epiellie

I am very unhappy about these new guidelines. The CDC's recommendation is based on the fact that a negative test doesn't guarantee that someone is uninfected (which is true), but then erroneously assumes the purpose of asymptomatic testing is to diagnose people. In fact, as I explained in an earlier reply, the purpose of asymptomatic testing is to interrupt transmission chains. We know that people can transmit when not (yet) symptomatic, so we should be testing asymptomatic people. In the absence of testing, we should be quarantining asymptomatic individuals for 14 days following exposure. The new CDC guidelines recommend neither and this will directly lead to worsening of our ability to control COVID.

This is a great idea, but I hadn't thought of it before now. I'll put something together after the AMA and come back with a link.

If you have access to your own vehicle, then day trips to less crowded areas are absolutely the way to go. This is what I've been doing and it's a great way to shake off the lockdown blues. If you need a bit of a longer escape, the hotel industry does seem to be taking transmission seriously -- they want your business so they want you to feel safe. My advice, call around to find somewhere that can tell you whether they have HEPA filters (good), or windows that can open (also good). Ask what changes they've implemented to reduce transmission. If they can give a good detailed answer, then you're probably safe to stay there. If you do decide on a hotel, I'd recommend staying multiple nights in one place versus one night each in multiple places. Also remember that best practices are to do a 14 day quarantine before you go to a new place (so you don't take the virus there) and after you get home (so you don't bring it back).

Ideally, you'd wash a mask whenever you wear it but let's face it that's unrealistic. If you're only wearing the mask for a short period, you have a couple other options. (1) assume it's not dirty & just take the slight risk of wearing it again; (2) hang it in the sunshine for a little while so that if there was anything on it, it gets degraded -- what a 'little while' means is not really well specified but every extra minute reduces the chances there's any virus on your mask.

This is a question I've been asked many times and I go back and forth on the right answer, but the reason is that there isn't a clear aspect of either approach that makes it safer or more risky. Both have risks and both have benefits. My advice: choose the one that makes you feel more comfortable, because less anxiety & fear is better.