I simply cannot believe the number of people who are content to throw up their hands and say "let's live with this virus" when there are simple measures to clean the air that would protect everyone. (1/)
Many of these "advocates for opening" paint those of us pushing for controls as being too negative. They even go so far as to say we are harming the mental health of kids. Seriously? (2/)
We all want to open and get our lives back--but we want to do so in a safe manner. And there is a way to do it!! It is not rocket science. Let's stop making choices which help this virus spread as we have been doing. Clean the air ASAP and get vaccinated when you can. (3/)
For those who don't have access to vaccines yet, cleaning indoor air where essential workers work is crucial. Also, they need to have access to good fitting masks. (4/)
I will say it once more--SARS-CoV-2, the virus that leads to COVID-19, is spread mostly through the air. You become infected by long and short range inhalation of aerosols that can build up like cigarette smoke indoors. (5/)
Schools/businesses, let's do this together. There is a recipe that works -- we did it w/ @sdschools -- happy to share how we did it. Please don't give up and resign yourself to more infections and deaths. We can end this thing by addressing the fact #COVIDIsAirborne. (6/)
@sdschools And yes, I would love to hear from those like @apsmunro who state "Kids are safe, let's open schools--and anyone blocking it is negative and harming children". We can open schools safely with measures that clean the air and protect everyone. Why not? (7/)
Here is the silver lining: if schools and businesses clean up their indoor air, there will be less flu and other respiratory diseases. How are ventilation and filtration not being embraced as they will lower health costs and inequities for decades to come? (8/)
Blocked by someone (@apsmunro) calling out those trying to engage in a conversation about how we can encourage safer measures in businesses and schools. Simple question: why can't we put in simple protective measures to clean the air to protect everyone. What does that tell you?
And yes @apsmunro is a rather smug resident. I wish I had this level of courage (is that the right descriptor?) as an up and comer. Wow.
Two pubs I helped write on the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Both have been highly read (one is ranked #21 and the other #23 overall by Altmetric). How are @cdc and @WHO continuing to ignore all evidence that #COVIDIsAirborne? science.sciencemag.org/content/368/64…
Altmetric for our Science Perspective-the most downloaded paper in @ScienceMagazine in history.
Well....first on-line lecture all done and I survived. More importantly so did the class! 100 people logged on. All very polite and kind as I bumbled my way through. The chat was so funny to read!!
The class is on aerosols--so I talked about viruses being in aerosols...the hot news topic. CDC and WHO are in disagreement about whether it is in aerosols or droplets.
Why does it matter? Aerosols will last in the air for hours and travel much further than 6 ft. The Choir practice example points to aerosols + SARS-CoV-2 being a real possibility.
Critical info and advice from expert virologist (Prof Forest Rohwer at San Diego State University):
Dear Everyone,
I hope you are all doing well. I'm writing you as a virologist and immunologist who isn't an alarmist. (1/12)
With the knowledge that we currently have, I really want to stress that nearly total quarantining is needed in San Diego at this time. The important points are: (2/12)
1) There are almost assuredly a large number of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 spreaders. These people don't feel sick and do not have symptoms like fever, but they can spread the virus. (3/12)
Seeing pictures of tons of people at the beaches in San Diego. Watching college students laugh and crowd into one car. I am sad and scared that so many people are not taking this shelter at home order seriously. Bottom line...they are putting all of our lives at risk. (1/3)
Maybe we should ask them if they realize 793 died yesterday in Italy alone. Why? Because people refused to take it serious until it was too late. The majority of carriers were young healthy people with no symptoms. (2/3)
Why cant we learn from other country's mistakes who are ahead of us? Right now, we are on the same path as Italy. Wise individual choices is our only hope (3/3)
The two things that would help the most right now--1) testing so people who have been around many others, traveling, or have slight symptoms will know if they should stay away, and 2) social distancing. Right now, we don't have #1 so we have to rely on #2. (1/4)
We are flying completely blind in decision making regarding public health. It is extremely important we error on the side of caution and go with #2 because that is all we have right now. (2/4)
There is large uncertainty in where we are heading but we know we are in the exponential growth phase with no idea how many poeple are walking around with COVID-19 as most have zero symptoms. We ultimately control how bad this becomes by our own actions. (3/4)
Looking to hire an enthusiastic #postdoc with an interest in interdisciplinary research involving atmospheric chemistry, environmental microbiome, ocean, climate, human health, & air quality @UCSanDiego and @Scripps_Ocean (1/5)
A unique opportunity to be involved in cross-disciplinary training thanks to the collaborative centers across @UCSanDiego, including @CAICECCI and @CMIdigest.
Interdisciplinary cross campus Understanding & Protecting the Planet initiative. (3/5)