Compiling Information about COVID19 transmission, masks, filtration, schools, etc.

UPDATE March 24, 2021. Wrote a summary post here: https://microbe.net/2021/03/24/compilation-of-guidance-from-a-few-sources-on-school-reopening/ 

 

Trying to collect some of the various information about COVID19 transmission and related topics including masks, schools, CO2, variants, etc. Mostly from Twitter threads and News articles

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Masks

Wall Street Journal: Double Face Masks? N95? Protect Yourself Against New Covid-19 Variants With These Mask Upgrades

• Some important lines
  • Double masking is wearing one mask over another.
  • Most experts say a cloth mask over a surgical mask is the way to go
  • A second mask is generally not necessary when wearing an N95
• Testing masks
  • When you breathe in, the mask should press in or flex into your face with the air flow. You can also breathe out. There should be no gaps of air coming out of the sides of your mask.
  • If your glasses fog up, that means air is escaping around the top of your mask by the nose bridge

Linsey Marr on Masks 2/5/21

Masks work. Yes, the researchers controlled for statewide closing and reopening. However, masks are not a panacea because they are not 100% efficient; but combined with other precautions, they can help greatly reduce transmission. https://t.co/NPL92vujDW

— Linsey Marr (@linseymarr) February 5, 2021

NY Times article on Masks by Charlie Warzel and Zeynep Tufekci. It’s Been 10 Months, and I Still Don’t Know When to Replace My Mask!

Pointed to this by Linsey Marr on Twitter

As always, @zeynep clearly summarizes practical info on masks. Material in N95s and surgical masks is good for many reuses; straps will go first. We tested filter cartridges from elastomeric respirators after months of use; they were still >90% efficient. https://t.co/TbEoTFpDK4

— Linsey Marr (@linseymarr) February 4, 2021

Mask Brace

I forgot my cloth mask today, so it was a good day to try a mask brace for my backup surgical-type mask. A 🧵on making it and my impressions of it. /1 pic.twitter.com/dhGhEZsXBf

— Linsey Marr (@linseymarr) January 26, 2021

More on Masks

Here’s the piece, https://t.co/u7TYKA6nrU, in which @DrLaPook succinctly sums up how to improve masks: 2-3 layers, ideally one is a filter material, or surgical -type mask with tight-fitting cloth on top. https://t.co/pu7vfVsJ2v

— Linsey Marr (@linseymarr) January 23, 2021

 

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Schools

TEACHERS. If you’re heading back to the classroom soon, are concerned, and would like additional protections, I have 2 quick things you can do:

1⃣ Better masks

2⃣ Portable air cleaner w/ HEPA filter

Details and tips for you in this thread

1/n pic.twitter.com/cPfHOufBam

— Joseph Allen (@j_g_allen) February 6, 2021

 

SCHOOLS. Want to know if classroom is getting sufficient outdoor air ventilation? You can use a CO2 monitor and our new tool

1. Select ventilation target
2. Enter size of classroom
3. Enter # of students/teachers

Tool gives ‘should not exceed’ CO2 levelhttps://t.co/oJ530G4Mfc pic.twitter.com/4WXmt6Kyoy

— Joseph Allen (@j_g_allen) February 4, 2021

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CO2

Most low cost monitors such as the indoor purple air use the plantower sensor and are less than 200$. They will get you to within 25%. https://t.co/cq2bNbR4HV

— Dr. Shelly Miller, PhD (@ShellyMBoulder) February 7, 2021

Glad to see CO2 in my classroom indicates excellent ventilation. My class has been meeting online, but this is good news for our potential to meet in person. Other classes met there yesterday, and ~20 people were there when I picked it up today. More for calcs… /1 pic.twitter.com/x2lxlOXVP5

— Linsey Marr (@linseymarr) January 27, 2021

 

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Good thread from Angie Rasmussen on Transmission

 

So a lot of concern about this report in the @globeandmail that people are getting infected with B.1.1.7 in the course of a few minutes. This might be a good time to clarify some things about transmission in real life and the definition of “close contact” for contact tracing. https://t.co/9nRm9zImKZ

— Dr. Angela Rasmussen (@angie_rasmussen) February 3, 2021

New terms should be used for the three main transmission routes of respiratory viruses: “drop spray”, “aerosol inhalation”, and “surface touch” https://t.co/VACwfDwsRw

— Dr. Shelly Miller, PhD (@ShellyMBoulder) January 31, 2021

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COVID Transmission Misc.

Awesome interview w/ old @ut_caee colleague and friend @IAQinGWN. I am glad that Canadians are having a chance to meet this incredible gem of a building scientist & aerosol scientist. @Canada, @CBCNews — provincial health authorities .. use Jeff Siegel. Gr8 resource! https://t.co/Yh8dU2jFwg

— Dr. Richard Corsi (@CorsIAQ) February 7, 2021

COVID Variants

1) So, this morning I promised a little tweetorial about variants and here we go. This will be from a vaccine/antibody point of view only, I won’t comment on how infectious they are or if they are more pathogenic (I’ll leave that to Boris Johnson 😉).

— Florian Krammer (@florian_krammer) January 26, 2021

https://t.co/UnpEvQemCE .@taraparkerpope addresses key questions about living with the new variant(s). Double down on precautions. We’re close to the finish line; it’s time to give it our all, rather than give up.

— Linsey Marr (@linseymarr) January 19, 2021