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Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
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10 Feb, 5 tweets, 5 min read
1/ You've surely seen constant recent messaging & articles imploring you to improve quality of both #mask fit & filtration, in part b/c of worrying COVID variants.

Good news that the #CDC is catching up w/ those messaging efforts w/ updated guidance today.

Short 🧵 of links.
2/ Another good summary thread of the CDC changes; by @AbraarKaran, who has been among ardent supporters lobbying hard for #bettermasks:
3/ One good example summarizing the new #CDC guidance changes on masks, w/ helpful infographics, interviews, and short video w/ CDC chief Dr. Walensky.

By @bylenasun & @FenitN
washingtonpost.com/health/2021/02…
4/ Lots of examples of collective effort to educate & encourage people to understand why #bettermasks work and why a good fit/seal to your face is so critical.

I assembled a variety of resources earlier here:
5/ This is a really hand chart to orient you toward a #mask w/ improved effectiveness of FILTER and FIT (as well as function for your needs)

I also love the borrowed #MindTheGap reference people have been using wrt fit of #bettermasks! (via @Masks4Canada)

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More from @HuffmanLabDU

Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
11 Feb
1/ Interesting paper showing high efficacy of portable HEPA #filtration to reduce aerosol concentration in a high school classroom during use.

By very experienced German aerosol group Curtius et al.; via @ASTJournal.

With short🧵on room air filtration.
doi.org/10.1080/027868…
2/ "In times when classes were conducted with windows and door closed, the aerosol concentration was reduced by more than 90% within less than 30 min. when running the purifiers (air exchange rate 5.5 ACH). The reduction was homogeneous throughout the room ..."
[note log y-scale] Image
3/ Figure 3: Highly reproducible reduction in aerosol particle concentration [uCPC] in a closed classroom without air purifiers (blue line) and with 3 or 4 air purifiers operating at speed 3 or 4 (max). Image
Read 15 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
9 Feb
This is why research & #scicomm now about virus transmission is so critical

"We’re going to have to be in a world that is more thoughtful about protecting ourselves from respiratory infection than we have ever had to be before.” Dr. Bloom, @HarvardChanSPH
pri.org/file/2021-02-0…
(Starting at 2:31): “This is a global infection. A mutant or variant anywhere is a threat everywhere. And so we can’t be complacent and say because hopefully we start to do well by summertime in the US we will not be invaded by a new variant. So we really have to ..."
".. continue public health measures: wearing masks, reducing opportunities for spread, and being very careful, because even with vaccines, they’re not perfect, no vaccine has ever been perfect. ..."
Read 7 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
5 Feb
1/ In context of extra precautions against new COVID variants, some new questions pop up about #masks.

Article by @cwarzel @zeynep asks/answers some good questions to start. Other thoughts in a 🧵, e.g. N95s, fit (Tw7+ ⬇️), when to replace (Tw25 ⬇️), etc.
nytimes.com/2021/01/29/opi…
2/ Countless recent articles w/ interviews from relevant experts imploring people to still take mask-wearing & overall airborne COVID health seriously.

One of many, here by @skbaer w/ broad contribution. (Tw33 below has link to a compilation of more).
buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer…
3/ Many good arguments recently towards motivating broader use of #bettermasks, i.e. #N95s. So if not using already, consider.

See e.g. this editorial by @j_g_allen: washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

Or this opinion-piece by a group of excellent scientists:
Read 33 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
3 Feb
1/ Public admission by @mvankerkhove of #WHO that COVID transmission "goes through the air" is a *huge* turn-around from strong, incorrect statements to the contrary.

Strikes me as significant, even if subtle & played off as "we knew all along."

Full vid
2/ Earlier messages #WHO put out were blatantly wrong & dangerous ⬇️.

Many scientists globally have been working tirelessly to pressure @WHO to retract dangerously misleading statements like this & adequately educate that #COVIDisAirborne.
3/ Again, messaging efforts by WHO are critical b/c of their exposure & reach. By openly saying COVID isn't in the air & having press conferences w/o masks, have been undermining efforts to #MaskUp & prevent spread.

Baby steps today, still work to do!
Read 7 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
3 Feb
Updated preprint on COVID risk modeled from respiratory aerosol data

Notice ⬇️:
- No "safe" distance indoors, b/c aerosols travel
- Masks & ventilation increase safe time, but still risk

Graphs: below each line = safer

HT @linseymarr & @kprather88 (1/x)
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
2/ Study used the #WellsRiley model to estimate COVID risk from respiratory aerosols in a variety of scenarios, using particle size distribution data from previous studies.

Quanta: Statistical measure of avg infection probability; bigger value = easier to infect [~1 - e^-quanta]
3/ Bazant & Bush study supports broad consensus of observation & preventative steps:

✅No single action sufficient for COVID prevention
✅Steps compound reduction in risk, but never to zero
✅All important: distance, masks, reduced time, incr. ventilation
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
Read 6 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
1 Feb
Imp. perspective to remember.

"Excessive attention on making surfaces pristine takes up limited time & resources that would be better spent on ventilation or the decontamination of the air that people breathe": @linseymarr

By @dyanilewis HT @rye_b (1/x)
nature.com/articles/d4158…
2/ A few other key quotes/reminders:
“It’s become clear that transmission by inhalation of aerosols — the microscopic droplets — is an important if not dominant mode of transmission,” says Prof. @linseymarr , who studies airborne disease transmission.
3/
 “You have to make up some really convoluted scenarios in order to explain superspreading events w/ contam. surfaces”
“If we’ve already paid attention to the air & we have some extra time resources, then yes, wiping down those high-touch surfaces could be helpful”: @linseymarr
Read 5 tweets

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