Why we should still be cautious with phase two activities

Columbia University virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen joined the Gee and Ursula Show to discuss the caution that needs to be taken as states start opening, as well as questions from listeners on specific safety concerns, like baking for friends and flying.

Rasmussen finds the phased re-openings to be a much safer process than states that are rapidly opening and, seemingly, hoping for the best.

“Here in Washington state … there are phased re-openings and those, in my view, are a lot safer just because you are having fewer people sort of trickling back over a longer period of time,” she said.

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“There’s much more attention being paid to precautions such as physical distancing, mask wearing in public spaces, things like that.”

Now onto to more specific questions: Does the six foot distance only apply to people who are unprotected? Can you be closer if everyone is wearing a mask?

“I would not recommend that, and the main reason is because most masks, … cloth or surgical masks, homemade masks that people have, are not going to protect the person wearing them, they’re just going to reduce the amount of respiratory droplets that person is putting out into the environment,” she said.

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“Just to be safe, if you are getting together with people who are not part of your quarantine group, regardless of the circumstances, it’s really not a bad idea to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.”

Is it safe to bake something for a friend or loved one?

“Yeah, I think that’s perfectly fine,” Rasmussen said. “The main thing there is that when you bring those baked goods to your friends and family or the people that you are giving them to, don’t hang around and talk to them at close range.”

“You’re going to want to give them [the treat], wear a mask, leave them on the porch potentially, or just say a quick hello at a proper six foot physical distance,” she added.

What’s the best way to stay safe on a flight?

“I would hope that on a flight, every passenger is wearing a mask. … There have also have been a number of studies showing how transmission of respiratory viruses — influenza, for example — work on airplanes. If you’re sitting next to an infected person, obviously you have a higher risk of getting infected than if you’re sitting at the back of the plane. The bottom line is we still don’t really know how this works.”

To hear more listener questions, listen here.

Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.