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Emily Samson

Many of us are over a month into quarantine, and we’re getting used to the lifestyle changes caused by the coronavirus. At the same time, we’re starting to think about the end of the pandemic and how our “normal” might change because of it.

 There are two main factors that will determine what our future will look like in regard to the virus 1) how the changing seasons will affect the virus’ spread and 2) the duration of immunity in those who have already contracted and recovered from the virus. Unfortunately, at this time, we do know a lot about either of these factors, making it difficult to determine exactly what our post-quarantine lives will look like.  However, researchers have put together models to predict some possibilities.

 Most models suggest that social distancing will need to last around 18 months to prevent another sudden rise in coronavirus cases. Eighteen months is the amount of time that it is predicted will be needed for a vaccine against coronavirus to be readily available to the public. While this sounds like a long time, social distancing for 18 months does not necessarily mean we will be stuck in our homes the entire time.

 Under this model, It is likely that the restrictions we are facing now will ease. Researchers define social distancing as reducing contact outside the household, school, or workplace by 75%. This means that everyone should do as much as they can to reduce social contacts by 75%. While our social lives will change, we might get some degree of normalcy in our lives.

 This could look like restaurants opening in the future but taking out half their seats. Classrooms might have desks spaced six feet apart and will mix online learning with in-person learning. People will refrain from hugging or shaking hands when greeting each other. Perhaps we will get more personal space in airplanes rather than the cramped seats we are used to.

 As we get more information about the virus, our ideas of what the future looks like will evolve. While we are uncertain of the future, we should all be ready to adapt to changes in the way we live, work, and socialize.

https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/03/17/905264/coronavirus-pandemic-social-distancing-18-months/

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/04/24/science.abb5793

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Emily Samson

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, hand sanitizers have become a hot commodity. While buying a hand sanitizer that “kills 99.99% of most illness-causing germs” might be tempting, not all hand sanitizers protect against the coronavirus equally.   

According to the CDC, hand sanitizers should contain at least 60% alcohol to help people avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Alcohol kills disease-causing agents, such as bacteria, by breaking apart cells. A concentration of at least 60% is needed for alcohol to kill cells efficiently. Once the alcohol content drops below 60%, the effectiveness of a hand sanitizer drops dramatically. 

Many popular hand sanitizer brands, such as Purell and Germ-X, produce alcohol-free hand sanitizers that have been flying off the shelves due to the coronavirus outbreak. These sanitizers use “benzalkonium chloride” as a replacement for alcohol, and it is much less effective than alcohol-containing hand sanitizer. These products may reduce the growth of germs, but it will not kill them. Unknowingly using these less effective products, could put people at risk for illness. 

To find the alcohol concentration of a hand sanitizer, check the label. Alcohol may be listed as “ethanol”, “isopropyl alcohol”, or “ethyl alcohol”. As long as the hand sanitizer has the appropriate amount of alcohol, it should be effective regardless of other ingredients. 

It is important to remember that while the right hand sanitizer can be convenient and effective, washing your hands with soap and water is always more effective than hand sanitizer! 

https://www.livescience.com/hand-sanitizer.html 

https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html 

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-people-buying-alcohol-free-hand-sanitizer-doesnt-work-2020-3