The Unofficial Start to Summer… Really?
It’s Friday, so I am opening with a movie of sorts – an amazing TikTok film in the style of Wes Anderson. It has nothing to do with coronavirus, but we all need a break from that content, right?
Alright, now back to the virus. It’s been a while since we have talked about testing, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get a zillion questions about it. And with good reason! Between viral (molecular) tests and antibody tests and the newest antigen tests, there are hundreds of options available. Here’s an outstanding article from GoodRx comparing the different types of tests in a clear, succinct way. There’s even a link to an FDA piece listing each antibody test’s sensitivity and specificity. So, as communities begin to open up and testing becomes part of those plans, now you have a couple of resources to help understand what you are being tested for and how accurate that test might be.
Meanwhile, it looks like MIS-C, the Kawasaki’s-ish illness that had appeared in kids across the country (now 300 cases and counting) also strikes 20-somethings.
There are unbelievable – and unbelievably simple – pearls in this New Yorker article about how we can reenter safely. My favorite, because it is so scalable, is the app-based self-screening used by Atul Gawande and the 75,000 people who work alongside him at Mass General Brigham Medical Center in Boston. I am now hunting for the best app out there, because every school and workplace will need one. Big catch: coronavirus is highly contagious before symptoms ever emerge, which is why everyone should wear masks. (If you need more pro-mask evidence, read this. Incidentally, I know of a place where you can get great masks for the whole family!)
Keeping with the theme of simple pearls, many of you have reached out asking for more. So here you go. These all have to do with the value of in-person connection – we know the psychological benefits of being with others (really being with others, in a shared space) are massive, so how can we begin to do that safely? Everyone will need to come to their own conclusions, and choices may vary depending upon the rate of coronavirus infection in your community. But for what it's worth, here’s where I am landing at the moment:
Yes, I do think it’s safe to take physically distanced walks or bike rides with friends. This is true for your kids as well. Keep at least 6 feet of space between you and your friends, and wear a mask (plus a helmet if you are on wheels!).
Yes, I also think it’s safe to begin having plans with other families. BUT, make sure the total number of people remains low (most recommendations are fewer than 10) and you are congregating outside where everyone can keep distance, everyone is masked, and no one is sick. Swimming together in a pool is not a good idea – literally you are mixing the germ pool. But sitting on blankets just chilling out works fine.
Yes, I think you can even eat a meal with other people. Follow all the guidelines above, but obviously take masks off for eating. Avoid sharing serving utensils – if people aren’t bringing their own food, one person should serve so that multiple people aren’t touching the same plates, spoons, etc.
If you are confused about going out to restaurants, read this. I haven’t yet, but then again there is no dine-in allowed in Los Angeles at the moment. When it becomes an option, I will likely just continue to do take out for a while. But that’s me. You need to do you.
Before COVID, I was publishing a newsletter monthly. Since March, I churn out 2 – 3 per week. I save every article I love and when the tabs build up so densely that they completely pack my browser, that’s when the next newsletter appears. I am also an avid reader of other newsletters, like the one by Dr. Lucy McBride in Washington DC. This week she included a guest post that was so profound, I have to pass it along to all of you – the story of being not that kind of doctor.
Happy Friday everyone. It’s Memorial Day Weekend. I know you are all itching to get out – many of you live in places where that is completely legal. Before you return to old social patterns, think about this:
