Step 1: Upgrade your mask.
 | By Joanna Pearlstein Staff Editor |
The United States has three coronavirus vaccines approved for emergency use, falling rates of Covid-19 hospitalizations and a glimmer of hope when it comes to reopening schools. But — in this pandemic, there's always a but — new variants of the coronavirus threaten to halt the modest advances the nation has made in the fight against the virus, and that may explain why the number of new cases has stopped declining and started to stagnate. |
Even though the new coronavirus variants are more contagious, it's still possible to slow their spread. And the good news is, you already know how. |
In an Op-Ed this morning, Dr. Abraar Karan, an internal medicine physician in Boston, argues that it's time to recommit to virus mitigation efforts. "People should get vaccinated as soon as they're able, and in the meantime, the best way to prevent infection with a new coronavirus variant is to stick to the fundamentals that we know work," he writes. |
While most of us wait our turn to get immunized, we still need to avoid breathing the same air as people outside our families. This is especially important now, Karan explains, since the coronavirus is airborne and since one of the new variants, B.1.1.7, may be as much as 50 percent more transmissible than earlier types of the virus. That means we should keep wearing face masks, even as some states are lifting mask mandates. |
In fact, because the virus circulating in your community may be even more contagious, now is a great time to upgrade your mask. Choose one that's well-fitting and filters airborne particles, like an N95 or KN95, and if you can't find one, "a cloth mask worn over a surgical mask provides significantly better protection than a single cloth mask," Karan writes. |
And if you must spend time inside with people outside of your pod, it's important to replace air as frequently as possible. The C.D.C recommends using properly placed fans, opening windows or using HEPA filters. (This visualization masterfully illustrates why a closed window or poorly placed fan can have a dramatic impact on viral spread indoors.) |
Close to 52 million people in the United States have received at least one dose of a vaccine, and immunizations are key to ending the pandemic. But given the pace of the vaccination rollout and the rapid evolution of more transmissible virus variants, the shots won't be enough. That's why Karan urges us to double down on precautions like masking and social distancing. |
As the one-year anniversary of lockdown approaches, we've all heard these recommendations countless times. But they work, and they make the everyday moments in pandemic life more possible. I'm writing this from San Francisco. In Golden Gate Park last Sunday, I watched people roller skate to the music of James Brown, steer paddle boats around ducks and photograph resplendent magnolia trees in the botanical garden. Everyone was masked, people kept their distance, and we all managed to safely enjoy a sunny afternoon. |
We've learned to do this, I thought. We can do it a little longer. |
Here's what we're focusing on today: |
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