Posts from Those Nerdy Girls

All the posts from our Those Nerdy Girls Facebook page dating back to May 1st, 2020, are currently archived here and can be searched for by category, key words, etc. Be sure to check back often as additional posts are being added each day.

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I have my first Zoom doctor’s appointment coming up. Any tips on making it a success?

Staying Safe

A: Yes! Your Friendly Family MD, a Nerdy Girl collaborator, weighs in with the following recommendations: Find a private place (far away from where your roomie likes to roam half-naked); Call your insurer prior to the visit (no one likes surprise bills!); Pre-check your tech (Zoom gremlins are **real**); Come ready with your concerns (writing Read more…

It’s the first day of virtual school and I’m already losing my mind. How am I going to survive this?

Families/Kids Mental Health School

A: Parents, we see you. Parenting in a pandemic is hard. It’s really, really hard. Many parents are being tasked with managing virtual learning, often involving age-inappropriate expectations for our young children to spend hours (and hours) seated/on Zoom calls. All around us, parents–especially moms–are taking leaves of absence from their careers in order to Read more…

How can I support my elderly family member as the pandemic continues?

Families/Kids Mental Health

A: Continue to ask your family member what his/her/their wishes are and how you can support; continue to engage socially through virtual means; encourage hobbies/activities/interests; and provide support to caregivers. We just love this cartoon that helps depict this. Full view as well as a printable guide available here. Stay safe. Stay sane. And let’s Read more…

Should I buy an air purifier for my home? I’ve heard some people say that the virus particles are too small for HEPA filters to work.

Infection and Spread Staying Safe

A: It’s *probably* a good idea, and HEPA filters easily remove the size particles that carry the virus (the virus does not fly around naked, but embedded in mucus and saliva, yum!). Compared to overstocking Clorox wipes, cleaning your air may provide important COVID-19 protection for you and your family, especially over the winter as Read more…

Why do men suffer more severe COVID-19 and a higher risk of death? Do we know anything new?

Biology/Immunity Clinical Symptoms

A: Women may mount a stronger T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to a recent paper in Nature from the lab of immunologist Dr. Akiko Iwasaki. In the study, researchers collected blood, saliva and other samples from 17 men and 22 women aged 60+ admitted to the hospital after a positive COVID-19 test and Read more…

Other than social distancing, wearing masks, staying outside, and washing hands, what else can we do to stay safe?

Families/Kids Masks Socializing Staying Safe

Q:  Also, now that cooler weather is coming, what can my teenagers do indoors? We are already bored. A: It seems like you and your family are doing a lot of things right! Think about how much we’ve learned and adapted in the past 6 months. Wow. Congratulations. Here’s one more important factor to consider: Read more…

I live alone. What things should I think about to keep on keeping on during this pandemic?

Mental Health

A: Whether you’re a student living in a studio apartment downtown or retired and living alone in the community, this pandemic has been HARD. Balancing infection control risks with social connection and extreme levels of uncertainty can be especially stressful when living alone. Three common areas of concern among individuals who live alone include maintaining Read more…

What should I be considering when it comes to deciding on participation in team sports for my kids this Fall?

Families/Kids Reopening School Staying Safe

A: Great question from a follower! We recommend keeping in mind three main things when considering the safety of a team sport: Space, Sharing and Stability! Space -To what extent is physical closeness a requirement of team play? -Can players socially distance when not in the field of play? -Can spectators socially distance? -Can team Read more…

What is crisis fatigue?

Mental Health

A: When life requires operating at “surge capacity” well beyond the initial surge. It’s bad for our brains and our bodies. Experts* recommend Three P’s to help cope: 1. Pick your battles wisely Put your energy into a few key priorities. Say “no” (or, if it’s helpful, “not yet”) to the peripheral. 2. Proactively seek Read more…

Is trick-or-treat cancelled?

Families/Kids Staying Safe

A: No! The kids’ Halloween is not ruined. Like most things, Halloween is going to be different, but with a little creativity, we CAN have a safe version of trick-or-treat. Fortunately, most Halloween traditions in the U.S. are compatible with COVID harm reduction basics: wear a mask, keep it outdoors, and avoid crowds. Some parts Read more…

So the CDC just released data that said 94% of U.S. COVID-19 deaths had underlying medical conditions?

Data and Metrics Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation

A: FALSE. We’ve heard this interpretation is making the rounds, but it’s just not correct. What did the CDC data say? The report summarized all deaths in the U.S. from Feb until August 22nd with COVID-19 on the death certificate (161,392 total deaths). The CDC reports that for 6% of these deaths COVID-19 was the Read more…