Q: It’s finally fall, and my kids are back in school. Can we start seeing friends and doing sports & lessons? A: There are ways to make socializing safer and SMARTer if you remember that reducing your risk of contracting COVID-19 adds up—it is NOT all-or-nothing. You and your family can use a “risk budget” Read more…
Q: Do I have any other options? Help! A: Maybe – depending on your state. Now that we are 4 weeks away from the election, states with early voting may be starting soon or have already opened their polls! We came across a WONDERFUL chart on early voting from the bipartisan group, National Conference of Read more…
Wondering how you can let your neighbors know about your SMART Halloween plan to deliver treats from a safe distance? Well, so did we! That’s why we made this handy sign! Nerdy Girls are ordering theirs to be printed as lawn signs now, in time for Halloween delivery. Download your free printable sign from our Read more…
A: No, Sweden has not reached herd immunity, nor have they fared well economically or with respect to COVID-19 mortality. Swedes also voluntarily changed behavior more than is frequently assumed. While there has been a fascination with being Sweden during this pandemic, there are many misconceptions about their experience that are worth clearing up: *Myth Read more…
A: A negative test result does NOT mean that Mr. Pence and Mr. Biden are COVID-free… even if that happens to be really inconvenient for them. Everyone who has been near the President of the United States in the last week (or who has been around anyone else with COVID-19 for that matter) should self-quarantine Read more…
A. The Helsinki-Vantaa airport welcomed COVID-19-sniffing dogs to their staff last week, hoping to use their keen sense of smell to detect COVID-19 positive patients up to 5 days before symptoms appear. Dubai International Airport also has a team of dogs sniffing for COVID-19. Here’s how the airport testing works: Prospective passengers rub a wipe Read more…
Dr. Leininger and Dr. Jones tackle follower questions in this not-quite-live Q&A session. We’re answering questions about how to have an honest conversation about your pod (3:00), kids and transmission (7:00), fomites (12:45) and … how to think about Joe Biden’s negative test result from Friday, Oct 2 (at 17:20). https://youtu.be/tEk0NcR7qL0 Related links: What is Read more…
S. Space: keep your distance from other people. M. Mask: wear a mask! A. Air: take the fun outdoors. R. Restrict: Avoid crowds (especially indoor crowds)! Don’t expand your COVID bubble on Halloween. T. Time: Keep your interactions short & sweet. We have updated our SMART graphic for the holiday. Feel free to pass this Read more…
A: Too early to say. But we should know more soon. Vitamin D is a micronutrient that is present and supplemented in food, taken as a supplement, and made when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays (UV). It helps to keep bones growing and prevent them from breaking down. Vitamin D is also thought Read more…
A: It’s complicated…. but YES! In this update of a post from July, we take stock of what’s new in tracking how lethal SARS-CoV-1 actually is. First some definitions: Case Fatality Rate (CFR): % of confirmed cases who die. In the U.S., the estimated CFR is currently 2.9% In the U.K., the estimated CFR is Read more…
A: There are tons of myths and misconceptions out there about the flu shot. This week, our Friendly Family Doc breaks them down and sets the record straight! Myth: The flu vaccine causes the flu. Fact: Nope! There are multiple formulations of the influenza vaccine, both injectable and a nasal spray. Flu shots contain inactive Read more…
R: El término “inmunidad colectiva” o “inmunidad de rebaño”, es también llamado a veces “inmunidad comunitaria”, y se refiere a una situación en la que muchas personas de una población no son susceptibles a un virus, ya sea porque ya lo han tenido y es poco probable que lo vuelvan a contraer, o porque han Read more…
A. It turns out that the #SMART principles that the Nerdy Girls have been promoting for months now have stood the test of time and apply to indoor settings as well! For a refresher: SPACE – Keep your distance from others (more than 6 feet is great) MASK – Wear a mask AIR – Ensure Read more…
A: Most definitely not. But like all things 2020, it’s going to have to be a little different this year. Saving Halloween during a global pandemic? Our beloved Dear Pandemic co-founder Dr. Malia Jones was BORN for this moment. With your PVC pipe, your Bob Ross mask, & your Jackbox Trivia Murder Party 2 party Read more…
Q: I know that voting is important to a healthy democracy and public health. I’ve already made my plan to vote. Is there anything else I can do to help? A: Congrats on making a plan to vote! There ARE a few ways to help: volunteering to be a poll worker, encouraging others to vote, Read more…
Amanda from Vermont asks: Why do we need to worry about flu season? Won’t our COVID safety measures also protect us from flu? A: You’re right that the same precautions will protect you from COVID-19 and influenza, but the fact that COVID-19 cases are still on the rise in the United States means that not Read more…
R: Nosotras le guiaremos. Antes de empezar, queremos reconocer su valentía. Muchos de nosotros estamos pasando por lo mismo y queremos agradecerle por preguntar abierta y honestamente sobre cómo encontrar ayuda. De hecho, aproximadamente 40% de los estadounidenses reportan tener problemas/dificultades con la salud mental o uso de sustancia desde el verano (https://bit.ly/2FuyqJV). Adultos más Read more…
Q: Why are deaths not as high as in the Spring? A: There is no evidence that the virus itself has become milder. The lower numbers of deaths we see now compared to equivalent numbers of cases in the Spring is likely due to 3 main factors: 1) MORE TESTING: Early in the pandemic we Read more…
Q: What does that mean for when my kid can get vaccinated? A: It is true: Current Phase 3 trials do not include children, and it means we’ve got a longer wait for a vaccine approved for use in children. We’ve covered a lot of vaccine development news on Dear Pandemic (see links below), but Read more…
Dr. Malia Jones & Dr. Lindsey Leininger tackle your questions in this week’s FB Live Q&A. – Stay SMART this fall! 3:40 – 4:08 – Aerosol vs. droplet debate + the CDC: 4:15 – 9:35 – Tips for socializing safely in the cold: 10:14 – 15:35 – Hot tubs + saunas + gyms: 15:43 – Read more…
