1/x With #COVID19 cases skyrocketing all over the US, holiday meals are going to be very dangerous. To show the risks of meeting indoors I used an #aerosol box model to estimate relative the risks.

Maybe this can help you re-think your plans to gather.
drive.google.com/file/d/1xmN0e4…
2/x The #WellsRiley model has been used for decades, was put online recently by @jljcolorado & others as a #COVID19 viral aerosol transmission tool. In July I re-wrote the model onto a different platform @Wavemetrics #IgorPro so I could manipulate faster.
tinyurl.com/covid-estimator
3/x Modeled only room-mixed #aerosol (not droplet spray or aerosol plume; these add risk).

Results highlights:
- No matter the room size, infection for 10 people is at least 40% or much more
- If #superspreader there, everyone will be infected
- Outside, risk drops dramatically
4/x - As expected, the simple model shows ventilation matters and adding a HEPA filter unit to a fairly small dining room drops risk by as much as 3x.
- Opening windows can help a lot too.

See e.g. tinyurl.com/portableaircle… by @ShellyMBoulder @j_g_allen @cedenolaurent for more.
5/x – Monitoring carbon dioxide (rough proxy for exhaled breath) can be related to aerosol risk (varies)
- Depending on room size, one modeled relationship between CO2 and aerosol risk below
- See e.g. tinyurl.com/FAQ-aerosols for (Sect. 9) ideas to monitor #COVIDCO2 for <$150
6/x Summary of #COVID19 #aerosol modeling:

There is *significant* risk by meeting indoors for holiday meal. Largely b/c no #masks during eating and drinking. With a 10-guest gathering, very possible someone will be infected. If #superspreader, everyone will be infected!
7/x Risk modeled here is *only* for room-mixed #aerosol. Total risk much higher (challenging, but maybe several times), because droplet spray and nearby aerosol plume could be dominant from close sources (at a table). This is the focus of CDC & WHO.
cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…
8/x Other details here, in doc; you can see specific risk relationships by reducing gathering time, number of guests, adding #filtration, #ventilation, etc.

Summary - Far best simply to *avoid* gathering indoors this year for #Thanksgiving. #COVID19 is just too dangerous atm.
9/x Details: Model version checked against online tool. Base assumptions: 10 guests, 2 hr, 2.5% inf rate, 80 q/hr inf emission (see doc).

Numerical assumptions can be challenged; happy to discuss, improve. Point was to offer quickly for discussion wrt Thanksgiving #COVID risk.
11/x Many good recent resources on risks, especially including restaurants and bars. These suggest same reasons as for holiday meals: no masks, closed spaces, mixed households, loud talking, (alcohol).

by @Prof_Lowe

13/x Through all of this, layered prevention is absolutely key. But YOU can control your #mask, #socialdistance, shared time #indoors and choose places with adequate #ventilation. This is why restaurant and holiday meals are so risky.
14/x For more resources on #aerosols and #airborne spread of the pandemic as you make holiday or #Thanksgiving plans, peruse articles and lots of other resources on #transmission and #prevention of #COVID19 here: bit.ly/3fzmB16

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More from @HuffmanLabDU

15 Nov
1/ Apparently #OSHA has updated guidance on #ventilation in the workplace wrt to #COVID19 prevention. See thread 👇by @AliNouriPhD.

BUT ... I looked into their explanations on how SARS-CoV-2 is spread & precautions. Their statements are woefully insufficient or inaccurate.
2/ Specific OSHA guidance on ventilation is weak, but okay. Tho "Ensure all HVAC systems are fully functional" or "Upgrade to MERV 13 or higher filters where feasible" isn't exactly ground-breaking at this point.

Direct doc link (no post date, but today?)
osha.gov/Publications/O…
3/ More shocking to me is that the #OSHA summary of "How does COVID-19 spread?" reflects all sorts of inaccurate or unclear statements that were never true & that most agencies eventually expunged long ago.
Read 8 tweets
14 Sep
At least five great webinars / learning opportunities on airborne COVID & aerosols this week. See Tab 7 (Live Webinars) here for links & previous webinars/recordings: bit.ly/3fzmB16; links for this week in thread.
[Let me know if I’ve missed any]
(1/4)
Webinars this week including (all times Eastern):
Today (9/14: <1 hr from now): Dr. Lidia Morawksa & @j_g_allen
(Aerosols & school re-opening)

9/15 (2pm): @linseymarr
(Research into airborne transmission of inf. disease)
(2/4)
Webinars this week including (all times Eastern):
9/15 (2pm): @jljcolorado
(Minimizing airborne transmission of COVID indoors)

9/17 (11:30am): @Smogdr
(Mask Design 101: A bootcamp for personal coverings during COVID-19)
(3/4)
Read 5 tweets

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