Same here. "Airborne" is vague and people associate it with long-range measles-esque transmission. I've found it is more useful to educate people about more specific terminology and put it in the context of the virus in question. People get short-range aerosols when explained.
-
-
Replying to @angie_rasmussen @SaskiaPopescu and
I struggled with this a lot and here's the problem I see. Language works descriptively, and not prescriptively. I like and use short-range aerosols whenever I can, but the public will use airborne hence I've decided that it's better that we do as well, but defining it correctly.
2 replies 0 retweets 19 likes -
Replying to @zeynep @angie_rasmussen and
So if I had magic-wand to fix terminology, I'd use short-range aerosols and nothing else. But there is no way to stuff airborne back into a bag so imho we should work on its incorrect connotations and fill that space with correct information (misinformation thrives on voids).
3 replies 1 retweet 17 likes -
Replying to @zeynep @angie_rasmussen and
But the health impact whether it is short or long range aerosols doesn't matter, does it? The smaller ones (which travel further and build up in a room) will still get to the same place in your lungs, right? Can you explain how the designation of short or long range matters?
1 reply 0 retweets 4 likes -
Replying to @kprather88 @angie_rasmussen and
Did you see Outbreak? There's a scene Dustin Hoffman looks at the ceiling vent and says "it's airborne!" to mean that it's gonna spread all over the hospital; that everyone in the same building is at equal risk. We see a Steadicam shot through vents. That's what people may think.
3 replies 0 retweets 12 likes -
Replying to @zeynep @angie_rasmussen and
What is long vs short range? Most think 6 ft. My concern is anyone in a poorly ventilated room with a sick person speaking and breathing aerosols can expose/infect everyone in that room. That is long range because it can happen beyond 6 ft. So I just say tiny aerosols in the air.
1 reply 2 retweets 11 likes -
Replying to @kprather88 @angie_rasmussen and
Right, so we have to tell people that, under certain conditions, 6 feet is no guarantee and that it's not a magic numbers, that indoors, masks are necessary even with distancing, but that they don't really have to worry about everyone in their apartment complex unless shared air.
2 replies 1 retweet 9 likes -
Replying to @zeynep @kprather88 and
@zeynep is right on with the "it's airborne!" scene from Outbreak. As ridiculous as that movie was, that is what people think. I don't think clarifying to people that an enclosed space is different from a building's HVAC system is an insurmountable communication challenge.2 replies 0 retweets 12 likes -
Replying to @angie_rasmussen @zeynep and
I've stopped saying "6 feet" as a hard and fast rule and tried to emphasize the additive nature of risk reduction, including avoiding high-risk situations altogether. If that can't be avoided, then take as many other risk reduction measures as possible.
3 replies 6 retweets 40 likes -
Replying to @angie_rasmussen @zeynep and
Ditto- I actually use this as way to explain why our focus on 6 ft as a hard rule isn’t the best way to go - understanding the environment and how 6 ft may not be enough, so other infection prevention measures are important. It’s a packaged approach, not singular.
3 replies 5 retweets 25 likes
Right, there has been a lot of binary communication. Since the article, I'm hearing from tons of people who say their friends/acquaintances don't mask up indoors if they can distance even in poorly ventilated spaces. Explaining reasoning, rather than rigid rules, seems key.
-
-
Replying to @zeynep @SaskiaPopescu and
Conversely, outdoors greater than six feet should be super safe still, even in light of the evidence around aerosol transmission?
0 replies 0 retweets 0 likesThanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
Replying to @zeynep @SaskiaPopescu and
"Explaining reasoning, rather than rigid rules, seems key" This doesn't help for my work place. If there's no rule, my management won't do it. Need BOTH reasoning & rules of thumb please! Possible rule might be different distancing for different room ACH (w/ and w/out masks)?
0 replies 0 retweets 0 likesThanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.