Are there vitamins or supplements that I should take to prevent and/or treat COVID-19?
Staying Safe Treatments
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Here is the best evidence we found. Vitamin C: No. Modest evidence in prevention (even for the common cold). Evidence for treatment is still being examined in COVID-19 but unlikely to yield much benefit. May reduce ICU stay length and decrease need for mechanical ventilation but still being studied. Vitamin D: Yes to daily Read more…
What is this news about an antibody “100% cure” I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
Treatments
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 “game-changer” news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
I need to know more about this virus. With all this talk about church choirs being risky events, does this imply that the virus is spread through the air?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: We still believe that the virus is transmitted primarily through droplets. But, here’s the truth: there is a very fine line between droplet and airborne transmission. Airborne: Transmitted by tiny droplets that remain suspended in the air. Can travel distances. (Hypothesized for SARS and MERS) Droplet: Transmitted by larger droplets that fall to the Read more…
I live a simple life. I don’t go to dance clubs or bars. If we practice social distancing, will it be okay to return to church? I miss being with other people.
Socializing Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: I understand. This is hard. Unfortunately, any activity (e.g., grocery store, church, birthday party) where you are in an enclosed space with a group of people poses a risk. Being outdoors and keeping interactions brief likely minimizes this risk. Take this recent CDC report of a 61-person choir that met for 2.5 hours on Read more…
Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state?
Socializing Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Q: I have a bad case of Saturday Night Fever after being cooped up for so long! Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state? A: Sadly the answer is no. (Editorial note: this Nerdy Girl really loves to dance, and empathizes). In epidemiology speak, nightclubs and Read more…
What does new evidence tell us about the risk of Covid-19 to pets?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Sadly, new evidence requires us to update our previous post about Covid-19 and pets. New research identified cases of Covid-19 in dogs. More research is needed to fully understand the direction of transmission and risks to humans and animals. The new evidence suggests the following: – Dogs, cats, lions, and tigers have shown evidence Read more…
Tell me again, will herd immunity work to save us all from COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The quick answer: NO. It is likely that herd immunity (when a large portion of the population has immunity to an infectious disease, thus forming a protective layer, a cushion if you will, to stop the infection from reaching people who do not have immunity) will not work with COVID-19. This is not to Read more…
My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these “Covid Cravings”?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: Here is the best evidence we found. Vitamin C: No. Modest evidence in prevention (even for the common cold). Evidence for treatment is still being examined in COVID-19 but unlikely to yield much benefit. May reduce ICU stay length and decrease need for mechanical ventilation but still being studied. Vitamin D: Yes to daily Read more…
What is this news about an antibody “100% cure” I just heard? Please tell me this is true!
TreatmentsJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 “game-changer” news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
Reopening
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
I need to know more about this virus. With all this talk about church choirs being risky events, does this imply that the virus is spread through the air?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: We still believe that the virus is transmitted primarily through droplets. But, here’s the truth: there is a very fine line between droplet and airborne transmission. Airborne: Transmitted by tiny droplets that remain suspended in the air. Can travel distances. (Hypothesized for SARS and MERS) Droplet: Transmitted by larger droplets that fall to the Read more…
I live a simple life. I don’t go to dance clubs or bars. If we practice social distancing, will it be okay to return to church? I miss being with other people.
Socializing Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: I understand. This is hard. Unfortunately, any activity (e.g., grocery store, church, birthday party) where you are in an enclosed space with a group of people poses a risk. Being outdoors and keeping interactions brief likely minimizes this risk. Take this recent CDC report of a 61-person choir that met for 2.5 hours on Read more…
Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state?
Socializing Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Q: I have a bad case of Saturday Night Fever after being cooped up for so long! Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state? A: Sadly the answer is no. (Editorial note: this Nerdy Girl really loves to dance, and empathizes). In epidemiology speak, nightclubs and Read more…
What does new evidence tell us about the risk of Covid-19 to pets?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Sadly, new evidence requires us to update our previous post about Covid-19 and pets. New research identified cases of Covid-19 in dogs. More research is needed to fully understand the direction of transmission and risks to humans and animals. The new evidence suggests the following: – Dogs, cats, lions, and tigers have shown evidence Read more…
Tell me again, will herd immunity work to save us all from COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The quick answer: NO. It is likely that herd immunity (when a large portion of the population has immunity to an infectious disease, thus forming a protective layer, a cushion if you will, to stop the infection from reaching people who do not have immunity) will not work with COVID-19. This is not to Read more…
My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these “Covid Cravings”?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: The Nerdy Girls want nothing more to wake up one day to this type of COVID-19 “game-changer” news. Maybe this was all a bad dream! For now, we lean towards consuming this stream of press with both cautious optimism AND skepticism. The news story in question from Friday came from a press release by Read more…
My state is re-opening. Yay! Also, yikes! Are we…ready??
ReopeningAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
I need to know more about this virus. With all this talk about church choirs being risky events, does this imply that the virus is spread through the air?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: We still believe that the virus is transmitted primarily through droplets. But, here’s the truth: there is a very fine line between droplet and airborne transmission. Airborne: Transmitted by tiny droplets that remain suspended in the air. Can travel distances. (Hypothesized for SARS and MERS) Droplet: Transmitted by larger droplets that fall to the Read more…
I live a simple life. I don’t go to dance clubs or bars. If we practice social distancing, will it be okay to return to church? I miss being with other people.
Socializing Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: I understand. This is hard. Unfortunately, any activity (e.g., grocery store, church, birthday party) where you are in an enclosed space with a group of people poses a risk. Being outdoors and keeping interactions brief likely minimizes this risk. Take this recent CDC report of a 61-person choir that met for 2.5 hours on Read more…
Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state?
Socializing Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Q: I have a bad case of Saturday Night Fever after being cooped up for so long! Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state? A: Sadly the answer is no. (Editorial note: this Nerdy Girl really loves to dance, and empathizes). In epidemiology speak, nightclubs and Read more…
What does new evidence tell us about the risk of Covid-19 to pets?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Sadly, new evidence requires us to update our previous post about Covid-19 and pets. New research identified cases of Covid-19 in dogs. More research is needed to fully understand the direction of transmission and risks to humans and animals. The new evidence suggests the following: – Dogs, cats, lions, and tigers have shown evidence Read more…
Tell me again, will herd immunity work to save us all from COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The quick answer: NO. It is likely that herd immunity (when a large portion of the population has immunity to an infectious disease, thus forming a protective layer, a cushion if you will, to stop the infection from reaching people who do not have immunity) will not work with COVID-19. This is not to Read more…
My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these “Covid Cravings”?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: The White House published “gating criteria” in their Reopening America Again guidelines. These are data-driven criteria that each state or region should satisfy before reopening. They include things like having a 14-day downward trajectory or new cases, hospital capacity to treat all patients without crisis, and a “robust” Read more…
I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean?
Reopening Staying SafeAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
I need to know more about this virus. With all this talk about church choirs being risky events, does this imply that the virus is spread through the air?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and Spread
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: We still believe that the virus is transmitted primarily through droplets. But, here’s the truth: there is a very fine line between droplet and airborne transmission. Airborne: Transmitted by tiny droplets that remain suspended in the air. Can travel distances. (Hypothesized for SARS and MERS) Droplet: Transmitted by larger droplets that fall to the Read more…
I live a simple life. I don’t go to dance clubs or bars. If we practice social distancing, will it be okay to return to church? I miss being with other people.
Socializing Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: I understand. This is hard. Unfortunately, any activity (e.g., grocery store, church, birthday party) where you are in an enclosed space with a group of people poses a risk. Being outdoors and keeping interactions brief likely minimizes this risk. Take this recent CDC report of a 61-person choir that met for 2.5 hours on Read more…
Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state?
Socializing Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Q: I have a bad case of Saturday Night Fever after being cooped up for so long! Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state? A: Sadly the answer is no. (Editorial note: this Nerdy Girl really loves to dance, and empathizes). In epidemiology speak, nightclubs and Read more…
What does new evidence tell us about the risk of Covid-19 to pets?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Sadly, new evidence requires us to update our previous post about Covid-19 and pets. New research identified cases of Covid-19 in dogs. More research is needed to fully understand the direction of transmission and risks to humans and animals. The new evidence suggests the following: – Dogs, cats, lions, and tigers have shown evidence Read more…
Tell me again, will herd immunity work to save us all from COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The quick answer: NO. It is likely that herd immunity (when a large portion of the population has immunity to an infectious disease, thus forming a protective layer, a cushion if you will, to stop the infection from reaching people who do not have immunity) will not work with COVID-19. This is not to Read more…
My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these “Covid Cravings”?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: As defined in the article below, “harm reduction refers to policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity.” An example of public health efforts aimed at harm reduction are needle exchange programs where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones as a Read more…
I need to know more about this virus. With all this talk about church choirs being risky events, does this imply that the virus is spread through the air?
Clinical Symptoms Infection and SpreadAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: We still believe that the virus is transmitted primarily through droplets. But, here’s the truth: there is a very fine line between droplet and airborne transmission. Airborne: Transmitted by tiny droplets that remain suspended in the air. Can travel distances. (Hypothesized for SARS and MERS) Droplet: Transmitted by larger droplets that fall to the Read more…
I live a simple life. I don’t go to dance clubs or bars. If we practice social distancing, will it be okay to return to church? I miss being with other people.
Socializing Staying Safe
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: I understand. This is hard. Unfortunately, any activity (e.g., grocery store, church, birthday party) where you are in an enclosed space with a group of people poses a risk. Being outdoors and keeping interactions brief likely minimizes this risk. Take this recent CDC report of a 61-person choir that met for 2.5 hours on Read more…
Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state?
Socializing Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Q: I have a bad case of Saturday Night Fever after being cooped up for so long! Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state? A: Sadly the answer is no. (Editorial note: this Nerdy Girl really loves to dance, and empathizes). In epidemiology speak, nightclubs and Read more…
What does new evidence tell us about the risk of Covid-19 to pets?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Sadly, new evidence requires us to update our previous post about Covid-19 and pets. New research identified cases of Covid-19 in dogs. More research is needed to fully understand the direction of transmission and risks to humans and animals. The new evidence suggests the following: – Dogs, cats, lions, and tigers have shown evidence Read more…
Tell me again, will herd immunity work to save us all from COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The quick answer: NO. It is likely that herd immunity (when a large portion of the population has immunity to an infectious disease, thus forming a protective layer, a cushion if you will, to stop the infection from reaching people who do not have immunity) will not work with COVID-19. This is not to Read more…
My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these “Covid Cravings”?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: We still believe that the virus is transmitted primarily through droplets. But, here’s the truth: there is a very fine line between droplet and airborne transmission. Airborne: Transmitted by tiny droplets that remain suspended in the air. Can travel distances. (Hypothesized for SARS and MERS) Droplet: Transmitted by larger droplets that fall to the Read more…
I live a simple life. I don’t go to dance clubs or bars. If we practice social distancing, will it be okay to return to church? I miss being with other people.
Socializing Staying SafeLauren Hale, PhD MA
A: I understand. This is hard. Unfortunately, any activity (e.g., grocery store, church, birthday party) where you are in an enclosed space with a group of people poses a risk. Being outdoors and keeping interactions brief likely minimizes this risk. Take this recent CDC report of a 61-person choir that met for 2.5 hours on Read more…
Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state?
Socializing Staying Safe
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Q: I have a bad case of Saturday Night Fever after being cooped up for so long! Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state? A: Sadly the answer is no. (Editorial note: this Nerdy Girl really loves to dance, and empathizes). In epidemiology speak, nightclubs and Read more…
What does new evidence tell us about the risk of Covid-19 to pets?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Sadly, new evidence requires us to update our previous post about Covid-19 and pets. New research identified cases of Covid-19 in dogs. More research is needed to fully understand the direction of transmission and risks to humans and animals. The new evidence suggests the following: – Dogs, cats, lions, and tigers have shown evidence Read more…
Tell me again, will herd immunity work to save us all from COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The quick answer: NO. It is likely that herd immunity (when a large portion of the population has immunity to an infectious disease, thus forming a protective layer, a cushion if you will, to stop the infection from reaching people who do not have immunity) will not work with COVID-19. This is not to Read more…
My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these “Covid Cravings”?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: I understand. This is hard. Unfortunately, any activity (e.g., grocery store, church, birthday party) where you are in an enclosed space with a group of people poses a risk. Being outdoors and keeping interactions brief likely minimizes this risk. Take this recent CDC report of a 61-person choir that met for 2.5 hours on Read more…
Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state?
Socializing Staying SafeLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Q: I have a bad case of Saturday Night Fever after being cooped up for so long! Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state? A: Sadly the answer is no. (Editorial note: this Nerdy Girl really loves to dance, and empathizes). In epidemiology speak, nightclubs and Read more…
What does new evidence tell us about the risk of Covid-19 to pets?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Sadly, new evidence requires us to update our previous post about Covid-19 and pets. New research identified cases of Covid-19 in dogs. More research is needed to fully understand the direction of transmission and risks to humans and animals. The new evidence suggests the following: – Dogs, cats, lions, and tigers have shown evidence Read more…
Tell me again, will herd immunity work to save us all from COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The quick answer: NO. It is likely that herd immunity (when a large portion of the population has immunity to an infectious disease, thus forming a protective layer, a cushion if you will, to stop the infection from reaching people who do not have immunity) will not work with COVID-19. This is not to Read more…
My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these “Covid Cravings”?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Q: I have a bad case of Saturday Night Fever after being cooped up for so long! Is it safe to head out to the nightclubs/bars now that they’re reopening in my state? A: Sadly the answer is no. (Editorial note: this Nerdy Girl really loves to dance, and empathizes). In epidemiology speak, nightclubs and Read more…
What does new evidence tell us about the risk of Covid-19 to pets?
Families/Kids Infection and SpreadAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Sadly, new evidence requires us to update our previous post about Covid-19 and pets. New research identified cases of Covid-19 in dogs. More research is needed to fully understand the direction of transmission and risks to humans and animals. The new evidence suggests the following: – Dogs, cats, lions, and tigers have shown evidence Read more…
Tell me again, will herd immunity work to save us all from COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Uncertainty and Misinformation
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The quick answer: NO. It is likely that herd immunity (when a large portion of the population has immunity to an infectious disease, thus forming a protective layer, a cushion if you will, to stop the infection from reaching people who do not have immunity) will not work with COVID-19. This is not to Read more…
My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these “Covid Cravings”?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: Sadly, new evidence requires us to update our previous post about Covid-19 and pets. New research identified cases of Covid-19 in dogs. More research is needed to fully understand the direction of transmission and risks to humans and animals. The new evidence suggests the following: – Dogs, cats, lions, and tigers have shown evidence Read more…
Tell me again, will herd immunity work to save us all from COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread Uncertainty and MisinformationAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: The quick answer: NO. It is likely that herd immunity (when a large portion of the population has immunity to an infectious disease, thus forming a protective layer, a cushion if you will, to stop the infection from reaching people who do not have immunity) will not work with COVID-19. This is not to Read more…
My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these “Covid Cravings”?
Mental Health
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: The quick answer: NO. It is likely that herd immunity (when a large portion of the population has immunity to an infectious disease, thus forming a protective layer, a cushion if you will, to stop the infection from reaching people who do not have immunity) will not work with COVID-19. This is not to Read more…
My diet consists of ice cream, bagel bites, and other processed foods. What’s up with these “Covid Cravings”?
Mental HealthAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: You are not alone! Many people are flocking to different foods during this stressful time. Ice cream and processed foods are flying off the shelves. Here’s a few reasons why and how to keep the comfort eats in check. – The brain responds positively to sugar in particular, releasing Dopamine which can make us Read more…
My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!?
Families/Kids Reopening Staying SafeAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
Masks
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: As states move away from stay at home orders and change recommendations to permit gatherings of slightly larger groups, one option for addressing childcare needs may be for two families (i.e., households) to join together to form a slightly bigger “bubble”. Under this approach, two households combine exclusively (i.e., minimize all other outside contacts). Read more…
I’m afraid of wearing a mask because I heard it reduces oxygen intake and forces people to breathe in their own carbon dioxide. Is this true?
MasksSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and Spread
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A. Short answer: Not really. Long answer: Inhaling *high* levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (also called hypercapnia, or CO2 toxicity) can in fact cause health issues like headache, dizziness, confusion, and even suffocation. But the key word is *high.* Few people are actually at risk of hypercapnia, whether they wear masks or not. Conditions like Read more…
I’m still confused about the difference between an INCUBATION period and an INFECTIOUS period.
Infection and SpreadLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
Reopening
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
Coronavirus 101 explainer, please!!! A: We empathize – there are so many terms to learn. For us, too! It’s literally impossible to be an expert on every dimension of the pandemic). This timeline courtesy of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health helpfully visualizes the two concepts, along with how they link up chronologically. Here Read more…
Is it safe to go back to the gym?
ReopeningLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health Socializing
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: Sadly, the answer is NO. Gyms are tricky environments for infection control. Below are a few of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in gyms and potential adjustments to lessen risks. If you can afford to do so, MAINTAIN YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP FEES while taking a break from visits. Workout equipment is used by multiple Read more…
My teen seems to need more independence with friends, home routine, and schedule? I feel terrible about all the missed events this year (graduation, starting college, sports). Wouldn’t it help them if we relaxed a little bit with our rules?
Families/Kids Mental Health SocializingAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: Yes and no. Social activity (i.e. school and the life it creates) is critical for young people and their development. They are also beginning to express themselves as individuals, to create their own support networks, to have freedom to their identity, and to simply spend time outside of the home. However, all of this Read more…
How is it possible for my region to increase their testing when they have limited testing supplies?
Testing and Contact TracingLauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Treatments
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: Group testing! Simply put, you combine several samples and test them all at once. If the combined sample comes back negative, you know that all the patients in that group do not have COVID-19. If it comes back positive, you go back and do individual tests on the same samples. This group-testing strategy is Read more…
Tell me more about convalescent plasma as a form of treatment for COVID-19. Does it really work? Can I donate antibodies to help others if I have recovered from COVID-19?
TreatmentsSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A. Convalescent plasma is a treatment that’s more than a century old and has been previously used as treatment for other infectious diseases, including the 1918 Pandemic Flu, MERS, and the 2003 outbreak of SARS. It involves taking antibody-rich blood plasma from recovered, healthy donors, and transfusing it into patients with severe disease as a Read more…
Do all interactions carry the same risk for Covid-19 infection?
Infection and Spread Staying SafeAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: No. Some activities are riskier than others. Here is one way to think about risk. The amount of virus and time spent in a given setting really matters. The goal is to limit the “dose” of virus and the length of time you are exposed. For this reason, some settings and activities are more Read more…
Does UV light kill the virus? Should I buy one of these UV sanitizing devices I keep seeing in my social media ads?
Infection and Spread Staying SafeJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
Uncategorized
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: Certain types of UV light *might* be able to help sanitize surfaces and air, but it’s still early days. Important: UV light CANNOT kill the virus if the virus is already inside of the body. Further, it’s not currently deemed safe to use so-called “UV sanitizers” on the body, because of damage to the Read more…
I love all the virtual choir videos that have been posted since stay-at-home orders started. Seriously — how do they *do* that?! My church choir got on Zoom and tried to sing together and it…didn’t go so well.
UncategorizedAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
A: We love the virtual choir videos, too! Super inspiring! And there’s a pretty straightforward method to their madness. Here’s how it works: Once the song has been selected for the virtual choir performance, someone makes a “reference track”. This is an audio recording with instrumental or vocal tracks for all the voice parts. It Read more…
