This is the third in our series sharing a discussion between CNN Health’s Katia Hetter and Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is emergency physician, and visiting professor of health policy and management at George Washington Milken Institute School of Public Health. Today we move on to specific COVID risk activities to ponder, even if we have full vaccinations.
Taking the Debate Deeper Into Specific Activities
Our first post on the topic asked ‘are we safe with our vaccines indoors?’ While the second expanded ‘a COVID risk attaches to nearly all activities’ and we should weigh our options.
This post takes the debate deeper into popular pastimes. Dr. Leana Wen mentions specific COVID risk activities during the CNN Health interview. Today we share her advice on the tetchy topic of indoor dining. There will be more to follow in our next post.
Specific COVID Risk Activities: Indoor Dining
We’ve always known indoor dining is riskier that eating outdoors, but Dr. Leana Wen confirms this as fact. However, the extent of the risk depends on the configuration of the space we are in. A very crowded, poorly ventilated setting is riskier than somewhere diners can spread out. And this applies equally in restaurants and homes.
Our choice of companions also impacts the extent we put our health on the line. If we and our fellow diners all have our vaccines, then we should be safer. Although there will always be a risk with every activity during the pandemic.
Dr. Leana Wen also asks us to consider the broader social environment. That’s because there’s always the possibility one of us may be unwittingly incubating the virus. This is more likely if our local community has a high transmission rate, and we don’t want to add more pressure.
Recent
Are We Safe Dining Indoors with Our Vaccine?
A COVID Risk Attaches to Nearly All Activities
Preview Image: COVID-19 Dining Spacing