- #StopSwappingAir - February 20, 2021
- Why I fled - September 15, 2020
- 5 years later: Ebola outbreak shows continued weaknesses of global response - June 23, 2019
Michael Osterholm of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP)at the University of Minnesota is one of the most respected epidemiologists in the world.
You may have heard his name in the news lately, as he compared the COVID variants headed our way (especially the B.1.1.7. variant out of Britain) as a “Category 5 hurricane” off the coast of the United States. Concern about variants is growing, and we know that we will continue to have variants for as long as we have high numbers of infections (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-research/scientific-brief-emerging-variants.html).
Dr. Osterholm has a wonderful weekly podcast called the Osterholm Update, in which he advises against us becoming too complacent. Given the virus’ transmission being mostly via inhaled droplets and droplet aerosols, Dr. Osterholm has a hashtag reminding people to #StopSwappingAir.
How can you #StopSwappingAir? Don’t be in enclosed interior spaces (if you can help it. Many of us in the “essential worker” category have no choice.) with people outside your household pod.
The chart below from Jones et al. in BMJ in August 2020 is the best visual I have seen on breaking down risk from aerosol/airborne exposures. I made a handout to accompany the image, below.:
So, if you can, stay in the green. If you must, venture into yellow.
For your sake and those around you, please avoid any red activities until we are through this. Please, #Stopswappingair!
Comments 1
Oolala cool graphic, thank you!!