THREAD:
Hi everyone. I'm a writer. I'm also a scientist with a training in microbiology and virology.
I've just decided to skip #AWP this year.
1) The risk for me personally is very *very* low. That's not what this is about.
Hi everyone. I'm a writer. I'm also a scientist with a training in microbiology and virology.
I've just decided to skip #AWP this year.
1) The risk for me personally is very *very* low. That's not what this is about.
2) There are high risk people in my communities, though, and I don't think we can just imagine that "only X and Y people die of this so it isn't a problem."
3) It appears we are at the beginning stages of community transmission in the US.
4) In these stages, social distancing can make a huge impact on the rate of spread of the virus. What's social distancing, you ask? Well: Not going to a giant conference of thousands of writers from all over the country and world. Not if it's not necessary. For me, it isn't.
5) This is a personal choice based on my interpretation of the data we have for cases in the US right now (limited) and my convos with fellow scientists who backed up my own gut feeling.
6) Those of us who can should do the utmost possible to protect people at risk by trying to make sure they never meet this virus. It might require some sacrifice for a bit. That's ok! I'm worried about my students, and I want to not increase their risk of illness either.
7) I'm not judging anyone who's making different choices than I am, and this thing was a tough call for me. I hope these types of actions aren't going to be necessary.
8) My gut – and my reading of all the data we have – tells me they are.
