Welcome to PopSci's #COVID19 Twitter Q&A. We’re here to provide informed, measured answers to your questions about the global coronavirus pandemic. Reply below or use the #AskPopSci hashtag to submit a question. Our DMs are also open.
Answering your questions today: Articles Editor @RachelFeltman, Associate Editor @camaldarelli, and Assistant Editor @schodosh. Let's get started:
Whether you can get tested depends a lot on where you live. Your best bet is to call your doctor’s office or local hospital to check whether you’re eligible for a test. If not, self-quarantining may be your best bet, as long as your symptoms aren’t severe. -SC #AskPopSci
The short answer: use whatever you've got! The way hand washing works means that the mere act of sudsing (for 20-30 seconds) packs the biggest punch. Here’s why: popsci.com/story/health/w…
And here’s how to do it properly: popsci.com/story/health/h…
-RF #AskPopSci
And here’s how to do it properly: popsci.com/story/health/h…
-RF #AskPopSci
(cont’d) It’s true bar soaps can harbor microorganisms, but studies show these bugs don’t have much luck transferring to our skin when we wash. Keep the bar dry to limit risk even more. The important thing: do a proper 20-sec scrub once you’ve lathered! vice.com/en_us/article/…
(cont’d) The best evidence we've got says antimicrobial additives don't significantly improve soap performance, and there's evidence that their presence in our wastewater can increase antibiotic resistance. But if that’s all you can find, use it! popsci.com/how-to-wash-yo…
(cont’d) And remember—all kinds of soap are more effective than hand sanitizer, as long as you wash your hands using the proper protocol!
popsci.com/story/health/h…
But sanitizer is better than nothing in a pinch. Here’s a DIY recipe: popsci.com/story/diy/diy-…
-RF #AskPopSci
popsci.com/story/health/h…
But sanitizer is better than nothing in a pinch. Here’s a DIY recipe: popsci.com/story/diy/diy-…
-RF #AskPopSci
Chronic conditions like diabetes can suppress immune function and damage organs or other bodily systems, which makes it harder for your body to properly respond to an infection. Other respiratory infections can also compound the effects from #COVID19 in the lungs. -SC #AskPopSci
1. We don’t know the exact life on every surface, but it ranges from a few hours in the air to 2-3 days on plastic or steel.
2. Soap destroys viruses like #COVID19, so the detergent should suffice. Check out the CDC site for more details: cdc.gov/coronavirus/20… -SC #AskPopSci
2. Soap destroys viruses like #COVID19, so the detergent should suffice. Check out the CDC site for more details: cdc.gov/coronavirus/20… -SC #AskPopSci
This is the best resource I've seen on the subject: theatlantic.com/family/archive…
TL;DR you want to keep a few feet away from other people and sanitize any surfaces you might spit/sweat on, so a lot of this comes down to where and when you're hoping to go out. -RF #AskPopSci
TL;DR you want to keep a few feet away from other people and sanitize any surfaces you might spit/sweat on, so a lot of this comes down to where and when you're hoping to go out. -RF #AskPopSci
Because SARS-CoV-2 is so new to us, we aren’t certain how many strains it may have mutated into or how quickly it can do so. More info here: livescience.com/coronavirus-mu…
But it is perfectly normal for a virus to mutate, and to do so rapidly: popsci.com/influenza-b-is…
-RF #AskPopSci
But it is perfectly normal for a virus to mutate, and to do so rapidly: popsci.com/influenza-b-is…
-RF #AskPopSci
After viral infections, including the common cold, most people develop immunity to that virus which can last anywhere from a few weeks (typically more than 3) to a few years to a lifetime. Because the outbreak is so new, it’s too soon to predict average immunity. -CM #AskPopSci
Data out of China suggests mild cases last for ~2 weeks. We don't yet know how long a person is contagious, so it's important to keep hand-washing and avoid touching your face or making close contact for weeks after you've had symptoms. -RF #AskPopSci ourworldindata.org/coronavirus#ho…
Fever and headache are common symptoms of #COVID19. Unlike the flu, though, these symptoms tend to come on more gradually, over several days. Fever is rare with a cold, which also includes gradual symptoms. -CM #AskPopSci
Reference chart: instagram.com/p/B9mM_MDhvwT/
Reference chart: instagram.com/p/B9mM_MDhvwT/
It’s highly unlikely to contract #COVID19 twice. Infectious diseases trigger an immune response to recognize the virus and prevent this. Reinfection might happen in immunocompromised people, though that’s rare. More likely, the virus could linger for longer than experts suspect.
Friends, we’re going to answer the questions submitted to this point and call it a *chat*. If you have additional #COVID19 questions, please email us at ask@popsci.com or use the #AskPopSci hashtag, which we always monitor. We’ll do our best to address in future coverage.
There's no reason to believe the virus was engineered. Other kinds of coronavirus have jumped to us from non-human animals before, and it's very likely that's what happened here. -RF #AskPopSci popsci.com/story/health/w…
DM: "Are people with autism and/or epilepsy more at risk of #COVID19?”
People with autism aren’t known to have higher risk, but viral infections can be a trigger for those with epilepsy so look to the American Epilepsy Society for more info aesnet.org/about_aes/posi… -SC #AskPopSci
People with autism aren’t known to have higher risk, but viral infections can be a trigger for those with epilepsy so look to the American Epilepsy Society for more info aesnet.org/about_aes/posi… -SC #AskPopSci
DM: “Is it safe to carry on my sex life? What measures should be taken?”
If you have a committed partner and don't have symptoms, it's ok to carry on as usual. If one of you is sick, avoid close contact of all kinds. [1/2]
If you have a committed partner and don't have symptoms, it's ok to carry on as usual. If one of you is sick, avoid close contact of all kinds. [1/2]
If you're having sex with multiple people, it would be wise to limit yourself to virtual contact (or at least not get physically intimate) with those that live outside your household for the next few weeks. -RF #AskPopSci [2/2]
CAR T and other immunotherapies help retrain your immune system to fight cancer, which usually sneaks past our immune systems. Most people with #COVID19 generate an immune response to the coronavirus. Right now, it seems more likely a vaccine will be developed. -CM #AskPopSci
There’s no vaccine or treatment to prevent #COVID19, but maintaining a healthy immune system is the best way to help your body fight the virus. Eating a healthy diet is a key way to keep your immune system in top shape. Another key is getting 8 hours of sleep! -CM #AskPopSci
Being in a space with lots of other people puts you at higher risk than if you were home alone. Takeout is preferable. Though the virus originated in China, Chinese restaurants have absolutely nothing to do with the virus, so support your local businesses! -SC #AskPopSci
(Remember, soap and water is better when you can manage it!) I'd recommend doing a patch test if you have sensitive skin—use a bit, as directed, on a small spot on the inside of your wrist and wait 15 minutes. -RF #AskPopSci
Our DIY sanitizer recipe: popsci.com/story/diy/diy-…
Our DIY sanitizer recipe: popsci.com/story/diy/diy-…
We don't yet know enough about #COVID19 for there to be a timeline for this, but luckily the advice is still pretty clear: If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, isolate yourself at home to avoid risk of transmission to others. [1/3]
If you are considered high risk for #COVID19 complications or have particular reason to believe you might be infected (i.e. friend/family diagnosed) call your doctor to ask for advice. Do NOT go to the doctor without calling ahead if you have ANY upper-respiratory symptoms. [2/3]
Otherwise, reach out to your doctor if you experience chest pain or shortness of breath—length doesn't matter. Do not go to the doctor due to prolonged mild symptoms. There is no treatment for #COVID19, so self-isolation is still best for mild symptoms. -RF #AskPopsci [3/3]
We won't know #COVID19's mortality rate for sure until we're confident we have a good estimate for the number of mild, cold-like cases worldwide. Right now, we definitely don't have enough data to be certain. popsci.com/story/health/c… -RF #AskPopSci
We don't yet know how climate affects this particular microbe, but many upper respiratory infections spread more effectively in winter (dry, cold climates) for a variety of reasons. All we can confidently expect is a slight dip: ccdd.hsph.harvard.edu/will-covid-19-… [1/2]
Some epidemiologists suggest #COVID19, because of its generally mild symptoms, will persist like the flu—dipping and peaking year to year. But as we build immunity to it and develop vaccines and treatments, it should pose much less of a threat in the future. -RF #AskPopSci [2/2]
Thanks for joining our #COVID19 Twitter Q&A!
Reminder: If you have additional questions, please email us at ask@popsci.com or use the #AskPopSci hashtag, which we always monitor. We’ll do our best to address in future coverage.
Now go wash your hands!
Reminder: If you have additional questions, please email us at ask@popsci.com or use the #AskPopSci hashtag, which we always monitor. We’ll do our best to address in future coverage.
Now go wash your hands!
