How risky is it really to start socializing for nonessential reasons with the people you love?
(Nonessential means were not talking about protests againstpolice brutality.)
In mid-April, the White Housereleased guidelinesfor reopening the U.S., outlining a phased process thatstates like Washingtonare modeling.
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As for gatherings, Phase One limits get-togethers to under 10 people ifsocial distancingcant be guaranteed.
With that said, most opening up refers to businesses, not your social life.
I wish it were that cut and dry.
When restrictions ease, should you make plans to see friends and family right away?
The virus hasnt changed biologically.
It doesnt mean that youre not at risk for contracting it.
What do health experts think of expanding our social circles?
(Responses have been edited for clarity and length.)
SELF: How risky is it to see friends and family at a distance with masks?
- What about without masks, or without six feet of distance?
At a distance with masks is probably not that risky.
It depends on the distance and what youre doing with them and the amount of time spent.
How risky is eating together?
- E.M.: You want to attempt to avoid sharing objects.
You cant eat with masks on.
A.A.: Any time people interact, theres a transmission risk for the virus.
Nothing you do in the era of the pandemic is going to be zero-risk.
- Is outside better than inside?
In general, I would say that outside is better.
- Go outside and enjoy nature, but keep physical distance at the forefront of your thoughts.
Whats good about outside is that youll also have some airflow.
A.A.: In general, we see less transmission in outdoor controls than indoor controls.
- How dangerous is, say, one hug?
A physical hug breaks the physical distance barrier and may lead to the spread of infection.
So we can see hugs can be dangerous.
One hug is enough to spread the virus.
E.M.: Its not easy to quantify.
We needeffective treatmentand also aneffective vaccineagainst COVID-19.
Zero cases is a long way off, so thats probably not realistic.
The capacity for contact tracing is going to vary a lot by area.
What kind of family and friend policies should people implement as we move forward in this pandemic?
A.A.: You have to look at your own health risks.
Are you somebody thats at a higher risk for severe disease?
I might give different advice to an individual patient whos 19 years old with no other medical problems.
Every person should be equipped with methods to prevent infection among their loved ones.
E.M.: You may be able to do a pod or bubble approach.
What should people know when theyre weighing whether or not to meet up with friends or family members?
They should be aware of the COVID-19 numbers as well.
For instance, has there been a recent outbreak in the area?
- That might lead them to make the decision to have avirtual meet-upinstead.
There are a lot of varieties out there.
Ultimately, the risk really depends on your situation and how youre meeting up.
Your risk generally increases the closer you get to other people and also if you head inside.
Youre going to have to think about whats essential to you and whats not essential to you.
