Sources and updates, November 5
Sources and updates for the week of November 5 include respiratory virus surveillance in Europe, Medicaid unwinding, Long COVID prevalence, and more.
Read MoreTag: masks
COVID source shout-out: Advocating for masks in healthcare
A reader recently sent me this petition to the Illinois state legislature, which asks lawmakers to request that the state health department reconsider its position on masks in healthcare settings. This petition is one of many advocacy efforts that have pushed for healthcare organizations to continue prioritizing COVID-19 safety.
Read MoreClean air has value beyond COVID-19, the wildfire smoke shows us
This week, much of the eastern U.S. was inundated with wildfire smoke that traveled south from Canada. The smoke reminded us how important clean air is for our health. The same public health measures that help reduce COVID-19 risk can also reduce the impacts of wildfire smoke. High-quality masks filter out both the pollution in smoke and coronavirus particles at the individual level; ventilation improvements do this at the collective level.
Read MoreSources and updates, May 21
Sources and updates for the week of May 21 include new funding from the CDC’s forecasting center, keeping masks in healthcare, drug overdoses, and more.
Read MoreCOVID source shout-out: Mandate Masks NY
Political leaders in New York State recently ended a policy requiring masks in healthcare settings. In response to the change, local advocacy organization Mandate Masks NY has compiled a list of hospitals and healthcare centers in New York that are still maintaining mask requirements independently of the state policy.
Read MoreAnswering reader questions about data interpretation, good masking
This week, I’m sharing answers to three questions from readers that came in recently, through emails and the COVID-19 Data Dispatch Google form. The questions discuss interpreting wastewater and case data, and an interesting masking conundrum.
Read MoreTips for safe plane travel during the BA.5 surge
This weekend, I traveled to Denver, Colorado for a fellowship trip. It’s a risky time to be traveling, thanks to the ongoing BA.5 surge; here are some things I did to stay safe on the plane and throughout the trip.
Read MoreWhy the CDC changed its masking guidance, and which metrics to follow right now
This past Friday, the CDC announced a major shift to its guidance for determining COVID-19 safety measures based on county-level community metrics. The new guidance is intended to replace COVID-19 thresholds that the agency developed last summer, during the Delta wave; here, the CDC is promoting a shift from using cases and test positivity for local decision-making to using metrics tied directly to the healthcare system.
Read MoreAnswering reader questions: Encouraging policy changes
In this post, I’m answering reader questions about how individuals can impact COVID-19 policies. Such questions feel particularly pertinent this week, as leaders of several states loosen up on mask mandates and other COVID-19 safety measures.
Read MoreVaccines aren’t enough: What Biden can do about Omicron
This past Monday, President Biden said in a speech, “We’re throwing everything we can at this virus, tracking it from every angle.” Which I, personally, found laughable. The U.S.’s anti-COVID strategy basically revolves around vaccines, and it’s not sufficient for stopping new surges.
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