Wondering what an epidemiologist considers safe for her own family? What would she recommend for you and yours?
Dr. Elaine Morrato, Founding Dean at the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health at Loyola in Chicago was kind enough to join me with a FACEBOOK Live event last week. Oh, and I’m so glad she did.
Do COVID tests shorten the 14 quarantine we’ve heard so much about? Would she fly on a plane? Welcome a kid back from college? How about go to Walmart or a restaurant?
And what’s the deal with the vaccines and what do we need to know? How closely do we need to follow the news from the big pharmaceuticals, and do we care who’s vaccine is chosen?
And of course, when in the heck is this thing going to end?
My Take Aways
I was hoping for more black and white answers. EG: Yes Brad, do this. No Brad, don’t do that.
But science doesn’t always work that way. And assessing our own personal risk thresholds is as much an art as it is science. Not every question about COVID safety can be answered, even by a pro like Dr. Elaine.
You’ve got to stop and ask yourself about the context. What else is going on with your life and your health? What are the options? As Elaine said, there is no such thing as zero risk. SO we have to be comfortable doing our best knowing that nothing is foolproof.
Also, it was a great reminder as to the power of data. Elaine’s answers often centered around checking specific data for specific communities. So what might be safe in my home town of Denver, Colorado might be bonkers crazy in a small town in Missouri. Or the opposite. So find the websites, and be willing to dig in.
And finally, regarding data, Dr. Elaine helped me to understand “positivity rate.” It’s given easily in most newspapers. Zero is the goal. 3% is feeling pretty good. But as I write this Denver’s positivity rate is about 10%. So for me, somebody who has a person in my family with some health concerns, that mean’s I’m mostly staying home still. Ug.
Thanks for your time Dean Morrato! Want more Elaine Morrato? Good news…looks like we’ll be meeting up again on FB live soon. Yay!
About Brad Montgomery
Brad Montgomery is a professional speaker who is interested in the People Side of Business. He speaks to groups both as an Online Virtual Speaker as well as an In-Person, Live Speaker. (Who are we kidding…Brad is always live.). For now he is hunkered down in his home office mostly — which is now his home studio.
He’s a member of the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, and has earned his Certified Speaking Professional Designation. He’s one of the nation’s top pros, and loves audiences weather it’s in a banquet room or through a camera.
Give us a call to have Brad visit your event as a motivational keynote speaker.
