An airborne virus is a virus that can infect other people through unseen particles in the air, sometimes for hours after the sick person has left the area! Masks and clean, ventilated air can reduce the risk of getting sick from airborne viruses or infecting others.

One of the best things I’ve read in a while:

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Toronto friends - are you sick of being sick? We spend most of our time indoors, yet there are no laws or regulations that directly govern indoor air quality. Health Canada has new new IAQ (indoor air quality) guidelines, now we need them to be adopted.

In conclusion: (2/2)

We don’t know who needs to hear this, but the flu is getting out of hand. And we needed to make a post about it. Here are our pretty direct thoughts, because sometimes our social media manager/infographic designer is tired & can’t think of a way to put it more gently. Please make good choices. (1/2)

I couldn’t decide on a favorite part of this essay, because every single bit of it was spot on. A must-read, even if you’re not interested in Pluribus. Maybe even *especially* if you’re not interested.

SARS-CoV-2 Leaves a Lasting Mark on the Immune System johnsnowproject.org/primers/sars...

“Our findings redefine SARS-CoV-2 infection as a condition of long-lasting immune compromise.” Putting it all together: - covid is airborne - people are getting it repeatedly - it’s wrecking immune systems Please: mask, ventilate, filtrate, isolate, immunize. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

From the UK’s governmental COVID inquiry. Pay attention Canada. Please spread this message and hold Canadian decision makers and communicators accountable too. @ipaccanada.bsky.social @govnb.bsky.social

“We are told by leaders that we are the future. But when it comes to the ongoing pandemic, our present is being stolen right in front of our eyes.” Incredible speech by Violet Affleck who warned about the ongoing dangers of COVID & Long Covid, & advocated for masks and clean air at the UN today!

Alberta's far-right UCP government is worried about losing demographics as their anti-vax base succumbs to the long-term effects of COVID. They're taking steps to spread the harm to kids as widely as possible. With public health AWOL, send your kids to school in an N95. At least those do their job.

The UCP in Alberta have quietly announced a ban on covid vaccination for most kids under 12, please report on this and do anything you can to stop it. They have revised to a two phase rollout, neither of which make kids without severe medical eligible for vaccination. www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-...

Do you think all aspects of healthcare should be based in evidence? If yes, please add your name to the Canadian Aerosol Coalition’s petition in support of evidence-based mask standards in healthcare. Deadline to sign is midnight tonight.

A new @policyoptions.irpp.org article by @juliamwright.bsky.social (FRSC), Matthew Oliver and @mark-ungrin.bsky.social explores why clean indoor air must become a national priority, and how Canada can lead the way. Read more: bit.ly/4lBh3WE #RSCVoices

Cross posted by the Royal Society of Canada. rsc-src.ca/en/voices/ne...

"Improving Indoor Air is Critical to Public Health, Productivity, and Competitiveness" (from @sameo416.bsky.social, @mark-ungrin.bsky.social & I): policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/ju... . #cdnpoli #COVIDIsAirborne #health 🇨🇦

Still making connections with others, doing cool things, bringing people together but without COVID and whatever else cramping our style (or silliness very often with @daorcey.bsky.social 😂) bsky.app/profile/aman...

When you see me out and about (which I am quite a lot these days), I’m very much still wearing my masks. I’ve got things to do, and people to care for (including myself!) and I can’t afford to exacerbate my chronic illnesses, nor do I want to cause one for someone else.

The taxation of trade routes is in dispute and turmoil has engulfed our Republic. But there is a new hope. We must band together and resist the dark side. Do or do not. There is no try. #StarWarsDay

Please encourage your children to ask questions and seek answers.

Why Do Covid Conscious People Still Try To Stay Well And Healthy Despite All The Evidence That Their Actions Work?

This is why your kid is always sick: People who recovered from a mild COVID-19 infection had significantly increased rates of diagnosis of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. It is harming our ability to fight off other illnesses. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Important to also remember that getting Covid once a year is common, so this effect may be essentially continuous. Add in the risk of Long Covid with each infection, and it's clear that global population health will inexorably decrease as time passes. www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/cov...

“Even mild or asymptomatic COVID can lead to a range of silent long term health impacts, compromising immune, vascular, circulatory, renal, metabolic, GI systems & cognitive function” Excellent interview with @putrinolab.bsky.social about how COVID can (and does!) impact every part of the body

Highly recommended reading for anyone who wonders or questions why folks like myself continue to mask into year 6. misfitmentalhealth.substack.com/p/why-are-pe...

🧵The first paper from our project on viral illness in Alberta has been published. @mmaroto.bsky.social , @amykaler.bsky.social and I find that for many working parents balancing persistent circulation of sickness is untenable, and many have reached a point of resignation.

"The models show statistically significant evidence that higher indoor carbon dioxide concentrations, altered by ventilation and occupancy, are associated with lower divergent creative thinking scores." ( www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... )./

It's a shame that the people who are good at winning elections and the people who are good at governing don't overlap more.

Masking is affordable, reliable, and effective. It’s a proven public health tool that helps reduce the spread of infections, protecting individuals and communities alike. Simple and impactful, it’s a small step that makes a big difference in safeguarding health. #Masking #YallMasking #MaskUp

[10 Dec 2024] Opening Remarks from Dr Tedros at yesterday’s @who.int media briefing: “We cannot talk about COVID in the past tense. “It’s still with us, it still causes acute disease and Long COVID, and it still kills. “The world might want to forget about COVID-19, but we cannot afford to.”

“If working from home offers clear productivity benefits and comes with no drop in work quality, why are federal leaders insisting on dragging employees back into the office?”

Christine was right, this is what I needed to hear today. It did help :) #musicheals

"The science of indoor air is advanced, and we have sophisticated engineering and building design technologies to achieve this goal. What is missing is the will to implement this knowledge and know-how, and the understanding of how important it is for us all." - from Foreword by Prof Lidia Morawska

The report released today by @saferairproject.bsky.social makes a strong case for safer shared air as an accessibility and inclusion issue. www.saferairproject.com/safer-shared...

People attend schools to learn. Schools are hotspots for covid transmission. Covid leaves its mark on the brain, including drops in IQ scores. Equity requires safe spaces. Equity = covid protections in schools.

Here's Ontario Professional Engineers recommending the new ASHRAE code - improved indoor air quality to "control infectious aerosols" ospe.on.ca/advocacy/osp...

I continue to wear a mask because of my health and the people around me, and to be consistent in the way I express my values because this isn’t a game to me. I won’t leave people behind.

FYI I’ll be accepting speaking engagements on citizen science, air quality and disability advocacy as I am happy to give my time to anyone who would like to learn and also have a reminder that engaging an audience is fully doable while wearing a mask.

Great to hear this happening in New Brunswick. ASHRAE Standard 241 is an engineering standard that sets minimum requirements for indoor ventilation to prevent disease transmission. It's time for every province to do the same.

Give people the tools and they will use them! @drsmith.bsky.social @ladyscorcher.bsky.social www.pressreader.com/canada/kings...

“Canada Needs a National COVID-19 Inquiry Now" is open access in BMC Medicine: link.springer.com/article/10.1... by @dfisman.bsky.social @jillianhortonmd.bsky.social @juliamwright.bsky.social @mark-ungrin.bsky.social @jvipondmd.bsky.social & @dickzoutman.bsky.social And me.