A Playbook for Socializing During SARS-COV-2
The illustration highlights the importance of physical distancing in our day to day interaction with each other to "flatten the curve". We win by staying apart while remaining connected, not just as individuals but as a community. Image created by Sukriti Banthiya. Submitted for United Nations Global Call Out To Creatives - help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Many businesses are back open and life is starting to feel more “normal.” The new freedom to move about socially is refreshing. As we emerge from our lockdown it is tempting to assume the pandemic is over. However, the virus is still active and circulating. Unfortunately, there is no official playbook for how we manage the ongoing risk of this virus. See this story in the New York Times which includes excellent tips. Here is a summary below.
Tips for Socializing During a Pandemic:
Follow the health of your state and community. Be an informed citizen. Two important indicators of viral activity in your area include the percentage of tests that are positive and the overall trend of cases. For example, if in Indiana, check the Indiana State Department of Health Covid-19 Dashboard for the latest stats.
Limit your number of close contacts. Form a “COVID bubble” with a small number of family and friends. Inside this group communicate openly without judgement about what each person or family considers “reasonable precautions” and potential exposures.
Manage your exposure budget. Each activity outside the house carries some risk and the risk is cumulative. The NYT article describes this exposure budget well. “You spend very few budget points for low-risk choices like a once-a-week grocery trip or exercising outdoors. You spend more budget points when you attend an indoor dinner party, get a haircut or go to the office. You blow your budget completely if you spend time in a crowd.”
Keep high risk activities short
Brief encounters (ie, passing someone on the sidewalk) are unlikely to make you sick.
Face-to-face contact with someone outside your “COVID bubble” should be kept short and with a mask. Ideally exposure should be less than 15 minutes to reduce the amount of potential viral exposure.
Indoor exposure is best kept to less than 1 hour. In an enclosed space you can still become infected from a person across the room if you share the same air for an extended period of time.
Keep taking precautions
Keep a mask handy
Practice social distancing — staying six feet apart — when you are with people who live outside your household or “bubble.” Keep social activities outdoors.
Wash hands frequently and be mindful about touching public surfaces.
Adopt stricter quarantine practices if you or someone in your circle is at higher risk.