1/ Q: My loved one has been out #marching over the past few days. What about #COVIDー19 and other safety risks associated with #protests and #marches?
A: Here are some #HarmReduction strategies for both the protestor side AND the law enforcement/government side:
2/ Ground Rules: don't go out if you are ill. If you do go out, try to practice #SocialDistancing (staying 6 feet apart) and try not to touch your face.
3/ Tips for individual protestors:
😷 Wear a #mask and keep it on. You will be in close proximity to others and also potentially yelling/singing (which may increase risk through increased projection of viral droplets).
4/
🧴 Carry #handsanitizer. If you can't get to a place where you can wash your hands, this is very important.
🧼Wash your hands and shower when you return home to reduce any additional risk.
5/ Plan for exposure to chemical irritants like tear gas. These can travel far and you can be exposed even if you are not directly involved.
👓 Contact lenses are more likely to trap irritants, so wear glasses.
🥽 Consider safety goggles or swim goggles for extra protection.
6/
🚰 Carry water for drinking and to wash irritants out of eyes/skin. Use a bottle with a squirt top to be used in the eyes if needed.
🧢Wear suncreen/hat/long pants/sleeves. This will protect you from sunburn as well as exposure to chemical irritants.
7/
👟 Wear shoes you can walk and run in so that you may move quickly.
🍎 Carry your own snacks to minimize interactions with others.
#⃣ Write down important numbers in the event that you are separated from your phone or run out of battery.
8/
👭Go with people and/or let others know your location. Try to go with people who are close household contacts to make contact tracing slightly easier.
👤 Isolate for 14 days and get tested for #Covid_19 if you develop symptoms after you attend.
9/
💞Allow yourself time to process, rest, and talk to loved ones after participating. It can be an emotionally exhausting experience to participate in an event.
10/ If you're on the side of law enforcement or local/state authorities:
🚫Experts recommend against tear gas and other chemical irritants. We don't know the risks of these chemical agents. But they likely induce coughing and sneezing, which increases the risk of transmission
11/
6⃣ Promote physical distancing. Do not force crowds into small spaces where they are not able to maintain the 6 feet rule.
📢 Use loudspeakers, megaphones, or noise makers in place of yelling. This will help to project the message while minimizing risks.
12/ These strategies are all about harm reduction. While most activities carry risks, we can minimize cumulative and collective risks.
We are thinking of all of you during this difficult time and hope these tips can empower you to minimize risks in your daily lives!
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1/ Q: Has almost everyone been infected with COVID by now?
A: Recent estimates suggest around 58% of the population in the US and over 70% in England have been previously infected, with BIG increases during the Omicron wave.
3/ ➡️ During the Omicron wave from December 2021-February 2022, this estimate increased from 33% to 58%.
➡️ Rates vary a lot by age, ranging from 33.2% for those over age 65 to 75% for those under age 18.
2/ Not likely. If your kids are suddenly getting sick a lot, this is likely due to “catching up” on exposures rather than a weakened immune system.
3/ Many families w/ young kids have been hunkered down for the better part of 2 years– a good % of a young child’s entire life. While isolation had *many* downsides, we can agree that not having to suction snot out of infant noses or clean up norovirus puke was a happy upside.
1/ Q: Are cases peaking? That means it’s all downhill from here, right?
A: Sort of…. Remember that even if cases come down as quickly as they rise, there will be as many cases *after* the peak as before (think area under the curve).
2/ ➡️ And if the downward slope is *slower* than the rise, we will see *more* cases during the decline from a surge.
3/ Burning fast could be a silver lining of super transmissible #Omicron. Cases rose & fell quickly in S. Africa (w/ hospitalizations & deaths still lagging). The UK appears to have turned the Omicron corner. Many US states appear past their peak in cases, w/ regional variation:
Unfortunately, this includes New Year’s Eve plans. The perfect storm of a new variant & holiday get-togethers is hitting communities & health care w/ FORCE! Testing is in short supply.
3/ Health care is under extreme pressure with surging cases. If you can avoid even one additional contact, you are helping. This is a temporary and urgent request (from a health care provider).