Tag: social distancing

Sun’s Out, Masks On!

diverse students with gadgets near university
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Here we go again! The sun is shining, the days are getting longer, and it’s time to… keep wearing our face masks!

It’s been a very, very long year, and I’d love to have a “normal” spring and summer as much as anyone, but the COVID-19 pandemic still is not over. According to the CDC, new COVID-19 cases have been consistently increasing over the last few days, for the first time since January. Although we’ve been making remarkable progress with COVID-19 vaccination, as of this writing less than 1 in 6 of the U.S. population (16%) is fully vaccinated. Experts predict that at least 70% of the population will need to be immune to COVID-19 to achieve “herd immunity”, but we are still nowhere near that threshold.

I still feel confident that we will get there, but please don’t jump the gun before we do. Don’t forget that despite predictions that the virus would go away in warm weather, the second U.S. wave of COVID-19 peaked last summer. Please, don’t contribute to a fourth wave. Keep wearing your masks, keep social distancing, and get your COVID-19 vaccine when you’re eligible. It’s up to every one of us to fight this pandemic together. Don’t be the weak link that breaks our chain of protection.

Making Spring Break Plans? Keep it Low-Key this Year

romantic dinner in countryside with delicious meal and drinks
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COVID-19 cases are on the decline worldwide and in the U.S., and the CDC recently recommended that fully vaccinated people may spend time with other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask, and may refrain from quarantine under certain circumstances. Many of us are finally starting to feel like the end of the pandemic may be in sight – just in time for Spring Break! If you’re making Spring Break plans, then read on for my thoughts on how to keep it safe.

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What to Do if You Want to Get to the Front of the COVID-19 Vaccine Line

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COVID-19 vaccines are out, but how soon will you get able to get yours? According to the CDC, 13 million doses have shipped and 4.2 million Americans have been vaccinated so far. However, 24 million healthcare workers and long-term care residents are eligible in Phase 1a, 49 million frontline essential workers persons age 75 and older in Phase 1b, and 129 people with high-risk medical conditions, age 65 million or older or other essential workers are eligible in Phase 1c before healthy young and middle-aged non-essential workers will be eligible. Don’t like those numbers? Here’s my advice if you want to get yourself to the front of the COVID-19 vaccine line.

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Have a Happy and Socially Distant New Year!

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As we head into what is historically one of the biggest party nights of the year, please hang in there, stay home and socially distance this New Year’s Eve. This pandemic has lasted for what feels like forever and I know how hard it is to skip beloved traditions. But as COVID-19 cases continue to spike all over the United States, it’s critical to stay home and avoid public or private gatherings, even if they’re allowed in your local area.

Please, for your health, for your loved ones’ health and for your community’s health, stay home this New Year’s Eve. I’m not even going to talk about ways to celebrate safely if you do choose to go out – the things that work best are the things I’ve talked about a million times over. If you’re determined to go out, then check out the CDC’s guide to New Year’s Eve during COVID-19.

Instead of partying this New Year’s, check in with yourself. It’s been a long, difficult, stressful year. Get sleep. Drink water. Bundle up and head outside for some air and some exercise. Do the things that make you happy, whatever that may be (as long as it’s socially distant). Reach out to a counselor if you need one. Check out guidance on what helps this season and call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) if you need help.

Take care of yourselves,

🥂 Dr. B

This Thanksgiving, Protect Your Loved Ones and Connect Remotely

cooked turkey on table
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Let’s be honest: the longer the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on, the harder it is to give up our treasured traditions. For many Americans like myself, Thanksgiving is one of the most important traditions. My extended family has gotten together, sometimes traveling far distances to do so, for a big Thanksgiving dinner for as long as I can remember. It’s important to me, I want it for my kids, and after so many months of social distancing I really want to spend time in the same room as my family.

But.

This Thanksgiving, we will celebrate in our own separate homes in front of the video chat and I strongly encourage and ask you and your family do the same, for their and your own protection. Read on for reasons why.

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Vote Safely!

i voted sticker lot
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Today is Election Day, one of the most important days of the year in the United States. If you are a registered U.S. voter and you haven’t voted yet by early voting, absentee ballot or vote by mail, then please VOTE today! Voting is not only our right but our civic duty. Here are a few quick tips to vote safely during the pandemic; so quick, in fact, that I’m not even going to use a “read more” break.

  • Wear a face mask. If you’ve read this blog before, you had to know this was coming. There will probably be large crowds at polling places, and by now we all know that crowded events are risky for COVID-19. But don’t let fear of infection keep you from voting! Wear your mask to protect yourself and the people around you and get out and vote.
  • Bring hand sanitizer and sanitize your hands after you touch door knobs, shared pens, or any other high-touch surface.
  • Stay 6 feet away from people you don’t live with. If you’re waiting in line, be sure to stay 6 feet behind the person in front of you and ask the person behind you to stay 6 feet behind. Remember when we all used to feel awkward about asking people to back off? These days, I find a friendly “six feet, please” works just fine most time. See a friend or neighbor you haven’t seen in a long time? Give them a friendly wave and shout “hello!” from a distance.
  • Check the weather report and dress appropriately. It’s very likely you’ll be waiting in long lines outdoors. What’s the weather report for your area? Rain? Snow? Wind? Be sure to pack weather-appropriate layers, hat, gloves or mittens and boots if needed! And if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere it’s warm today, wear layers you can remove if needed.

What are you waiting for? Find your polling place and go vote!

🗳️ Dr. B

Restaurants May Be Riskier for COVID-19 Than We Think

classic interior of cafe with vintage chandeliers and furniture
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Welcome back to another week! If your kids’ school year has begun, whether remotely, on-site or on a hybrid schedule, I hope it’s going well and they’re staying safe and healthy!

If you live in a northern climate, then the weather’s probably getting chillier and after six months of social distancing, the call of your favorite restaurant or café may be getting more and more attractive. Unfortunately, a recent study published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) suggests that spending time in restaurants, bars and coffee shops during the COVID-19 pandemic may be one of the riskiest choices we could make.

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Back to School or Distance Learning?

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It’s hard to believe it’s already August. If you’re a parent like me, that means that pretty soon, if you haven’t already, you’re going to need to decide whether to send your children back to school, do distance learning this fall, or some combination. I’m not going to lie and tell you that it’s a simple decision. It’s complex and depends on many factors: your child’s age, any high-risk conditions they or other people living in your household have, the current level of COVID-19 in your local area, your own ability to do distance learning and/or your child’s needs for on-site services, and how prepared your school is to protect your children from the spread of COVID-19.

In this week’s post, I’m going to review the available evidence, prominent expert statements on whether schools should reopen, and share resources to help you make your decision.

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