Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #Nerdygirls
Most recents (11)
1/ It’s Good News Tues!
Yesterday, the United States @CDCgov issued new guidelines stating that 👏🏼 fully 👏🏼vaccinated 👏🏼 people can safely:
1️⃣ Visit other #vaccinated people indoors--without wearing masks or physically distancing! 😷
Yesterday, the United States @CDCgov issued new guidelines stating that 👏🏼 fully 👏🏼vaccinated 👏🏼 people can safely:
1️⃣ Visit other #vaccinated people indoors--without wearing masks or physically distancing! 😷
2/ 2️⃣ Visit unvaccinated people--without wearing masks or physical distancing, as long as the unvaccinated people (& the people they live with) are low risk for severe #COVID!
bit.ly/3qymfgT
bit.ly/3qymfgT
3/ 3️⃣ Skip #quarantine & testing if they are exposed to someone who has #COVID19! But, do monitor for symptoms for 14 days, get tested, & start quarantining if symptoms develop. Remember, symptoms can be all over the map, & might be quite mild (especially after vaccination).
1/ Q: Can I go back to my indoor #fitness classes? 🚴♀️
A: The #NerdyGirls LOVE your efforts to stay fit 💪, but best to hang on to those online or outdoor workouts a bit longer.
TL;DR: Heavy breathing, no masks, and indoors is the perfect recipe for #SARSCoV2 #transmission.
A: The #NerdyGirls LOVE your efforts to stay fit 💪, but best to hang on to those online or outdoor workouts a bit longer.
TL;DR: Heavy breathing, no masks, and indoors is the perfect recipe for #SARSCoV2 #transmission.
2/ A recent U.S. @CDCgov report described an #outbreak linked to an unnamed fitness facility in #Chicago in which *55 out of 81* attendees of an indoor high-intensity fitness class in Chicago were infected over the course of a week in August 2020.
3/ ❓What precautions were being taken?
➡️ The classes were at <25% capacity, with masks 😷, temperature & symptom checks required at entry. 🤒 Exercise mats were spaced 6 feet/2 meters apart. ↔️
➡️ The classes were at <25% capacity, with masks 😷, temperature & symptom checks required at entry. 🤒 Exercise mats were spaced 6 feet/2 meters apart. ↔️
Dear Pandemic community-We are so grateful to each and every one of you for coming along with us on this strange, surprising, and often difficult journey. We’ve grown so much this past year--as individuals and as a community. #HappyThanksgiving #scicomm #Nerdygirls 
We are so grateful for our readers and especially all our volunteers. Dear Pandemic’s contributions wouldn’t exist without all of you. Thank you to our followers for trusting us. You give us purpose every day.
Thank you for your commitment to facts. Thank you for asking questions instead of making assumptions. Thanks for laughing at the absurdities of our situation along with us. & most of all, thank you for keeping the candle of hope burning for a brighter future. #hope
1/ Q: Thinking about #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek: is there anything new I can try to improve my mental health during the #COVID19 crisis?
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Read on
A: Yes, there is and there is hope! Read on
2/ Let's start with the facts. A recent report from @KFF estimates 45% of Americans suffered worse mental health since start of the pandemic:
kff.org/health-reform/…
It appears that more than the 1 in 5 Americans struggle with their mental health in a given year.
kff.org/health-reform/…
It appears that more than the 1 in 5 Americans struggle with their mental health in a given year.
3/ So perhaps the good news is that, because we are all experiencing this together, more and more resources are popping up every day. And for the #nerdygirls, this also means we will be getting more data (and hopefully more answers on what works/doesn't work).
1/ Q: I keep hearing about a move towards a "harm reduction" phase of the #pandemic response. What does this mean?
A: The article linked below defines it as policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity."
A: The article linked below defines it as policies and practices designed to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of a particular activity."
2/ Some examples of #publichealth harm reduction programs are needle exchange programs, where individuals using injected drugs can exchange used needles for clean ones. This lowers incidence of infections for which needle reuse increases risk of transmission.
3/ The emphasis is on reducing harm caused by something when it cannot be prevented entirely.
(1/6)
Q: Is it morbid or wrong to start a conversation about end-of-life wishes with my family right now?
A: Not at all. Talking about death can feel uncomfortable, but there are several benefits to doing this early and often.
Q: Is it morbid or wrong to start a conversation about end-of-life wishes with my family right now?
A: Not at all. Talking about death can feel uncomfortable, but there are several benefits to doing this early and often.
(2/6)
First, it’s really easy to misunderstand your family members’ wishes without a specific conversation. Opportunities to have conversations are better suited BEFORE death is imminent. Waiting until a family member is in the hospital or unable to communicate is often too late.
First, it’s really easy to misunderstand your family members’ wishes without a specific conversation. Opportunities to have conversations are better suited BEFORE death is imminent. Waiting until a family member is in the hospital or unable to communicate is often too late.
(3/6)
Second, conversations about end-of-life can highlight individual priorities and life goals. Talking about what is important at end-of-life could refocus how time and energy is spent while living life.
Second, conversations about end-of-life can highlight individual priorities and life goals. Talking about what is important at end-of-life could refocus how time and energy is spent while living life.
(1/15)
Q: What actually is #HerdImmunity anyway?
The #nerdygirls explain what it is and how it might be achieved in this thread
Q: What actually is #HerdImmunity anyway?
The #nerdygirls explain what it is and how it might be achieved in this thread
(2/15)
A: The term "herd immunity" refers to a situation where a lot of people in a population are not susceptible to a virus--either because they have already had it and are unlikely to get it again, or because they've been vaccinated.
A: The term "herd immunity" refers to a situation where a lot of people in a population are not susceptible to a virus--either because they have already had it and are unlikely to get it again, or because they've been vaccinated.
(3/15) That is to say, their immune systems have been primed to respond to the virus, and they won't get infected with it when they are exposed again.
If a lot of people are immune, the virus has a hard time finding a host that it can infect, replicate, and spread to a new host.
If a lot of people are immune, the virus has a hard time finding a host that it can infect, replicate, and spread to a new host.
Q: What's the latest testing news?!
A: The @US_FDA has granted emergency authorization to pharmaceutical company @Roche for a new antibody test that is much more accurate than existing options.
Quick reminder about antibody testing: It provides information about PAST infections
A: The @US_FDA has granted emergency authorization to pharmaceutical company @Roche for a new antibody test that is much more accurate than existing options.
Quick reminder about antibody testing: It provides information about PAST infections
Reason for optimism: The new test has much (!) better accuracy than others on the market, with a 1 in 500 false positive rate.
@qz explains: "If 5% of 1,000 people have #coronavirus, then, using the [the first authorized antibody test], a positive result stands only 49.5% chance of being correct. Using the Roche test on that same population, a positive result is 96% likely to be correct."
(1/10)
Q: Does wearing a #clothmask protect me, or protect others?
A: Mostly others, but if we all wear them in places where maintaining an adequate distance from others is challenging, we can all potentially protect each other.
Q: Does wearing a #clothmask protect me, or protect others?
A: Mostly others, but if we all wear them in places where maintaining an adequate distance from others is challenging, we can all potentially protect each other.
(2/10)
The key to understanding this is distinguishing transmission via ingress vs. egress.
For the most part, discussion of mask use early in the pandemic focused on preventing INGRESS: transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from sick individuals to #healthcare workers
The key to understanding this is distinguishing transmission via ingress vs. egress.
For the most part, discussion of mask use early in the pandemic focused on preventing INGRESS: transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from sick individuals to #healthcare workers
(3/10)
#ppe, such as medical-grade respirator masks, can prevent aerosol transmission to health care workers who must be in close contact with patients and/or perform medical procedures. (hence the emphasis on making sure such masks are available to this group).
#ppe, such as medical-grade respirator masks, can prevent aerosol transmission to health care workers who must be in close contact with patients and/or perform medical procedures. (hence the emphasis on making sure such masks are available to this group).
(1/11)
Q: What might socializing look like when #ShelterInPlace orders are lifted?
A: #SocialDistancing will remain important when shelter-in-place orders are lifted. More about what to expect in this thread
Q: What might socializing look like when #ShelterInPlace orders are lifted?
A: #SocialDistancing will remain important when shelter-in-place orders are lifted. More about what to expect in this thread
(2/11)
For many regions, the elements needed to reopen society have not yet been achieved:
📉declining rates of infection,
🧪adequate testing supply, and
👥the ability to trace the contacts of new infections to appropriately isolate and treat.
For many regions, the elements needed to reopen society have not yet been achieved:
📉declining rates of infection,
🧪adequate testing supply, and
👥the ability to trace the contacts of new infections to appropriately isolate and treat.
(3/11)
When shelter-in-place orders are lifted, restructuring social networks is one approach to minimizing the spread of infection.
When shelter-in-place orders are lifted, restructuring social networks is one approach to minimizing the spread of infection.
Q: Help! I am confused by all of the various types of #COVID__19 tests!
A: @NPR has a great cheat sheet describing the three major types of #COVID tests under discussion: #PCR, #antibodies, and #antigen tests. More detail in this thread.
A: @NPR has a great cheat sheet describing the three major types of #COVID tests under discussion: #PCR, #antibodies, and #antigen tests. More detail in this thread.
(1) PCR Tests for CURRENTLY ACTIVE infections via identification of genetic material in mucus;
(2) Antibodies Test for PAST INFECTIONS in the blood;
(3) Antigen - Test for CURRENTLY ACTIVE infections via identification of proteins in nose and throat secretions.
(2) Antibodies Test for PAST INFECTIONS in the blood;
(3) Antigen - Test for CURRENTLY ACTIVE infections via identification of proteins in nose and throat secretions.
There's an ACCURACY VERSUS SPEED trade-off across the numerous variants of these tests.
Cheap, quick tests such as Abbott's rapid PCR test can be great *screening* tools, but are not-so-hot *formal diagnostic* tools.
Cheap, quick tests such as Abbott's rapid PCR test can be great *screening* tools, but are not-so-hot *formal diagnostic* tools.
