Wait, did I hear more good vaccine news? Is this too good to be true?!
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Another Monday, another ray of light breaking through the COVID-19 storm cloud. The news is good, but we must still BE PATIENT and HUNKER DOWN for the winter. Fresh on the heels of the happy Pfizer/BioNTech news from last week, Moderna announced an efficacy of *94.5%* in the first look at data from the Read more…
I live in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. It’s looking like our Thanksgiving dinner is going to be just 15 people. What are the chances that someone at the dinner has COVID-19?
Data and Metrics Families/Kids Staying Safe Travel
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: As of today, 58%. Maybe rethink your plans? We know many folks in the wonderful Dear Pandemic community are “running the numbers” on their holiday dinners to assess risk and adjust accordingly. To assist your calculations, a team at Georgia Tech led by Dr. Joshua Weitz has developed the COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Malia Jones and Lindsey Leininger tackle your thorny COVID questions in this week’s Facebook Live event! Submit your questions in advance at www.dearpandemic.org. Today we tackle: ➡️ Happy Saturday greetings (0:00 – 1:59) ➡️ Pfizer vaccine news – yay hope! (2:00 – 6:50) ➡️ What settings seed viral spread? (6:54 – 15:59) ➡️ Pandemic Read more…
¿Actualmente qué se sabe sobre la reinfección de SARS-CoV-2?
Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Hasta ahora, parece que la reinfección a corto plazo de SARS-CoV-2 es posible, pero esperemos que sea rara y no frecuente. Una pregunta clave desde el comienzo de la pandemia ha sido la duración de la inmunidad para el SARS-CoV-2. Los virus como el sarampión pueden proveer inmunidad de por vida, pero la inmunidad Read more…
What are the 14 days of Thanksgiving 2020?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Today marks 14 days until Thanksgiving 2020, a holiday different from years past and Thanksgivings of the future. With community spread rapidly increasing across much of the country, self-quarantine is an essential tool in decreasing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at holiday gatherings. If you plan to visit with people outside your home for Thanksgiving 2020, Read more…
What are the chances that I’ll be hospitalized if I get COVID-19?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Infection and Spread Treatments
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: The risk of ending up in the hospital for COVID-19 varies quite a bit by age. Based on data from the state of Wisconsin, the chances of being hospitalized (given that you’ve had a positive test for COVID-19) range from 1 in 100 for kids to 1 in 3 for people aged 80 and Read more…
Why are universities doing things like testing wastewater and pooling spit?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Testing samples of wastewater and pooled spit in places with communal living, such as colleges and universities, provide several valuable benefits in detecting COVID-19. TESTING OF ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE. When people are living and socializing together in the same building, there is a risk of asymptomatic spread. If you wait until people are symptomatic to Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Lindsey Leininger & Malia Jones tackle your COVID questions, including what’s up with curfews, immunity passes, and declining death rates. ➡️ Intro and website info (:00 – 3:59) ➡️ Lightning round (4:00 – 9:39) ➡️ Immunity: personal + herd (9:40 – 17:55) ➡️ Curfews to curb spread? (18:30 – 25:15) ➡️ Cases up, death Read more…
I heard there was a large COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight summer school retreat in WI. What happened?!
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Retreat organizers relied primarily on a test-based strategy for preventing individuals with COVID-19 from attending the retreat and didn’t employ other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among attendees. This did not work. Consequently, a single attendee who became ill the day after arriving led to 116 other attendees (76% of attendees) becoming a Read more…
¿Podría proveer alguna actualización sobre la seguridad de viajar en avión en este momento, antes de los días festivos?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Travel
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: Another Monday, another ray of light breaking through the COVID-19 storm cloud. The news is good, but we must still BE PATIENT and HUNKER DOWN for the winter. Fresh on the heels of the happy Pfizer/BioNTech news from last week, Moderna announced an efficacy of *94.5%* in the first look at data from the Read more…
I live in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. It’s looking like our Thanksgiving dinner is going to be just 15 people. What are the chances that someone at the dinner has COVID-19?
Data and Metrics Families/Kids Staying Safe TravelAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: As of today, 58%. Maybe rethink your plans? We know many folks in the wonderful Dear Pandemic community are “running the numbers” on their holiday dinners to assess risk and adjust accordingly. To assist your calculations, a team at Georgia Tech led by Dr. Joshua Weitz has developed the COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Malia Jones and Lindsey Leininger tackle your thorny COVID questions in this week’s Facebook Live event! Submit your questions in advance at www.dearpandemic.org. Today we tackle: ➡️ Happy Saturday greetings (0:00 – 1:59) ➡️ Pfizer vaccine news – yay hope! (2:00 – 6:50) ➡️ What settings seed viral spread? (6:54 – 15:59) ➡️ Pandemic Read more…
¿Actualmente qué se sabe sobre la reinfección de SARS-CoV-2?
Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Hasta ahora, parece que la reinfección a corto plazo de SARS-CoV-2 es posible, pero esperemos que sea rara y no frecuente. Una pregunta clave desde el comienzo de la pandemia ha sido la duración de la inmunidad para el SARS-CoV-2. Los virus como el sarampión pueden proveer inmunidad de por vida, pero la inmunidad Read more…
What are the 14 days of Thanksgiving 2020?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Today marks 14 days until Thanksgiving 2020, a holiday different from years past and Thanksgivings of the future. With community spread rapidly increasing across much of the country, self-quarantine is an essential tool in decreasing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at holiday gatherings. If you plan to visit with people outside your home for Thanksgiving 2020, Read more…
What are the chances that I’ll be hospitalized if I get COVID-19?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Infection and Spread Treatments
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: The risk of ending up in the hospital for COVID-19 varies quite a bit by age. Based on data from the state of Wisconsin, the chances of being hospitalized (given that you’ve had a positive test for COVID-19) range from 1 in 100 for kids to 1 in 3 for people aged 80 and Read more…
Why are universities doing things like testing wastewater and pooling spit?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Testing samples of wastewater and pooled spit in places with communal living, such as colleges and universities, provide several valuable benefits in detecting COVID-19. TESTING OF ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE. When people are living and socializing together in the same building, there is a risk of asymptomatic spread. If you wait until people are symptomatic to Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Lindsey Leininger & Malia Jones tackle your COVID questions, including what’s up with curfews, immunity passes, and declining death rates. ➡️ Intro and website info (:00 – 3:59) ➡️ Lightning round (4:00 – 9:39) ➡️ Immunity: personal + herd (9:40 – 17:55) ➡️ Curfews to curb spread? (18:30 – 25:15) ➡️ Cases up, death Read more…
I heard there was a large COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight summer school retreat in WI. What happened?!
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Retreat organizers relied primarily on a test-based strategy for preventing individuals with COVID-19 from attending the retreat and didn’t employ other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among attendees. This did not work. Consequently, a single attendee who became ill the day after arriving led to 116 other attendees (76% of attendees) becoming a Read more…
¿Podría proveer alguna actualización sobre la seguridad de viajar en avión en este momento, antes de los días festivos?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Travel
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: As of today, 58%. Maybe rethink your plans? We know many folks in the wonderful Dear Pandemic community are “running the numbers” on their holiday dinners to assess risk and adjust accordingly. To assist your calculations, a team at Georgia Tech led by Dr. Joshua Weitz has developed the COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Staying Safe Vaccines VideosMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Malia Jones and Lindsey Leininger tackle your thorny COVID questions in this week’s Facebook Live event! Submit your questions in advance at www.dearpandemic.org. Today we tackle: ➡️ Happy Saturday greetings (0:00 – 1:59) ➡️ Pfizer vaccine news – yay hope! (2:00 – 6:50) ➡️ What settings seed viral spread? (6:54 – 15:59) ➡️ Pandemic Read more…
¿Actualmente qué se sabe sobre la reinfección de SARS-CoV-2?
Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Hasta ahora, parece que la reinfección a corto plazo de SARS-CoV-2 es posible, pero esperemos que sea rara y no frecuente. Una pregunta clave desde el comienzo de la pandemia ha sido la duración de la inmunidad para el SARS-CoV-2. Los virus como el sarampión pueden proveer inmunidad de por vida, pero la inmunidad Read more…
What are the 14 days of Thanksgiving 2020?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Today marks 14 days until Thanksgiving 2020, a holiday different from years past and Thanksgivings of the future. With community spread rapidly increasing across much of the country, self-quarantine is an essential tool in decreasing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at holiday gatherings. If you plan to visit with people outside your home for Thanksgiving 2020, Read more…
What are the chances that I’ll be hospitalized if I get COVID-19?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Infection and Spread Treatments
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: The risk of ending up in the hospital for COVID-19 varies quite a bit by age. Based on data from the state of Wisconsin, the chances of being hospitalized (given that you’ve had a positive test for COVID-19) range from 1 in 100 for kids to 1 in 3 for people aged 80 and Read more…
Why are universities doing things like testing wastewater and pooling spit?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Testing samples of wastewater and pooled spit in places with communal living, such as colleges and universities, provide several valuable benefits in detecting COVID-19. TESTING OF ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE. When people are living and socializing together in the same building, there is a risk of asymptomatic spread. If you wait until people are symptomatic to Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Lindsey Leininger & Malia Jones tackle your COVID questions, including what’s up with curfews, immunity passes, and declining death rates. ➡️ Intro and website info (:00 – 3:59) ➡️ Lightning round (4:00 – 9:39) ➡️ Immunity: personal + herd (9:40 – 17:55) ➡️ Curfews to curb spread? (18:30 – 25:15) ➡️ Cases up, death Read more…
I heard there was a large COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight summer school retreat in WI. What happened?!
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Retreat organizers relied primarily on a test-based strategy for preventing individuals with COVID-19 from attending the retreat and didn’t employ other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among attendees. This did not work. Consequently, a single attendee who became ill the day after arriving led to 116 other attendees (76% of attendees) becoming a Read more…
¿Podría proveer alguna actualización sobre la seguridad de viajar en avión en este momento, antes de los días festivos?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Travel
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
Drs. Malia Jones and Lindsey Leininger tackle your thorny COVID questions in this week’s Facebook Live event! Submit your questions in advance at www.dearpandemic.org. Today we tackle: ➡️ Happy Saturday greetings (0:00 – 1:59) ➡️ Pfizer vaccine news – yay hope! (2:00 – 6:50) ➡️ What settings seed viral spread? (6:54 – 15:59) ➡️ Pandemic Read more…
¿Actualmente qué se sabe sobre la reinfección de SARS-CoV-2?
Infection and Spread Posts en EspañolTita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Hasta ahora, parece que la reinfección a corto plazo de SARS-CoV-2 es posible, pero esperemos que sea rara y no frecuente. Una pregunta clave desde el comienzo de la pandemia ha sido la duración de la inmunidad para el SARS-CoV-2. Los virus como el sarampión pueden proveer inmunidad de por vida, pero la inmunidad Read more…
What are the 14 days of Thanksgiving 2020?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Today marks 14 days until Thanksgiving 2020, a holiday different from years past and Thanksgivings of the future. With community spread rapidly increasing across much of the country, self-quarantine is an essential tool in decreasing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at holiday gatherings. If you plan to visit with people outside your home for Thanksgiving 2020, Read more…
What are the chances that I’ll be hospitalized if I get COVID-19?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Infection and Spread Treatments
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: The risk of ending up in the hospital for COVID-19 varies quite a bit by age. Based on data from the state of Wisconsin, the chances of being hospitalized (given that you’ve had a positive test for COVID-19) range from 1 in 100 for kids to 1 in 3 for people aged 80 and Read more…
Why are universities doing things like testing wastewater and pooling spit?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Testing samples of wastewater and pooled spit in places with communal living, such as colleges and universities, provide several valuable benefits in detecting COVID-19. TESTING OF ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE. When people are living and socializing together in the same building, there is a risk of asymptomatic spread. If you wait until people are symptomatic to Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Lindsey Leininger & Malia Jones tackle your COVID questions, including what’s up with curfews, immunity passes, and declining death rates. ➡️ Intro and website info (:00 – 3:59) ➡️ Lightning round (4:00 – 9:39) ➡️ Immunity: personal + herd (9:40 – 17:55) ➡️ Curfews to curb spread? (18:30 – 25:15) ➡️ Cases up, death Read more…
I heard there was a large COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight summer school retreat in WI. What happened?!
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Retreat organizers relied primarily on a test-based strategy for preventing individuals with COVID-19 from attending the retreat and didn’t employ other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among attendees. This did not work. Consequently, a single attendee who became ill the day after arriving led to 116 other attendees (76% of attendees) becoming a Read more…
¿Podría proveer alguna actualización sobre la seguridad de viajar en avión en este momento, antes de los días festivos?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Travel
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
R: Hasta ahora, parece que la reinfección a corto plazo de SARS-CoV-2 es posible, pero esperemos que sea rara y no frecuente. Una pregunta clave desde el comienzo de la pandemia ha sido la duración de la inmunidad para el SARS-CoV-2. Los virus como el sarampión pueden proveer inmunidad de por vida, pero la inmunidad Read more…
What are the 14 days of Thanksgiving 2020?
Infection and Spread Staying SafeAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Today marks 14 days until Thanksgiving 2020, a holiday different from years past and Thanksgivings of the future. With community spread rapidly increasing across much of the country, self-quarantine is an essential tool in decreasing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at holiday gatherings. If you plan to visit with people outside your home for Thanksgiving 2020, Read more…
What are the chances that I’ll be hospitalized if I get COVID-19?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Infection and Spread Treatments
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: The risk of ending up in the hospital for COVID-19 varies quite a bit by age. Based on data from the state of Wisconsin, the chances of being hospitalized (given that you’ve had a positive test for COVID-19) range from 1 in 100 for kids to 1 in 3 for people aged 80 and Read more…
Why are universities doing things like testing wastewater and pooling spit?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Testing samples of wastewater and pooled spit in places with communal living, such as colleges and universities, provide several valuable benefits in detecting COVID-19. TESTING OF ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE. When people are living and socializing together in the same building, there is a risk of asymptomatic spread. If you wait until people are symptomatic to Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Lindsey Leininger & Malia Jones tackle your COVID questions, including what’s up with curfews, immunity passes, and declining death rates. ➡️ Intro and website info (:00 – 3:59) ➡️ Lightning round (4:00 – 9:39) ➡️ Immunity: personal + herd (9:40 – 17:55) ➡️ Curfews to curb spread? (18:30 – 25:15) ➡️ Cases up, death Read more…
I heard there was a large COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight summer school retreat in WI. What happened?!
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Retreat organizers relied primarily on a test-based strategy for preventing individuals with COVID-19 from attending the retreat and didn’t employ other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among attendees. This did not work. Consequently, a single attendee who became ill the day after arriving led to 116 other attendees (76% of attendees) becoming a Read more…
¿Podría proveer alguna actualización sobre la seguridad de viajar en avión en este momento, antes de los días festivos?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Travel
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: Today marks 14 days until Thanksgiving 2020, a holiday different from years past and Thanksgivings of the future. With community spread rapidly increasing across much of the country, self-quarantine is an essential tool in decreasing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at holiday gatherings. If you plan to visit with people outside your home for Thanksgiving 2020, Read more…
What are the chances that I’ll be hospitalized if I get COVID-19?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy Infection and Spread TreatmentsMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: The risk of ending up in the hospital for COVID-19 varies quite a bit by age. Based on data from the state of Wisconsin, the chances of being hospitalized (given that you’ve had a positive test for COVID-19) range from 1 in 100 for kids to 1 in 3 for people aged 80 and Read more…
Why are universities doing things like testing wastewater and pooling spit?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Testing samples of wastewater and pooled spit in places with communal living, such as colleges and universities, provide several valuable benefits in detecting COVID-19. TESTING OF ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE. When people are living and socializing together in the same building, there is a risk of asymptomatic spread. If you wait until people are symptomatic to Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Lindsey Leininger & Malia Jones tackle your COVID questions, including what’s up with curfews, immunity passes, and declining death rates. ➡️ Intro and website info (:00 – 3:59) ➡️ Lightning round (4:00 – 9:39) ➡️ Immunity: personal + herd (9:40 – 17:55) ➡️ Curfews to curb spread? (18:30 – 25:15) ➡️ Cases up, death Read more…
I heard there was a large COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight summer school retreat in WI. What happened?!
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Retreat organizers relied primarily on a test-based strategy for preventing individuals with COVID-19 from attending the retreat and didn’t employ other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among attendees. This did not work. Consequently, a single attendee who became ill the day after arriving led to 116 other attendees (76% of attendees) becoming a Read more…
¿Podría proveer alguna actualización sobre la seguridad de viajar en avión en este momento, antes de los días festivos?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Travel
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: The risk of ending up in the hospital for COVID-19 varies quite a bit by age. Based on data from the state of Wisconsin, the chances of being hospitalized (given that you’ve had a positive test for COVID-19) range from 1 in 100 for kids to 1 in 3 for people aged 80 and Read more…
Why are universities doing things like testing wastewater and pooling spit?
Testing and Contact TracingLauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Testing samples of wastewater and pooled spit in places with communal living, such as colleges and universities, provide several valuable benefits in detecting COVID-19. TESTING OF ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE. When people are living and socializing together in the same building, there is a risk of asymptomatic spread. If you wait until people are symptomatic to Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Lindsey Leininger & Malia Jones tackle your COVID questions, including what’s up with curfews, immunity passes, and declining death rates. ➡️ Intro and website info (:00 – 3:59) ➡️ Lightning round (4:00 – 9:39) ➡️ Immunity: personal + herd (9:40 – 17:55) ➡️ Curfews to curb spread? (18:30 – 25:15) ➡️ Cases up, death Read more…
I heard there was a large COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight summer school retreat in WI. What happened?!
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Retreat organizers relied primarily on a test-based strategy for preventing individuals with COVID-19 from attending the retreat and didn’t employ other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among attendees. This did not work. Consequently, a single attendee who became ill the day after arriving led to 116 other attendees (76% of attendees) becoming a Read more…
¿Podría proveer alguna actualización sobre la seguridad de viajar en avión en este momento, antes de los días festivos?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Travel
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: Testing samples of wastewater and pooled spit in places with communal living, such as colleges and universities, provide several valuable benefits in detecting COVID-19. TESTING OF ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE. When people are living and socializing together in the same building, there is a risk of asymptomatic spread. If you wait until people are symptomatic to Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Socializing Staying Safe VideosMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Lindsey Leininger & Malia Jones tackle your COVID questions, including what’s up with curfews, immunity passes, and declining death rates. ➡️ Intro and website info (:00 – 3:59) ➡️ Lightning round (4:00 – 9:39) ➡️ Immunity: personal + herd (9:40 – 17:55) ➡️ Curfews to curb spread? (18:30 – 25:15) ➡️ Cases up, death Read more…
I heard there was a large COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight summer school retreat in WI. What happened?!
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Retreat organizers relied primarily on a test-based strategy for preventing individuals with COVID-19 from attending the retreat and didn’t employ other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among attendees. This did not work. Consequently, a single attendee who became ill the day after arriving led to 116 other attendees (76% of attendees) becoming a Read more…
¿Podría proveer alguna actualización sobre la seguridad de viajar en avión en este momento, antes de los días festivos?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Travel
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
Drs. Lindsey Leininger & Malia Jones tackle your COVID questions, including what’s up with curfews, immunity passes, and declining death rates. ➡️ Intro and website info (:00 – 3:59) ➡️ Lightning round (4:00 – 9:39) ➡️ Immunity: personal + herd (9:40 – 17:55) ➡️ Curfews to curb spread? (18:30 – 25:15) ➡️ Cases up, death Read more…
I heard there was a large COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight summer school retreat in WI. What happened?!
Infection and Spread Testing and Contact TracingAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Retreat organizers relied primarily on a test-based strategy for preventing individuals with COVID-19 from attending the retreat and didn’t employ other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among attendees. This did not work. Consequently, a single attendee who became ill the day after arriving led to 116 other attendees (76% of attendees) becoming a Read more…
¿Podría proveer alguna actualización sobre la seguridad de viajar en avión en este momento, antes de los días festivos?
Posts en Español Staying Safe Travel
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: Retreat organizers relied primarily on a test-based strategy for preventing individuals with COVID-19 from attending the retreat and didn’t employ other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among attendees. This did not work. Consequently, a single attendee who became ill the day after arriving led to 116 other attendees (76% of attendees) becoming a Read more…
¿Podría proveer alguna actualización sobre la seguridad de viajar en avión en este momento, antes de los días festivos?
Posts en Español Staying Safe TravelDaisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
R: ¡Si! Algunos estudios nuevos sugieren que el riesgo de transmisión de COVID-19 en aviones es bajo *cuando se usa la mascarilla constantemente*. Mientras esto es una buena noticia, otros aspectos de viajar todavía presentan la oportunidad de exponerse a SARS-CoV-2 en ruta a su destino, así que siguiendo las precauciones #eSMART durante las celebraciones Read more…
Any “information hygiene” tips for tomorrow?
Uncertainty and MisinformationLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: Don’t expect resolution on election night. Fact-check (!!!). Take a purposeful pause prior to sharing information. Background: Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day on the information frontlines. How can we prepare? Knowledge is power, and here’s what the experts* want us to know: First: Brace for the possibility that we won’t know the Read more…
If someone in my household has COVID-19, what are the chances I get it, too?
Families/Kids Infection and SpreadAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: About 50% (with all the usual caveats about averages and estimates). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among household members is common, from both children and adults. Prompt isolation of cases is crucial, and all household members should wear masks in shared household spaces. While we all worry a lot about exposure to COVID-19 at large events, Read more…
¿Cómo me mantengo seguro cuando vaya a votar en persona?
Posts en Español Staying SafeDaisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
R: ¡La preparación es clave! Puede protegerse a sí mismo y los demás mientras ejerce su derecho al voto. Si planea votar en persona el día de las elecciones o por adelantado, lea a continuación los consejos sobre cómo prepararse y cómo mantenerse seguro cuando esté en su lugar de votación. Aunque el riesgo no Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Socializing Staying Safe VideosMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
Drs. Grainger and Parkinson take your COVID questions! Today we tackled: ➡️ Intro + Halloween plans (:00 – 4:40) ➡️ Lightning round! (4:45 – 10:55) ➡️ Is it OK to have surgery? (11:00 – 16:30) ➡️ Hard truths re: Turkey Day (16:40 – 22:25) ➡️ Restaurants’ outdoor “dining domes” (22:30 – 27:39) ➡️ Risk-taking and Read more…
What’s the risk of transmission if I’m sharing indoor space with an infected person? What can I do to reduce my risk?
Infection and SpreadJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: Because the virus can travel in small aerosols that accumulate indoors, transmission risk is strongly related to crowded, poorly ventilated rooms with loud talking and no masks for long durations of time. This means you can greatly reduce your risk by following the Nerdy Girls #StaySMART principles: SPACE – Keep your distance (more than Read more…
My college-age son and several of his friends had COVID19 while they were away at school.
Families/Kids Infection and SpreadMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact Tracing
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
Q: Is it safe to allow them to spend a few days at our house over Thanksgiving? Can they still spread the virus? A: So long as your son (and friends) have been fever-free for 24 hours, it’s been at least 10 days since he was diagnosed, and his symptoms are getting better then you Read more…
Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks?
Infection and Spread Masks Testing and Contact TracingAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying Safe
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: In the community setting, someone who meets the criteria for being a close contact to a case of COVID-19, meets the criteria REGARDLESS of whether or not they or the case had on a mask. Why is someone considered a close contact regardless of whether they had on a mask? While cloth masks are Read more…
Preferiría votar en persona ¿Cuáles son mis opciones?
Posts en Español Staying SafeTita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
P: Preferiría votar en persona, pero me preocupan las largas filas y la aglomeración de gente el día de las elecciones. ¿Cuáles son mis opciones? R: Depende del estado donde viva. Como recordatorio, el día de las elecciones en los EE. UU. es este martes 3 de noviembre pero en muchos estados se puede votar Read more…
What are the hallmarks of high-quality reporting?
Uncertainty and MisinformationLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying Safe
Rebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: Look for the ABCs of ethical journalism: Accountability; Balance; and Credibility Background: At its best, news reporting serves as an honest umpire, dispassionately calling the balls and strikes of current events.* But let’s get real: It can be hard to spot an honest ump right now. Anyone with a keyboard can become a self-styled Read more…
How can I stay safe while voting in person?
Staying SafeRebecca Doyle, Graduate Assistant
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
A: Preparation is key! You CAN protect yourself and others while still exercising your right to vote. Whether you’re voting in person on or before Election Day, read on for what to prepare and how to stay safe while you’re there. While it is not ZERO risk, a few safety protocols can go a long Read more…
