Safety, Uncertainty, and the Importance of Quarantine

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This chapter discusses the concept of safety and uncertainty regarding COVID-19, including the use of disease modeling and the reproduction number (R number) to determine appropriate response. It emphasizes the importance of individual comfort levels, the need for quarantine, and the desire for scientific certainty. The chapter concludes with a discussion on learning from quarantine and preparing for future challenges.

Lifted restrictions! Discarded masks! Vaxxing & relaxing! Parties. Variant confusion. FOMO while also dreading events. Worry about strangers. Grief for a cancelled year. WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE? We’ve got you covered. As infection rates go down and restrictions lift in the U.S., you may feel: relieved, overjoyed, nude without a mask, guilty about surviving, conflicted about gatherings, or mourning a loss. We gathered a small army of experts to chat about historical quarantines and recovery periods, vaccine rates, economic projections, the mental state of healthcare workers and the grief that can follow an historical event. Geoff Manaugh and Nicola Twilley (of Gastropod) join to chat about researching their stellar new book “Until Proven Safe,” Jessica Malaty-Rivera updates us on vaccine rates and variants, Dr. Mike Natter checks in from New York and thanatologist Cole Imperi gives step-by-step instructions for taking care of your brain during transitions and “shadowlosses.” I hope this episode serves you well; I just really needed to make it.

Pre-order Geoff Manaugh and Nicola Twilley’s book Until Proven Safe: The History and Future of Quarantine; more info at untilprovensafe.com

Follow Nicola and Geoff on Twitter

Follow Cole Imperi on Instagram at @Imperi and @americanthanatologist

Follow Jessica Malaty-Rivera on Instagram and Twitter

Follow Dr. Mike Natter on Instagram

Donations were made to: #IndiaAgainstCoronaVirus, 500 Women Scientists, and The School of American Thanatology