Dr. Linsey Marr, top aerosol science expert, tweeted about her frustrating experience on a Canadian bus. Thought our neighbors up north were more enlightened...
https://mobile.twitter.com/linseymarr/status/1471131413659402240
Hi all,
Due to some unfortunate circumstances that are out of my control, I will be flying with a group in a month across the United States to attend an event. If the situation deteriorates I do think the organizers probably have foresight to cancel, but not sure. Potential stopover but not sure yet.
Given that airborne transmission is not being used to dictate pandemic policy, I am definitely worried about the trip (as well as with Omicron).
I will be traveling with a young, healthy, and fully boosted group.
I plan to wear an N95 (3M Aura) pretty much any time I am outside of our planned accommodation. Planning to call the place ahead and see if the hotel windows open, especially given the concerning hotel transmission of Omicron recently noted in HK quarantine hotels.
My questions are as follows:
-
What would be the best way to eat/drink throughout the travel? I normally never remove my mask indoors but because the trip will likely span the entire day I will need to drink at least some water and eat some food.
-
Does anyone have experience traveling with a portable air purifier? I found some options that seem to be true HEPA and are very small— almost water bottle sized, so I’m hoping I can bring them on the plane and use them in the hotel room. Would this be allowed per TSA guidelines? I will also have an ARANET CO2 monitor with me.
-
Is there anything else I can do to protect myself?
-
Is there a better sub to talk about airborne transmission and COVID?
Thanks as always!
It's been a week since Dr. Theresa Tam acknowledged transmission via respiratory droplets is a serious concern and PHAC finally changed their public health guidance for occupational health; recommending the use of proper fit masks with at least one layer of non-woven polypropylene.
"Hand Hygiene" and "Social Distancing" are no longer significant measures against prevention of transmission, but are still the pervasive safety precautions in the TBS guidance.
It's truly unfortunate they worked so hard on determining safety precautions that are no longer valid, so when should we expect messaging as to a complete reset?
By all appearances, Parliament Hill and all the supporting elements are going to open full stride on Monday with a clear lack of guidance for use of properly fitted non-woven polypropylene masks at all times.
Damien Contandriopoulos: The year public health lost its soul:
>Initial infection control measures implemented at the onset of the pandemic were drafted in the absence of strong evidence on transmission routes for the new coronavirus. ...emphasis was on fomite and respiratory droplets ... [which] ended up being misguided ...[but] most Western state-run public health bureaucracies – as well as international public health bodies such as the WHO – actively defended erroneous initial theories on COVID transmission long after it was rational to do so. Instead of working toward the development and communication of evidence-based COVID prevention strategies, public health institutions found themselves stonewalling and actively contradicting scientific developments
>few (if any) effective prevention measures – such as improved ventilation of indoor public spaces, advice on good masking techniques, limits on large indoor gatherings, etc.– were implemented.
>the COVID response symbiotically produced by political actors and public health institutions caused multiple disconnects:
- between the scientific evidence on COVID transmission and the public health sanctioned advice;
- between public health and governmental discourses prioritizing the wellbeing of the population and containment strategies focused mostly on economic indicators; and
- between inclusive discourses putting forward collective sacrifices for a common good and deeply inequitable interventions.
>More efforts seem to go in controlling the political spin and rationing the information made available than in trying to correct documented deficiencies ... it could be that fierce debates are taking place behind closed doors. But, in most jurisdictions there have been little to no place for open dissension
