by Sara Dorn: Saddle up, we’re entering the Wild West phase of COVID-19…
As summer heats up and government restrictions melt away, Americans are again free to weigh their own risks of practicing pre-pandemic pastimes like heading back to work, out to eat, on vacation and to the beach.
To avoid the deadly disease, scientists say people should consider five risks before they venture out, including proximity to people; the likelihood others will practice safe behavior; indoors or out; exposure time, and personal health risks, according to a survey of four public health experts by MLive in Michigan.
“Until we have a vaccine, we are going to have to move forward with risk-reduction strategies,” said Matthew Sims, director of infectious disease research at Beaumont Health. “Because you can’t keep the economy on hold forever, you can’t keep peoples’ lives on hold forever.”
Places where people gather en masse to let loose are most likely to be crawling with coronavirus, doctors say. Large concerts and bars both ranked 9 on a risk scale of 1 to 10.
“After a couple of drinks, they’re starting to feel a little more invincible,” Dr. Nasir Husain said. “And that’s when the trouble starts.”
The tennis court is one of the easiest places to ace the COVID-avoidance game — as long as your partner doesn’t have the disease. The activity is one of two ranked a reassuring 1 by the doctors.
Navigating restaurants isn’t as simple as hitting the tennis court. Takeout, patio seating and dining in all bear risks. The latter is the most dangerous — a 6.
RISKY BUSINESS
Here is a guide to planning your post-lockdown life. Places and activities ranked on a scale of 1-10 for risk of contracting COVID-19, with 10 being the riskiest and 1 the least dangerous:
