Thread by @crashmargulies_

Let's demystify some COVID-19 mitigation measures!

Hi, I'm Crash! I'm 30, an artist and activist, and I really don't want to get COVID again for many reasons. Here are things I use to stay uninfected!

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The first and most-used is a well-fitting, highly-rated mask! I often wear a reusable one by @CambridgeMaskCo but in this photo/lineup I have a KN95. I also can't have ANY pressure on backs of ears because migraines, so I have a DIY "ear saver" for my ear loops to hook onto

@CambridgeMaskCo I have worn many masks since 2020 and I find these type of masks, with a small size and a vertical center fold, fit me best! I almost never wear masks without ear-savers/head straps of some kind (even improvised) because of my migraine triggers, but w/one it's much better

Masks are great for virus mitigation because they keep our airborne germs and particles to ourselves AND keep others' sprays and snots out of our mucus membranes! This helps keep the wearer and others safe

There is a HUGE difference in effectiveness based on what kind of mask you wear &if you wear it properly!

My general rule is: wear the best mask the most proper way you can. This is partly why I use a reusable one for my day-to-day (that and I can shove in pocket/not forget)

For more information on masks: peoplescdc.org/2022/09/12/mas…

Next up is this fellow: a personal HEPA air filter. The little handle/stand that came with it is lost, so last night I crocheted it a little harness & gave it a vintage camera strap--because this model only does what we want very close to our faces, I wear around my neck

HEPA filters and other high-grade air filters rated for viral filtration, like MERV13 standard filters, help catch COVID particles from the air and stick them to the filter so those particles don't get into our bodies instead!

If less COVID touches our bodies in vulnerable places where it can stick and replicate, like mucus membranes in our noses and mouths, we are less likely to become ill and also less likely to carry those particles to SOMEONE ELSE who might become ill!

For more about air filtration, check this link:

This is my lil guy--I'm not sponsored, just sharing! cleanaircrew.org/air-filters-wo…
pureenrichment.com/products/purez…

ALSO this is probably a GREAT spot in the thread fr a disclaimer that I am not a medical professional, just a disabled queer activist trying to keep my community safe! I am also not a science communicator and did not do science in school. Just a liberal arts dude trying my best.

AGH I forgot to alt text the photo of my filter, I'm so sorry! It's a cylinder about the size of a tallboy beer can--I've crocheted a weird looking harness around it because its carrier handle fell off

OKAY so we've got NASAL SPRAY up next in our lineup! The one I use is Betadine Cold Defence Nasal Spray; its active ingredient is Iota-Carrageenan, a chemical derived from seaweed, and there's clinical evidence it helps prevent viral infections & lessen severity

Forgive me here as I lack really great numbers and compiulation posts about nasal sprays--I can't find as much information on them on demand. However, I DO know iota-carrageenan, nitric oxide (eNOvid/saNOtize), and Xylitol are studied & have all been suggested

Many people have reported Xylitol making their noses burn. I've used both nitric oxide and iota-carrageenan and had less of that problem!

Very few of these preventative sprays are found in the US in brick and mortar/typical pharmacies, so many people buy them online. When buying online, pay particular attention to reviews to see whether your product is legit & sealed & safe!

Also, eNOvid, which is one of the most common nitric oxide sprays, is manufactured exclusively in Isr@el so for those of us BDSing, keep this in mine

This GoodRx page has some info on nasal sprays

This is where I get my Betadine! goodrx.com/conditions/cov…
northernvitality.us/products/betad…

Up next is the @aranet_home ARANET4 Carbon Dioxide monitor. Don't be fooled, this little gadget is extremely helpful for DIY COVID mitigation.

One of the most important things about keeping COVID from spreading is cleaning/filtering the air. But, a lot of that happens in ways/machines/parts of buildings we can't see! So, how can we tell how well & often the air is being filtered for us?

Well, humans breathe out carbon dioxide (CO2). So, a good proxy measurement of how much stale, breathed-in-and-out air is hanging out in a space is how much CO2 is there.

This isn't a PERFECT correlation to how much exhaled COVID or RSV or whatever is also there, but a guide.

Outdoors on a good air quality day, the CO2 ppm (parts per million) is about 450. Indoors, we want it to stay below 1000 ppm as much as possible.

One of my workplaces sits at about 575ppm, and it doesn't fluctuate much when people come in! This means the air in there is being swept up into the ventilation system & adequately cleaned/filtered, then the air (sans CO2 and other ickies) is put back into the space.

Other workplace does NOT do this. When people come in, the CO2 consistently rises until they've been gone for some time and it doesn't always go back down all the way. On a busy day, it goes up to the thousands easily.

This means the air in that space is not being well filtered

One of the cool things about the @aranet_home app on your phone is you can look back on data from your sensor--you can tell here that the CO2 in my gf's house (or particularly the backpack where my gadget lives!) is way high & we could use much better ventilation in there.

HOWEVER, the Aranet4 can't see everything! We were running 2 Corsi-Rosenthal boxes in gf's house, so even though CO2 was high, we were still regularly cleaning & filtering air. HEPA FILTERS & CORSI-ROSENTHAL BOXES DO NOT REDUCE CO2 LEVELS.

I know @babs_zone has talked a lot on their TikTok about using the Aranet to monitor ventilation quality in public places!

Here's more about the monitor:

We'll touch on Corsi-Rosenthals & DIY air filtration later!aranet.com/products/arane…

Whew, okay, a short break because I am a human with a body that needs tending and then BACK TO IT FOLKS!!!!

Okay, the last thing on my lineup on the desk there is COVID-19 RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS, aka Covid Rapid Tests! Most of us are vaguely familiar with WHAT these are so I'm gonna talk more about best practices with these!

A lot of best practices/ "they so to..." info here is paraphrased from the People's CDC, so feel free to read more here! peoplescdc.org/2023/06/14/tes…

First of all, HAVE TESTS ON HAND! Have tests ready to be used in your house first aid cabinet! If you already have them, you're more likely to use them! See if your state, like MN's program, has a free test program!sayyeshometest.org

The recommendation is to test 3 days in a row after a potential exposure. My family and I also test if:
- we're having weird symptoms that aren't typical of our chronic illness patterns
- we're going Out (to a show, bar)
- we're seeing people we don't usually see

I have had COVID one time, and my first rapid test was negative! I caught it before I knew about the sequential testing best-practice because I tested before going to a concert JUST TO BE SURE. Good thing, too, bc it came back positive!

When you finish running the timers on your tests, you should take a photo of them using your phone's flash to see if you catch aaaaany faint hint of a line for the posi/neg indicator.

ANY PRESENCE OF A LINE IS A POSITIVE, no matter how faint

When swabbing for a rapid test, you should ALSO SWAB YOUR MOUTH AND THROAT for improved accuracy. I've heard some medical folks say do nose, then throat/mouth, to avoid moving viral bits into your respiratory system, but I think if you can only handle the other direction, fine.

Some other best-practices can be found on this nifty graphic here, transcribed fully in the following google docs link docs.google.com/document/d/17p…

Okay, and last but certainly not least: the Corsi-Rosenthal Box! A DIY air-filter that does the work of a big HEPA filter for a fraction of the cost, and all you need is some stuff from your local big hardware store + time + patience (or a friend with those things)

I made TWO of these for my aforementioned poorly-ventilated workplace. One has vanished and the other definitely needs new filters, but I'm hoping to upgrade to a Brisk Box (see a few tweets down) soon

Anyway, you can read all about these at

There's a lot of cool science & also instructions & options to size up or downencycla.com/Corsi-Rosentha…

My girlfriend recently got the computer fans version, called a Brisk Box. We love the reduction in noise & I plan to replace my workplace ones with these if I can. HOWEVER I have not bought separate parts & assembled, which I have done with CRs.

Gf says it should be PRETTY easy, but I can come back with an update on those if you're curious.

Anyway my CR box lives in my work's storage basement and I have to go down and retrieve it every time I work, because I refuse to work without it!

Oh, sorry, link for the Brisk Box! cleanairkits.com/products/brisk…

Please keep in mind that I am doing EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE MITIGATION MEASURES RIGHT NOW, for a job I work at very part time, because I cannot afford to (physically, financially, emotionally) get COVID again, and I am NOT the most at-risk in my family.

Someone I love most in the world is bed-bound because of Long Covid, after an infection THAT SHOWED UP NEGATIVE ON ALL THEIR FREQUENT TESTS. Another person is still experiencing physical & cognitive effects of 2 infections in a year.

AND THAT IS WITH US BEING SO CAREFUL. But we can only be so careful.

People with less info need people with more info to do more. People with more ability, understanding, & skill need to do more to protect those without (like children!)

There is a LOT of research about SARS-COV-2/COVID-19. It might be one of the most well researched diseases in history.

We KNOW it causes issues with hearts, brains, lungs. We KNOW it causes cognitive damage. We KNOW it can cause/exacerbate other health issues.

And yet because we live in the world we live in, I MUST participate in capitalism to keep myself & my family housed. So every day I risk bringing a deadly pathogen that other people care less & less about into my house, where it could kill my family

Into my house, where it ALREADY HAS further disabled my family.

And you know what? If people around me spent a FRACTION of the time, attention, work, money, and worry I spend on mitigation, I might have to spend less myself.

Anyway--please keep avoiding and stop allowing the spread of COVID-19. It's STILL as dangerous as it was in March 2020.

The same state (as in: power) that is b0mbing P🍉lestine and refusing to give is health insurance is the one telling you this is all over.

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