Thread by @juliettekayyem

THREAD FOR YOU: How do YOU open safely?
We’ve spent much time on criteria for govs/institutions, we may have left out group most likely to effectively minimize risk, you.
How? It’s easy test: 3Ms
Minimize contact intensity;
Manage # of contacts;
Maximize mitigation policies

I woke up this morning to this pretty powerful @TheAtlantic @JuliaLMarcus column: despite all the information and data, or maybe because of it, Americans aren’t getting advice they need. 2/
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

People who do what I do work in bulk, meaning we plan for what will have the greatest influence but know it’s not ideal. Sure there are outliers, but if we can solve 80% of a problem by defining proper conduct, that’s pretty good. No perfectionists in our professions.3/

We are entering an adaptive recovery stage whose success will depend a lot on individual behavior, in bulk. What it means is that if we can just reimagine what engagement looks like, and your responsibility to others, we can limit harm, but we aren’t looking for perfect. 4/

That’s where we are now. Risk reduction. Not risk elimination. We will live like this awhile. We will learn a lot. We will adapt. So I’ll try to make it easier 5/

What you can do (gov rules, etc) is different than what you want to do. And what you want to do is going to be based on a risk calculation that has 3 components to get you moving again. 6/

1)Minimize intensity of contacts. Contact should limit a respiratory virus that can spread through sharing of fluids or contact. Take up golf, running or surfing. I’m not keen on gyms yet. Outdoors. Even dating ok, but take it slow. More Hallmark than HBO. 7/

2)Manage the number of Contacts. It’s a numbers game. This is inherently obvious. The more people in a confined space, the more likely a single carrier will become a spreader. Choose outdoors. Practice your faith creatively. Do couples drinks, at someone’s home outside. 8/

3)Maximize Mitigation. This is you. All you. Masks, gloves, 6 feet or more, social distance default life, stay home if under weather. Be kind and courteous. Make sure if you go to restaurant or a church, they are practicing same. 9/

So just think about what you want to do outside work and school. Put it through the test. I’m walking with girlfriends. Drinks outdoors with couple friends. No gyms, but running with mask. Surf and bike. Have not been to restaurant yet (MA just opening) and may wait 10/

I’m 50 yo, no preconditions, but 3 kids so my risk calculation different than theirs. Kids (teens) allowed to bike and skateboard with masks but no going to homes. 1 or 2 friends can come by to sit distanced/masked outside. 11/

Oldest kid is with friends away for 2 weeks. They isolated before and during. There is risk but we tried to minimize it. My salon isn’t open but I’ll go for cut when it does so long as they follow same rules. 12/

I have no plans for flights, yet, and likely will stay put until we see what summer is like re the virus. I go to markets, and farmers markets, and other retail if they satisfy same criteria. 13/

And I’ll reassess in a few weeks. Everyone should. We simply don’t know how well we can manage. A long time ago (6 weeks) I warned of strange purgatory we were entering, coined the “adaptive recovery” stage where we learned to live with virus, daily. 14/
amp.theatlantic.com/amp/article/61…

I wish I hadn’t used purgatory. Too negative. So we just reimagine the next few weeks, then reimagine them again and again. There will be more ways to help us live with the virus (tests, tracing, treatments, eventually a vaccine). But this period lasts until further notice. 15/

Our success has moved from measuring gov efforts alone to relying on all of ours. So head out. Shake off those cobwebs. #OpenSafely your home. Show us your greys.
I’m outraged, still, and hopeful. Must be both in my field. And let’s talk in a few weeks.
#reimagine2020
16/16