Omicron wave. The CDC recently released an MMWR report estimating the percentage of Americans who have been previously infected with COVID-19. The estimates came from the CDC’s National Commercial Read more…
Our Journey Out of This Pandemic
Mental Health
Christine Whelan, PhD
Our journey out of this pandemic has been longer, more confusing, and messier than a lot of us expected. If you’re feeling emotionally exhausted and burnt-out, you’re not alone. Now is the time to face those feelings head-on and give yourself the gift of a purpose-focused break. Ideally in the sunshine. After a nap. Here’s Read more…
What’s this news about a COVID-19 breath test?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s true that new device was recently approved…but it’s not designed for home use. This week the FDA gave emergency use authorization (EUA) to a new COVID-19 testing device that detects chemical compounds associated with the coronavirus in exhaled breath. The test had good sensitivity and specificity, accurately detecting 91.2% of positive samples 99.3% Read more…
Is it OK to use Flonase, allergy sprays, saline mist, or neti pots before I take a COVID-19 rapid test or will it change my results?
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
The answer: There is no evidence that using a nose spray will alter your test results. TL; DR: The SARS CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (aka COVID-19 rapid tests) become positive if they find a lot of the protein that that comes from SARS CoV-2. It is not likely that allergy sprays would change the amount 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…
With so many people using home tests (which mostly go unreported), how can we rely on COVID-19 data to understand community levels of transmission?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: With more people using home rapid tests interpreting local COVID-19 data does become murkier, but a useful addition is wastewater surveillance! TL; DR Keeping an eye on local wastewater surveillance can help round out understanding of community transmission as it doesn’t rely on testing or reporting of test results. ✳️Home testing is great because Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Megan Madsen
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
It’s time to meet another one of Those Nerdy Girls. This time we are delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Madsen, D.O. 👩‍⚕️ What’s a D.O.? We’re so glad you asked. It stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Dr. Madsen says: “Our education mirrors M.D. programs for medical curriculum, and we also get extra training in musculoskeletal Read more…
Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
A: Recent estimates suggest around 58% of the population in the US and over 70% in England have been previously infected, with BIG increases during the Omicron wave. The CDC recently released an MMWR report estimating the percentage of Americans who have been previously infected with COVID-19. The estimates came from the CDC’s National Commercial Read more…
Our Journey Out of This Pandemic
Mental HealthChristine Whelan, PhD
Our journey out of this pandemic has been longer, more confusing, and messier than a lot of us expected. If you’re feeling emotionally exhausted and burnt-out, you’re not alone. Now is the time to face those feelings head-on and give yourself the gift of a purpose-focused break. Ideally in the sunshine. After a nap. Here’s Read more…
What’s this news about a COVID-19 breath test?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s true that new device was recently approved…but it’s not designed for home use. This week the FDA gave emergency use authorization (EUA) to a new COVID-19 testing device that detects chemical compounds associated with the coronavirus in exhaled breath. The test had good sensitivity and specificity, accurately detecting 91.2% of positive samples 99.3% Read more…
Is it OK to use Flonase, allergy sprays, saline mist, or neti pots before I take a COVID-19 rapid test or will it change my results?
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
The answer: There is no evidence that using a nose spray will alter your test results. TL; DR: The SARS CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (aka COVID-19 rapid tests) become positive if they find a lot of the protein that that comes from SARS CoV-2. It is not likely that allergy sprays would change the amount 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…
With so many people using home tests (which mostly go unreported), how can we rely on COVID-19 data to understand community levels of transmission?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: With more people using home rapid tests interpreting local COVID-19 data does become murkier, but a useful addition is wastewater surveillance! TL; DR Keeping an eye on local wastewater surveillance can help round out understanding of community transmission as it doesn’t rely on testing or reporting of test results. ✳️Home testing is great because Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Megan Madsen
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
It’s time to meet another one of Those Nerdy Girls. This time we are delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Madsen, D.O. 👩‍⚕️ What’s a D.O.? We’re so glad you asked. It stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Dr. Madsen says: “Our education mirrors M.D. programs for medical curriculum, and we also get extra training in musculoskeletal Read more…
Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
Our journey out of this pandemic has been longer, more confusing, and messier than a lot of us expected. If you’re feeling emotionally exhausted and burnt-out, you’re not alone. Now is the time to face those feelings head-on and give yourself the gift of a purpose-focused break. Ideally in the sunshine. After a nap. Here’s Read more…
What’s this news about a COVID-19 breath test?
Testing and Contact TracingJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s true that new device was recently approved…but it’s not designed for home use. This week the FDA gave emergency use authorization (EUA) to a new COVID-19 testing device that detects chemical compounds associated with the coronavirus in exhaled breath. The test had good sensitivity and specificity, accurately detecting 91.2% of positive samples 99.3% Read more…
Is it OK to use Flonase, allergy sprays, saline mist, or neti pots before I take a COVID-19 rapid test or will it change my results?
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
The answer: There is no evidence that using a nose spray will alter your test results. TL; DR: The SARS CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (aka COVID-19 rapid tests) become positive if they find a lot of the protein that that comes from SARS CoV-2. It is not likely that allergy sprays would change the amount 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…
With so many people using home tests (which mostly go unreported), how can we rely on COVID-19 data to understand community levels of transmission?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: With more people using home rapid tests interpreting local COVID-19 data does become murkier, but a useful addition is wastewater surveillance! TL; DR Keeping an eye on local wastewater surveillance can help round out understanding of community transmission as it doesn’t rely on testing or reporting of test results. ✳️Home testing is great because Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Megan Madsen
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
It’s time to meet another one of Those Nerdy Girls. This time we are delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Madsen, D.O. 👩‍⚕️ What’s a D.O.? We’re so glad you asked. It stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Dr. Madsen says: “Our education mirrors M.D. programs for medical curriculum, and we also get extra training in musculoskeletal Read more…
Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
A: It’s true that new device was recently approved…but it’s not designed for home use. This week the FDA gave emergency use authorization (EUA) to a new COVID-19 testing device that detects chemical compounds associated with the coronavirus in exhaled breath. The test had good sensitivity and specificity, accurately detecting 91.2% of positive samples 99.3% Read more…
Is it OK to use Flonase, allergy sprays, saline mist, or neti pots before I take a COVID-19 rapid test or will it change my results?
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact TracingAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
The answer: There is no evidence that using a nose spray will alter your test results. TL; DR: The SARS CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (aka COVID-19 rapid tests) become positive if they find a lot of the protein that that comes from SARS CoV-2. It is not likely that allergy sprays would change the amount 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…
With so many people using home tests (which mostly go unreported), how can we rely on COVID-19 data to understand community levels of transmission?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: With more people using home rapid tests interpreting local COVID-19 data does become murkier, but a useful addition is wastewater surveillance! TL; DR Keeping an eye on local wastewater surveillance can help round out understanding of community transmission as it doesn’t rely on testing or reporting of test results. ✳️Home testing is great because Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Megan Madsen
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
It’s time to meet another one of Those Nerdy Girls. This time we are delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Madsen, D.O. 👩‍⚕️ What’s a D.O.? We’re so glad you asked. It stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Dr. Madsen says: “Our education mirrors M.D. programs for medical curriculum, and we also get extra training in musculoskeletal Read more…
Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
The answer: There is no evidence that using a nose spray will alter your test results. TL; DR: The SARS CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (aka COVID-19 rapid tests) become positive if they find a lot of the protein that that comes from SARS CoV-2. It is not likely that allergy sprays would change the amount 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…
With so many people using home tests (which mostly go unreported), how can we rely on COVID-19 data to understand community levels of transmission?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: With more people using home rapid tests interpreting local COVID-19 data does become murkier, but a useful addition is wastewater surveillance! TL; DR Keeping an eye on local wastewater surveillance can help round out understanding of community transmission as it doesn’t rely on testing or reporting of test results. ✳️Home testing is great because Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Megan Madsen
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
It’s time to meet another one of Those Nerdy Girls. This time we are delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Madsen, D.O. 👩‍⚕️ What’s a D.O.? We’re so glad you asked. It stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Dr. Madsen says: “Our education mirrors M.D. programs for medical curriculum, and we also get extra training in musculoskeletal Read more…
Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a 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…
With so many people using home tests (which mostly go unreported), how can we rely on COVID-19 data to understand community levels of transmission?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Testing and Contact TracingAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: With more people using home rapid tests interpreting local COVID-19 data does become murkier, but a useful addition is wastewater surveillance! TL; DR Keeping an eye on local wastewater surveillance can help round out understanding of community transmission as it doesn’t rely on testing or reporting of test results. ✳️Home testing is great because Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Megan Madsen
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
It’s time to meet another one of Those Nerdy Girls. This time we are delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Madsen, D.O. 👩‍⚕️ What’s a D.O.? We’re so glad you asked. It stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Dr. Madsen says: “Our education mirrors M.D. programs for medical curriculum, and we also get extra training in musculoskeletal Read more…
Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
A: With more people using home rapid tests interpreting local COVID-19 data does become murkier, but a useful addition is wastewater surveillance! TL; DR Keeping an eye on local wastewater surveillance can help round out understanding of community transmission as it doesn’t rely on testing or reporting of test results. ✳️Home testing is great because Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Megan Madsen
Women in STEMMalia Jones, PhD MPH
It’s time to meet another one of Those Nerdy Girls. This time we are delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Madsen, D.O. 👩‍⚕️ What’s a D.O.? We’re so glad you asked. It stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Dr. Madsen says: “Our education mirrors M.D. programs for medical curriculum, and we also get extra training in musculoskeletal Read more…
Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
It’s time to meet another one of Those Nerdy Girls. This time we are delighted to introduce Dr. Megan Madsen, D.O. 👩‍⚕️ What’s a D.O.? We’re so glad you asked. It stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Dr. Madsen says: “Our education mirrors M.D. programs for medical curriculum, and we also get extra training in musculoskeletal Read more…
Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Heard of that new pill to treat COVID-19? Here is what you need to know!
TreatmentsSarah Whitley Coles, MD
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
TL;DR: The FDA gave emergency use authorization to Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, that may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infections and are at increased risk of getting severely ill. While this is super exciting news, it is not a magic answer to stopping the pandemic. Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments VaccinesAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a 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…
ÂżQuĂ© debo hacer si no puedo hacerme la prueba de COVID-19 pero tengo sĂntomas?
Posts en Español Staying Safe TreatmentsAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
MantĂ©n la calma y aĂslase. Dile a alguien si no se siente bien y está solo. Sigue vigilando sus sĂntomas y llame al mĂ©dico si sus sĂntomas empeoran. Busque la atenciĂłn mĂ©dica si no puede cuidarse en casa. 🧪 Por el momento, las pruebas de COVID-19 son difĂciles de conseguir en muchos sitios. Si desarrolla Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls: Dr. Kristen Panthagani
Women in STEMMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
Treatments
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
Do you love our recent series on logical fallacies as much as I do? Well then, get excited because you’re about to meet the woman who writes them! Dr. Panthagani is our only contributor who has both an M.D. and a Ph.D., which she earned from Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program. Her Read more…
What do you know about that COVID-19 treatment Molnupiravir?
TreatmentsSarah Whitley Coles, MD
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Chana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
Molnupiravir is an antiviral pill that can be used in the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness who are at high risk of serious illness. It should be taken within 5 days of the first symptom and only when other antiviral treatments are not available. How does molnupiravir work? Get ready for Read more…
Will a positive COVID test thwart your spring break plans?
Testing and Contact Tracing TravelChana Davis, PhD
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
A: If it’s been fewer than 5 days since your COVID-19 infection began, you’re out of luck. Please stay home! During the Day 5-10 window, your odds of being cleared for travel are roughly 50-50 for rapid antigen tests. After two weeks, most of us can breathe easily on test day. 👉🏽Note: For molecular tests like Read more…
Postcards from England – March 18, 2022
Data and MetricsJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
Postcards from England…. here we go again?! Like many things in this pandemic, this feeling of dĂ©jĂ vu all over again is getting OLD. As an 🇺🇸American living in the 🇬🇧U.K., I’ve seen the pattern of cases here foreshadowing surges in the U.S. a few weeks later at least five different times now. That means Read more…
How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEMAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
A: Start building their scientific literacy skills now! Below we share three super neat resources that can help kids (across a range of ages) learn about the scientific method, get introduced to careers in various scientific fields, and gain the skills needed to become savvy consumers (and sharers) of scientific information! *Zoey and Sassafras*- a Read more…
