Thread by @seananmcguire

C2E2 and ECCC are both almost upon us; big trade show season is officially underway. Unfortunately, so is flu season and, as a special treat this year, novel Coronavirus season.

Because my love of epidemiology and pandemic response is well documented, people have been asking me what they should do to avoid getting sick. The simple answer? Stay home.

And by this I don't just mean "skip the shows." I mean "stay home literally forever, see no one, touch nothing, quarantine yourself in a bubble." This is obviously not possible for all, or even most, people.

Leaving your house should not be considered a risky behavior! But when we're talking airborne pathogens, it can be. So here are some steps you can ACTUALLY, plausibly, take.

Step one: Get your flu shot (unless there is a medical reason you can't).
Step two: People who can't get the shot exist; get yours to help protect them.
Step three: GET YOUR FLU SHOT.

This year's shot does not protect against some of the nastier strains in circulation--every year, we make a "best guess" flu vaccine, and sometimes those projections are wrong. This was one of those years. The flu shot will not protect you at all from the Coronavirus.

That said, you know what will make the Coronavirus hit you a lot harder if you happen to catch it? Having the flu. This is a blended cocktail you do not want. One little jab with a needle can help you avoid it.

The fact that the shot is imperfect doesn't mean the shot is useless! What we call "the flu" is actually a whole bunch of strains of influenza having a party in the populace. I would rather block SOME of the potential shitty guests than NONE of them.

This is one of the worst flu seasons in a long, long time. Like, it's bad, y'all. And it's going to get worse, thanks to anti-science chuckleheads saying that probiotics/juice cleanses/mindful visualization/Jesus (seriously what even)/racism will protect them from getting sick.

A lot of people conflate "having a cold" with "getting the flu." I mean, "I have the flu" sounds way more impressive when you're calling out sick from work (and thank you for calling out sick, you are doing quarantine's work).

Having a cold is not the same as getting the flu. Colds are, on the whole*, milder than most flu strains. You take some NyQuil, talk to the moon lobsters, sleep, and feel better.

(*Exceptions exist; colds can kill people. But they mostly don't.)

If a cold is a nice little domesticated doggie, like a French bulldog made of mucus, the flu is Cujo. Angry, angry, big dog, going for your face, because it's RIGHT THERE and the flu WANTS it.

If you feel like you've been hit by a train, if muscles you weren't sure existed ache, if your HAIR hurts, you probably have the flu.

The flu kills people.
The flu kills children.
The flu kills the elderly.
The flu kills the immunocompromised.
The flu kills whoever the fuck it wants to kill.
The flu is not here to make friends; it's here to win.

But you're not worried about the flu (even though you should be). You're worried about the novel Coronavirus. Fine. It does have the word "novel," which means it's new and scary, and fortunately a lot of the same common sense measures will help you.

First off, carry hand sanitizer. You can get airport-approved bottles from most drug stores (3 oz. or less). Wipe your hands down any time you touch anything.

Secondly, remember that hand sanitizer is not a replacement for washing your hands. With hot water, and soap, for the length of two verses of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

Antibacterial soap will not keep you safe from viruses. So the sort of soap isn't as important as the length and thoroughness of the washing.

Try to avoid touching things, like door handles, in public bathrooms. If you must, use your sleeve to cover your hand. Not everyone believes in Seanan's Handwashing Tips.

If you cough or sneeze, do it into your elbow, not your hand. Pretend to be Count Dracula, it's fun! But always, always, cover your nose and mouth. You're not cool enough to have designer pathogens.

Try not to touch people. Yes, this includes celebrities and creative professionals that you're just so excited to meet. If you shake hands with me at a signing, you're shaking hands with everyone I've touched that day. Ew.

If you do touch people--if sticking out your hand is so automatic that you don't even notice--don't be offended when they immediately use hand sanitizer afterward.

Don't share water bottles. If you want to share food, break off a piece, don't fluid-bond over a cookie.

Take care of yourself! Get as much sleep as your body needs, drink plenty of fluids, and eat something green once in a while. "An apple a day" may not really work, but pretend you're avoiding scurvy and go ALL IN on that vitamin C.

Don't be a racist ass. If someone of Asian descent sneezes near you, that doesn't mean they have the Coronavirus and we're all going to die. I live in Seattle and traveled recently to Chicago. My chances of infection are higher than theirs.

It's a good idea to carry disinfecting wipes and wipe down your seat and tray table on an airplane before you fly, just for the sake of your general health. Bring enough to share, be the most popular person on the plane.*

(*Environmental allergies exist, but most common brands of wipe are less harsh than the industrial cleaners used on planes between flights. Someone who can stand those cleaners will probably be okay with anything you can carry.)

Finally, try to be aware of how often you touch your face, and don't do it if you can help it. I wear mascara when I want to be aware of touching my eyes. Touching your face speeds transmission enormously.

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay sensible, and stay humane.