Eric Kennedy
@ericbkennedy
Followers
7,111
Following
541
Media
651
Statuses
7,321
Associate Prof of Emergency Management @YorkUniversity . Head of @Vanier_College . 🔥🌲&😷 Disaster research methods, decision-making, policy. Direct
Toronto, Ontario
Joined July 2009
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
CHEER UP ARTIST FOURTH
• 93786 Tweets
#PKAtelier24xZNN
• 46703 Tweets
#ヒロアカ
• 37250 Tweets
PKAW 2024 x NuNew
• 31376 Tweets
花火大会
• 18676 Tweets
オースティン
• 15037 Tweets
ファーム日本一
• 12485 Tweets
WALK WITH ENHYPEN IN GOYANG
• 11653 Tweets
Badminton With Patrick
• 10170 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
As Twitter unfortunately keeps degrading, I'm also available at:
Bluesky: ericbkennedy
Instagram: ericbkennedy
Website: /
6
1
21
As someone who looks at this photo and thinks “we should make sure this can never happen to the family in the car,” it’s been really eye opening to discover that a lot of people look at it and think “I should make sure that my family are the ones in the truck.”
the perfect encapsulation of the vehicular arms race
141
600
7K
288
3K
28K
I know it feels impossible to avoid COVID these days, but I just traveled for 4 weeks, took 10 flights, gave 4 in-person presentations, and attended 3 conferences without catching COVID... and you can too.
Yes, COVID is highly transmissible, but it's not magic. A brief 🧵.
519
3K
14K
I’m still wearing an N95 anytime I share indoor air.
So, as a reminder for myself when I feel alone, or frazzled, or tired of it… here’s an ongoing thread of reasons why I’m still masking.
1/n
249
2K
8K
It’s telling that aerosol scientists wear high quality masks at their conferences, even when presenting on panels and during photo ops.
As the tongue-in-cheek says, “if the bomb squad tech is running, try to keep up.” And, if the aerosol experts are masked, maybe we should too.
If you've been following our tweets this week, it's probably by one of these people! Say hi to the AAAR social media team! 👋
(And no, we did not colour coordinate on purpose!)
#AAAR2022
@subu_caps
@AtmosAvery
@DaveyRachel
@colleenesterase
@kapur_sukriti
@ClaraOak24
72
129
1K
49
3K
8K
COVID offers three possible paradigm shifts. If they’re true, and if we actually accept them, so much changes:
- Much of disease transmission is airborne
- The biggest impact of viruses is chronic disease
- Virus exposure harms, not helps, immune systems
166
2K
7K
The sad part about COVID
is how easy it is
to imagine a different world.
A world where we spent the last 2.5 years upgrading ventilation in our buildings, so we could remove masks because it was safe, not because we were bored.
A world where
@CanadasLifeline
’s announced the…
68
1K
6K
Because
#COVIDisAirborne
, two rules formed the backbone of my protection:
(1) Wear a well-fit N95.
(2) Don't not wear a well-fit N95.
#1
is relatively easy.
#2
can be hard, and my guess is this is where most people catch COVID, whether in day-to-day life or traveling. 2/
20
391
3K
Then, the easiest thing for me to do is think of COVID like cigarette smoke. I ask myself, "if someone was smoking/had smoked here, might I smell it?" If the answer is yes, I put on my mask.
Alone outside? Probably wouldn't smell a cigarette. But, a crowded patio? Absolutely. 5/
19
598
3K
As part of my COVID travel protocol, I take air purifiers for my hotel. They also seriously help with urban air pollution, as illustrated here: Left is a filter I’ve used for ~2 weeks of hotel time; right is a unused replacement.
Clean air: because COVID and so much more.
193
393
3K
Can we talk about this line for a sec? The "just stay home if you're afraid."
It's common for trolls, but unfortunately I also encounter it from people I consider friends, colleagues, wise people, etc.
Three things: First, risk mitigation is the /opposite/ of being afraid...
67
648
3K
Like you, I also prefer to not sleep in a mask. So, I took a couple of portable air purifiers to my hotel rooms, let them run a few hours while I explored the city, and then came back + unmasked confident the purifiers were serving as my temporary N95. 9/
66
235
3K
I’m still masking because I know how much it sucks to be the only person in the room wearing a mask.
I’m at a conference right now where I appear to be the only one in hundreds wearing a mask. If my masking can make it even 1% easier for someone who wants to mask, I’m in.
6/n
14
172
3K
I’m still masking because I still believe all the things we said in 2020 about caring for & protecting each other.
I wear a mask to make sure I don’t spread COVID or anything else to others, both folks who are vulnerable and the ~10% of everyone who will get Long COVID.
2/n
20
282
3K
I’m still masking because I care about my brain.
As an academic, I need to think clearly for my job. As a human, I want to have a good memory and be thoughtful and kind to friends, family, and strangers. I don’t want the brain fog and cognitive effects of Long COVID.
3/n
27
258
2K
I’m still masking because the discovery of the association between Epstein-Barr virus and Multiple Sclerosis changed the way I view “common” viruses forever.
Given what we already know about COVID, it seems salient.
7/n
9
334
3K
But, at the very least, it's 100% possible to avoid getting COVID doing things that AREN'T worth is (e.g., standing in a jet bridge, riding an Uber, or listening to a lecture) and save up those risks for when it is (e.g., spending an unmasked weekend with someone you love). 12/
19
171
2K
Myth: COVID is gone.
Reality: We've levelled off at a permanent, perpetually high level of virus circulating... roughly around the highest peak from all of 2020/2021.
263
908
2K
Replies giving real “the only thing that will prevent tragedy when good guys inevitably crash their trucks are good guys owning more big trucks that will inevitably crash” energy.
8
25
2K
I’m still masking because I can do it while living life to the fullest.
I’m in Portugal eating a delicious dinner & drinking a beer on a patio as I type this thread. I can travel, share meals, hang with friends, go to concerts & sports… everything I love, just in an N95.
8/n
31
149
2K
Rule
#2
is "Don't not wear a well-fit N95." It's really tempting to break this rule, and that's when the virus strikes.
For ex, conferences often have coffee/snacks/wine receptions. Unfortunately, an N95 in your hands is like a bike helmet on the handlebars... it's useless. 7/
13
235
2K
Flight this morning from Ontario to Alberta: 161 people on board, two masks.
Shoppers Drug Mart selection of cold/flu medicines in Calgary:
94
457
2K
So, we'd take our snacks outside where we could eat/chat in a well-ventilated area.
Another place it's easy to help the virus infect you? COVID doesn't care if you're behind a podium, so it's important to choose a mask you're comfortable presenting in! 8/
Great to hear from
@ericbkennedy
(
@DEM_York
) on mutual aid: "The way we talk about mutual aid in wildfire is myopic + often opens up vulnerabilities for the sector…if we pursue a holistic sociology of what mutual aid is, we can highlight more pipeline threats."
#FireClimate2022
3
8
55
12
142
2K
I've had a /lot/ of people tell me they have the flu right now.
In Ontario, over 16% of COVID tests are positive. By contrast, 0.3% of influenza A tests are positive, and 0% of influenza B tests are positive.
My friends, it's likely not the flu you have.
294
575
2K
I think the thing I miss the most about the before times was naively believing that people generally cared about others.
20
120
2K
I’m still masking because I love my partner and family, and don’t want any of these adverse outcomes for them.
I show my love by doing my part to avoid brining viruses home.
4/n
9
135
2K
(1) Wear a well-fit N95.
A high-quality mask is your best defence against not just COVID, but also other airborne infections. Finding an N95 that is comfortable and fits your face shape well is critical. For me, Honeywell's H910 fits great + are cheap. 3/
17
196
2K
Rule
#2
is hard because it's SO EASY to make excuse after excuse to take off the mask ("well, they have pretzels on the plane," "well, this room is crowded but the wine is free," "well, it's my turn to present")... and then wonder how COVID snuck through. 10/
8
136
2K
I’m still masking because I owe it to my students and colleagues.
I love my incredible students and trainees and research assistants. Being their teacher is such an honour. I want to be at my best to serve and mentor them. I don’t want to cancel classes because I’m sick.
5/n
14
109
2K
Do you think driving sober or wearing a seatbelt means you're afraid of cars? Carrying a first-aid kit means you're afraid of backcountry hiking? Putting your food in a refrigerator means you're afraid of eating?
Obviously not. We take steps all. the. time. to reduce risk.
12
296
2K
Every time I put it on, I spend a minute bending the nose piece to make sure it doesn't leave any gaps around my nose/eyes. I shave my face daily to ensure it gets a good seal. And, I run my fingers around the edge of the mask to make sure it's pulled snug to my face. 4/
8
110
2K
Ultimately, you need to make the call about what risks you want to take. For me, it was worth unmasking for patio dinners with people I care about... when we could find very well-ventilated patios! Your threshold might be different, and that's okay. 11/
8
74
2K
Thanks to folks like
@joeyfox85
,
@amandalhu
,
@BarryHunt008
,
@mrpunan
,
@Billius27
,
@RealSexyCyborg
,
@TRyanGregory
and so many others who are also working for clean air for all and offering practical advice for how to avoid this airborne virus. 13/13
61
63
2K
Finally, I think a lot of "back to normal" folks don't realize just how many people ARE staying home. Our collective decision to give up on public health has left many people self-isolating to protect themselves.
You don't see them because they're missing out.
15
242
2K
There’s been debate about what to call the current era, since “post covid” or “post pandemic” are inaccurate and misleading… and this pretty much clinches that the appropriate label for nowadays is “post public health.”
"It is usually recommended that individuals without history of prior [measles] infection or vaccination stay home for up to 21 days."
"With that being said, you do you."
20
257
790
36
499
2K
Taking precautions doesn't mean you're afraid.
Healthy respect isn't a phobia or paralysis.
Telling people to "just stay home" belies a lack of care for those who feel/are stuck with that as their only option.
26
190
1K
…to imagine this alternate universe, where we LEARNED to live with COVID rather than resigning to live with it.
Where we wrote the next chapter of human history and disease prevention, rather than giving up.
Where we made structural changes, rather than blaming individuals.
17
134
1K
...forget that just because you can't see someone doesn't mean everyone has moved on. They've decided to stay home because they feel unsafe, uncared for, and unseen.
Part of why I wear a mask - and invite you to as well - is in a show of solidarity.
7
144
1K
Being an avid backcountry/outdoors person has deeply shaped my COVID risk mitigation practices.
Just like I take basic, simple steps to get home alive from a backcountry camping trip, I also take steps to protect my brain and health when I'm surrounded by viruses.
6
156
1K
@_theek_
No worries at all. You've given me the questions to ask, and for that I'm grateful. Please don't read any of this as skepticism - just hunting for sources for students to read, etc :). I appreciate your sharing, and hope that others have taken the importance of the long game!
16
11
1K
...and how quickly and easily they can kill someone. Being afraid when you're working a table saw is /healthy/ and keeps you safe. Having respect for the power of nature and storms keeps you alive.
Fear can be pro-social and protective.
4
90
1K
…end of mandatory masking in their clinics because they had finally upgraded their last clinic, not because they decided COVID isn’t worth caring about any more.
A world where we spent 2.5 years giving - yes, giving - people the tools to purify the air in their homes…
2
71
1K
A world where less disease circulated - not just COVID, but also flu and other airborne pathogens - because our buses and subways had state of the art filtration upgrades, and we were running more of them so they’d never be crowded.
A world where you returned to in-person…
4
74
1K
…classes because every classroom how had upper room UV.
Where every restaurant had air filtration built into every table.
Where you could unmask because we made our air safe, rather than unmasking because everyone got tired of it.
It’s sad because it’s so easy…
7
78
1K
One of the features of being in some "still COVIDing" communities is getting to know the multitude of people who feel like they're stuck at home because others have given up on protecting them.
Maybe you think that's okay. Maybe you think your normalcy is worth it. But, don't...
2
104
1K
Second, while trolls and well-intentioned colleagues alike sometimes use "afraid" or "concerned" in a negative sense (e.g., 'fear is paralyzing you!' or 'it's like a phobia'), fear also has positive senses too.
In many ways, I think drivers SHOULD be afraid of their cars...
5
89
1K
I missed one:
- Asymptomatic & presymptomatic spread is a significant factor in disease transmission
What other paradigm shifts would you add?
37
134
993
I’m still masking because I hold leadership roles, and wearing a mask as a leader models care, compassion, and inclusivity.
My university says it’s a “community of care,” and wearing a mask embodies those values and makes it easier for others to, as well.
9/n
20
87
974
"We share the air," says the concert venue's pre-recorded telephone message.
So get a free refund & stay home if sick? No.
Wear a mask to avoid spreading viruses? No.
We upgraded our ventilation to keep you safe? No.
"...so please don't wear scented products," it concludes.
19
138
756
I'm still masking because I don't want to have to cancel trips & plans.
I don't want to lose money on plane tickets or miss out on the chance to visit new places. And, I often string conferences/meetings together, so getting sick at the first would mean missing the second.
10/n
3
43
687
As a professor who specializes in wildfire management, there are a lot of things that are broken about how we prepare for & fight wildfires... but it’s near impossible to overstate how ridiculous this comment is.
21
185
641
@Marsilmad
@polevaultpower
Yes, I'm so so sorry. This is such a failure of collective action to protect each other. It's so brutal.
4
13
647
The failure of policing in Ottawa is just extraordinary to witness. But, there are three types of failures all happening at once - and if we're going to solve this mess in the long term, we need to pay attention to each of them.
A short thread 🧵... (1/n)
31
267
627
In light of this week's air purifier fiasco, can I just propose that any serious air purifier manufacturer should provide - at a minimum - this kind of chart? If Ikea can do it, everyone else can.
Quit it with bragging highest CADRs + lowest dB, or with opaque "room size" units.
@amandalhu
Honestly, I know Ikea isn't the top tier of purifiers, but I've long been an advocate because they're just... simple + straightforward. Cheap replacement filters, best documentation by a country mile of CADR/noise/power at each level, durable, and an off-the-shelf ppl trust.
4
9
117
10
85
616
This.
I don’t want to have to mask forever in every single indoor space.
I want us to recognize that the acute and long-term consequences of viruses aren’t just an inevitability. I want us to update our codes and engineering to create much safer indoor spaces.
I don’t know what they expected as an answer. We regulate water safety and food safety in an effort to decrease population rates of waterborne and foodborne illnesses. Having clean air standards to lower the rates of respiratory illnesses isn’t radical.
21
500
3K
7
121
602
I’m still masking because I found a mask that fits me well and feels comfortable.
I think this is a big deal! Lots of folks have legitimately bad mask experiences. For me, KN95s feel like they’re ripping my ears off.
If you need help finding a comfy mask please reach out!
11/n
31
39
596
@PaulTheActor
Wildfire management professor here. Parks Canada has jurisdiction over wildland fire management within park boundaries. It’s one of two federal agencies with wildland fire responsibilities on their land (Defence is the other).
48
113
600
@KarinaVoggel
Luck is 100% part of it, but fortune also favours the prepared.
And you're right that I can't rule out infection 100%, but I was testing every 12-24hrs through the trip and for ten days following, so I'm /fairly/ confident it worked.
16
11
515
Honestly, I find this kind of take frustrating.
The key problem isn’t “taking a rapid test before an event.” That is a /great/ thing to do. It will absolutely catch some infections.
The problem is “believing a rat negative is a guaranteed negative, and behaving accordingly.”
Stop advising the use of COVID rapid tests before flights or social events such as weddings or memorials. RATs are notoriously bad at early detection (and may even give a false sense of security), because many people with COVID don’t test pos until Days 5-8.
123
378
2K
8
64
482
The “I’d rather you kill you than me” approach to road safety isn’t clever or thoughtful, it’s just a tragedy of the commons arms race that nobody wins and a darkly false dichotomy. The goal should be that /nobody/ dies, instead of “rather you than me” murder tanks.
When we had our third child I bought a Yukon. It’s very safe and built like a tank.
We always had sedans and crossovers which have no chance against large trucks.
The lives of my children are too important to risk to another driver.
737
48
705
16
48
433
@_theek_
Sorry to be such a pain in the a$$, but source on that? I'd love to integrate this story in as an example in my Comprehensive Emergency Management class next semester... it's such an excellent example of the things I'm trying to convince the students of.
10
13
397
And so, as we figure out a path forward, I hope we don't obsess on just one problem. Instead, we need to remember them all:
Policing is uneven.
Policing can't do what it claims.
Policing can't solve fundamental problems.
We need to reimagine public safety, profoundly. (/fin)
15
61
377
This is absolutely brutal. Wastewater surveillance is critical for understanding the prevalence of different viruses, especially with how unreliable other forms of testing are for understanding population-level prevalence (e.g., when tests are made less common/accessible).
Deeply disappointed to learn that funding has been cancelled for the wastewater surveillance program in Ontario.
This has been critical information not only for COVID-19, but other infectious disease threats (Influenza, RSV, MPox, Polio & now H5N1) in Ontario.
242
1K
3K
12
114
334
@UTnewsie
@joeyfox85
I can write an updated travel protocol thread later, if folks want!
In short, I've adjusted to two Ikea Uppatvind filters. They fit in my carry-on, so I know I'm not going to lose them in my luggage. And, having two lets me spread in room (one by door/bathroom, one by bed).
15
17
329
This kind of misinformation from public health officials is just astounding.
Whether to have a mask mandate is an open question based on our values & priorities.
But it’s simply wrong to suggest transmission doesn’t/can’t occur in schools, or that we should ignore that reality.
Kids are actively dying from preventable illnesses they picked up in our schools, and health officials refuse—still—to do anything to protect them.
Instead, they're going out of their way to maintain the fiction that schools, as configured, are safe.
218
418
1K
20
89
322
@Profe_Quiroga
Great q. Two 14+hr flights (plus airport time either end) across the Pacific really tested this!
On <6hr flights, I just eat/drink before getting on plane. N95 is sealed from minute I enter departure airport to minute I leave, with one exception (ID check; hold breath + exhale).
11
12
321
This city, man:
@cityoftoronto
and
@TorontoPFR
have already shut down a bunch of park restrooms “for the season.”
It’s 32C outside. People will be using the parks for months to come. FFS why are bathrooms already being closed for the winter!?
@oliviachow
@PaulaFletcherTO
10
70
305
@BlunderIntoMate
@HuffmanLabDU
As a social scientist focused on behaviour change in emergencies/disasters... I can relate and also this is so complex. I think the above it true... but this trip, I also met so many folks (particular in Oz) who had a few super uncomfortable mask experiences (e.g., poor fit, ...
4
15
289
@shoshannasaxe
My heart just breaks for those with children. I'm so, so sorry for the way that you've been abandoned by society and public health.
3
6
277
@BlunderIntoMate
@HuffmanLabDU
...empathetically understand and affirm when they have genuine concerns.
For e, drives me bonkers that we've done nothing to make restaurants safer. Wanting to go out for dinner is a legit feeling, and yet we've spent 2.5 years refusing to improve anything. Urgh.
3
16
272
Whenever defunding comes up, opponents argue "Well, what about X or Y threat? Then, you'd really need police!"
But, that social license depends on fulfilling your half of the bargain: being able to protect public safety when needs arise, not claiming you're useless. (6/n)
1
48
274
This is so, so important: masks & mandates matter because they make spaces more inclusive.
Your class might look young and healthy on the surface, until you learn about your student with cancer or MS, or your student caring for an immunocompromised grandparent. Every year I'm...
1/ Mask mandates are commonly justified in two ways. The first concerns population-level transmission dynamics. If a mandate is expected to have little or no impact on such dynamics, many will be quick to dismiss a mandate. But this ignores the second justification: inclusion. 🧵
42
557
2K
3
69
254
I’m not aware of any initiatives to do this at York University, but I’m happy to provide free masks personally to anyone who wants one! Send me an email or swing by my office T-Th and we’ll get you a style and colour you like.
Hey
#UWaterloo
students, faculty, staff, and other employees!
Are you looking for a comfortable respirator mask to keep yourself and others safe from airborne illnesses on campus?
Head over to the WStore in SCH for a FREE 3M Aura 1870+
(just ask a clerk at the checkout)
36
282
1K
11
62
253
The most common question I got from this set of tweets was "what air purifier do you use when traveling?"
Let's talk about that... and, more importantly, the logic I used to choose so that you can make the right choice for your home, office, or travel use! (🧵, 1/)
I know it feels impossible to avoid COVID these days, but I just traveled for 4 weeks, took 10 flights, gave 4 in-person presentations, and attended 3 conferences without catching COVID... and you can too.
Yes, COVID is highly transmissible, but it's not magic. A brief 🧵.
519
3K
14K
6
62
245
But, the crisis in Ottawa has laid bare how obvious this disparity is. Canadians have watched police adopt aggressive attitudes/tactics and a willingness to use force with BLM and Indigenous protesters. Yet, here, it's crickets. (3/n)
Country that regularly brutalizes Indigenous people with police debates what can be done about white protesters in Ottawa, Alberta
23
475
2K
4
30
236
So, you might be asking: Why /not/ use planes or helicopters to fight the fire at Notre Dame? Let's talk about it! (1/n)
So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!
55K
24K
141K
12
149
231
@CanadasLifeline
Oof. Disappointing to hear that your position is “come to give blood, stay for the free COVID exposure.”
I hope you’ll reconsider this position for the safety of donors and staff. Unfortunately, this new policy makes me have to weigh elective COVID exposure against donating.
6
6
227
@Profe_Quiroga
For the 14hr flights, I did the inhale/lower mask/quick sip/exhale while raising mask a handful of times. Not perfect, but taking medicine and a little hydration/blood sugar is important. Kinda like triage: don't want to catch COVID, but also not interested in fainting on plane!
12
9
227
Please be weary of misinformation during wildfire events.
Here’s an example: Parks Canada has jurisdiction over wildland fire within National Parks. There is already a lot of mutual aid underway from many agencies, but ultimately, Parks Canada is lead and holds jurisdiction.
28
59
209
One of the arguments that convinced me that we need to reinvent public safety is traffic enforcement: we know that policing doesn't actually make our streets safer. What makes them safer is better design that values pedestrian lives and affords safe use. (9/n)
2
21
207
Of course, it's not just race. We've also watched police adopt aggression against pipeline protestors, homeless communities, and others who threaten moneyed interests.
Ottawa is confronting because it reveals violence for those they disagree with; patience for others. (4/n)
2
20
206
Fun fit testing tonight, trying out different masks & comparing their effectiveness. Some really surprising results: our daily drivers underperformed, but some other masks offer a massive improvement to our safety.
Everyone should have free access to this technology/service!
9
23
205
This thread is getting renewed attention today, so an update:
- I still wear an N95 anytime I'm sharing indoor air.
- I still haven't gotten COVID, AFAIK.
- I still travel, explore, and do tons of fun things daily, thanks to an N95 that protects me + helps me protect others.
4
28
199
@PaintedHorse14
@joeyfox85
probably has a better answer here, but I used Ikea's Förnuftig for a few reasons. It's technically EPA12 (one step below HEPA), but:
- Shape fits in luggage well, so I can fit two (one by door, one by sleeping quarters)
- Workable CADR, as well as good Db variety
6
20
196
Failure
#2
: They're can't even do what they say makes them essential.
Another striking aspect of the crisis in Ottawa is the police's self-declared inability to do anything about public safety threats. For example, the Ottawa Police Chief said how: (5/n)
Fuller quote from Ottawa police chief Sloly: "The more this demonstration continues, the more the risk to public safety increases. Every option is on the table to resolve this demonstration. That said, there may not be a policing solution to this demonstration."
35
27
60
3
22
192
But, deep in our hearts, I think we /know/ that even if the police /chose/ to do something about this group, and even IF they were /capable/ of taking action...
... it wouldn't actually solve anything. You can't police your way out of polarization or extremism. (8/n)
3
19
192
@mskathleenquinn
@kdurquiza
Yes, agreed. This is a huge part of why I invest a lot of time and effort into fighting for improved indoor air quality standards and implementation!
1
5
184
@Mark_C_Collins
@TRyanGregory
…privilege, and I realized that my wearing a mask afforded those with less privilege some permission to wear one too, if they wanted to. An example: much harder to buck the trend and be the only one wearing a mask at conference if you’re a young student; easier if a prof is too.
1
13
182
@royalhospital
I think your reply simply clarified that, indeed, your position is "this intervention was effective, therefore we're discontinuing it"... right?
1
10
181
I’ve been shocked by how bad some police responses have been to the protests across America and how much police seem to misunderstand them. As a researcher in emergency management I have to speak up, even if the close relationship of EM and policing makes it uncomfortable. [1/14]
4
74
175
@Mark_C_Collins
@TRyanGregory
Honestly, sometimes yes! Australian conference was the toughest: almost no one was masked there. For me, two things helped. First, reminding myself that I was the one who would have to live with long COVID, not those (I feared might be) judging me. Second, I have a lot of…
2
16
171
@not_taylorx
@GOtransit
Cheering on security keeping people off trains, saying “they can just grab the next,” especially when these are virtually all marginalized immigrants of colour just trying to make ends meet is a… real thing quick pivot from being a transit advocate into something else.
5
2
171
Failure
#3
: We know they can't solve it anyways.
My heart aches for my friends in Ottawa. They talk of not being able to move around the city, of literal days of relentless horns, of being harassed in the streets. They're frustrated and want the police to do something. (7/n)
4
12
163
What
@ApricotTreeCaf1
demonstrates again and again is that, although people will get sick from exposures elsewhere, we can use infrastructure (ventilation, purification, spacing) and PPE (masking when you aren’t eating) to stop onwards transmission chains really effectively.
The Chef who called in sick on Friday tested positive yesterday and is feeling pretty crappy. Thankfully no other staff is showing any signs of infections at this point. Again remarkable considering that we all work within close proximity all day.
48
164
2K
1
47
162
Failure
#1
: Inconsistent, uneven policing.
Often, critiques about racist policing can feel abstract (like when shown with statistics) or hypothetical (like when asked, as police break up an Indigenous protest, to imagine how they'd behave if the protesters were white). (2/n)
3
17
163
@theonlymrwolfe
I didn’t mention it because it’s more situational for me. I’ll mask up in crowded outdoor areas, but not in sparsely populated ones. Much more contextual, whereas indoors is straightforward for me.
2
4
156
Wastewater is an incredible tool for tracking virus spread. It helps cut through data quality problems when other forms of testing are canceled or made inaccessible. We should be adding more monitoring sites and monitoring for more viruses, not canceling the program.
Cancelling Ontario’s waste-water program is an affront to science and common sense
33
298
873
12
36
157
Put air purifiers in all the things. I want HEPAs in book cases and headboards and artwork. I want CR boxes in nightstands and couches and dining room tables.
Make them attractive to have, easy to leave turned on, affordable, and fit smoothly into interior decor.
If you live in a small apartment you might consider this attractive HEPA filter that doesn’t take up limited space, because wildfires are going to be a thing. Pricey but our daughter’s tiny apartment is full of smoke, so we splurged and gifted her this:
58
72
540
2
26
155
@ssinca95
Yes, so tough. The 14hr trans-pacific were brutal.
One option is splitting up into shorter (e.g., origin to Halifax, Halifax to Ireland, Ireland to final) so you can leave airport between flights.
I used inhale/hold breath/lower/sip/raise while exhaling for a few sips/meds.
12
11
152