(Though I probably could have told you Id be going waistband-freelong livestretchy clothing.)
Thenew coronavirushas forced most of us to shut down our public lives.
Then, in mid-April, the U.S. governmentreleased its recommendationsfor aphased reopeningof the public sphere.
Hiroshi Watanabe
If grocery shopping is okay, does that mean retail shopping is low-risk?
If restaurants are opening, is it really safe to go back?
Can we enjoy the beach this summer or not?
hey, someone, just tell us what to do!
How are health experts thinking about risk right now?
While a clear-cut answer would be nice, the truth is that some behaviors are riskier than others.
(Responses have been edited for clarity and length.)
SELF: How risky is it to go shopping right now, whether its grocery or retail?
Tara C. Smith:It depends on the area.
What were seeing is basically a patchwork of outbreaks across the United States.
Its easy to do and it lowers your risk of getting the virus.
Do you just know your size?
Can you wash clothes after buying them but before wearing them?
(Though the virus doesnt seem to last that long on fabric.)
If its crowded, that would be a lot of potential for contamination.
How risky is eating at a restaurant?
How can people mitigate that risk?
Smith:Restaurants are relatively high-risk.
Murray:Across the board, outside is better than inside.
Thats the message for summer.
Theres alsoworry that air conditioning systems might help to spreadthe virus indoors.
You want to be looking for restaurants that are not just doing the minimum.
Not just putting tables six feet apart, but maybe 10 feet or 12 feet.
Brown:Takeout or delivery from a restaurant has lower risk than eating in.
Eating in a restaurant is risky.
We cannot control the physical distancing of others.
The server may be exposed to COVID-19 by one customer and then subsequently inadvertently spread it to other people.
By definition, if we are eating, we cannot wear masks.
We cannot decrease this risk to zero, but disinfection between customers is key.
Hand sanitizer can be made available to guests, as well as temperature checks.
Smith:The risk increases if youre bringing in people you havent been with versus people in your household.
What would you be looking for in terms of restaurant crowding?
So if it starts to look crowded, youre better off leaving sooner rather than later.
Smith:It may depend on local ordinances.
How risky is going to an outdoor area like a beach?
Brown:This depends.
I dont think we have any great data on that yet.
How risky is going to someones house or having people over at your house?
So the backyard (if you have one) is a safer space to have guests compared to inside.
Smith:Bathrooms are potentially an issue too.
We do know thatthe virus can live in stool.
Presuming it would be aerosolized if someone flushed, it could be on different bathroom surfaces.
Wash your hands really well, which hopefully youd be doing anyway.
And do you respect their tolerance?
You want to really start slowly.
States reopening various businesses and allowing certain activities doesnt change that basic, unfortunate reality.
Remember that each of those additional interactions does carry a risk.
Many of us are longing for life to get back to normal.
I know I am.
Unfortunately, life wont be normal for quite some time, possibly ever.
