Thread by @CorsIAQ

1/ I have been asked extensively during interviews and by the public about my own personal decisions during this pandemic. I never answer questions like "which air cleaner should I buy?" but do give guidance on those that are proven and what to look for. Some examples.

2/ Do you use a mask outdoors?
From the start of the pandemic I have carried a mask with me when I go outdoors but only wear it if it appears I might come in close contact with someone. This is perhaps 5% of the time. I have avoided crowds for the past 15 months.

3/ Do you have a portable air cleaner in your home?
Yes, we have two very good portable HEPA air cleaners (each with CADR greater than 300 scfm). We purchased these long before the pandemic.

4/ We generally use only one at a time except during wildfire season or in the rare occasion (3 or 4 times during the pandemic) when we had to have a plumber or internet repair person in our home (in which case we also opened windows/doors and required masks for all).

5/ Have you ever tested these in your own home?
Yes. And the resulting (very good) effectiveness is remarkably close to that predicted by a simple well-mixed mass balance model (I've also done a lot of analyses of air exchange rates in my home).

6/ Would you ever purchase an electronic air cleaner?
No. Not for personal use.
I have purchased some to test in my lab at UT Austin. This reinforced my answer of "no" for personal use.

7/ Do you go to a gym?
I did (six times per week) before the pandemic. I stopped going in February 2020 and have found other ways to try to stay in shape. I have had two Pfizer shots & will probably ease back into the gym this summer during off hours (likely still with a mask).

8/ Do you fly?
I have not flown during the pandemic, which has been strange. All of the technical conferences I would normally attend have been virtual (and generally not great experiences). I have had no other essential reasons to travel by airline and so have not.

9/ I will travel for essential reasons now that I am (in 10 days) fully vaccinated, but will wear a very good mask in the airport and in flight.

10/ Have you been in a large indoor gathering during the pandemic?
Once (sort of). A close family member died in California and there was a mass in a church. But only family and very close friends were invited (about 40 people in a large church that holds 500 or so).

11/ Everyone wore masks and the priest (who looked to be somewhere between 90 and 120 years old) made sure that all doors were open and family groups maintained significant physical distancing from one another.

12/ Do you go to restaurants?
We have NOT sat inside of a restaurant during the pandemic. We have done takeout and food trucks, and also gift cards for in-restaurant use in the future.

13/ Have you taken mass transit in Portland during the pandemic?
No. I used light rail daily to go to work before the pandemic but stopped using it in February 2020 (what was coming seemed obvious). When I have gone into work I have driven my own car.

14/ I may start using light rail again this summer but will continue to use a very good mask/respirator if I do (just like with airline travel)?

15/ Do you go to work regularly?
No. I go occasionally, most recently for a video shoot to record a graduation speech. Previous occasions were to get some work done after picking something up, checking on the building, and during a 5 day power outage in our home.

16/ Do you wear a mask when you do go to work?
Yes. We have a mandatory mask policy inside ALL buildings @Portland_State, and that's a good thing.

17/ Have you been involved in crafting your university's safety policies during COVID.
We have a great incident management team @Portland_State that made very good decisions centered on layered risk reduction starting in spring 2020. I have helped when called upon for advice.

18/ Will you be going back to the office in the fall term?
Yes, and I am looking forward to it.