It’s also worth noting that for many international travelers catching covid may prevent you from being able to go home.
My guess is many people will not want to be masked for much of the conference. However, it might be worth considering a pro-masking norm during lectures. During these the audience isn’t generally talking or eating, so the costs are lower than in a 1-1, and the benefits are higher because so many people will be in the same room.
People could also consider bringing (or CEA could provide) nasal sprays.
I’m also surprised as it makes quite an important point that hasn’t been made before and I find it’s fair to suggest introducing some minor inconvenience for everyone to avoid major inconvenience (not being able to travel home when planned, etc.) for a non-neglectable number of people.
(FWIW regarding your concrete suggestion: I agree that having to wear masks during lectures seems very low cost. It also seems to be quite low benefits, though, as you’re much more likely to get infected during informal interactions while talking to people than during a lecture.)
AFAIK there is one positive, randomized trial for a nasal spray containing Iota-Carrageenan (Carragelose): “The incidence of COVID-19 differs significantly between subjects receiving the nasal spray with I-C (2 of 196 [1.0%]) and those receiving placebo (10 of 198 [5.0%]). ” It is available at least in Europe, and in the UK I think under the brand name Dual Defence. Why it has not received more attention is beyond me.
Thanks very much for writing this.
It’s also worth noting that for many international travelers catching covid may prevent you from being able to go home.
My guess is many people will not want to be masked for much of the conference. However, it might be worth considering a pro-masking norm during lectures. During these the audience isn’t generally talking or eating, so the costs are lower than in a 1-1, and the benefits are higher because so many people will be in the same room.
People could also consider bringing (or CEA could provide) nasal sprays.
I’m surprised this comment was that controversial! I thought it was one of my more milquetoast.
FWIW my guess is it’s because people don’t want to wear a mask during lectures and/or think that’s a bad norm.
(I didn’t downvote your comment.)
I’m also surprised as it makes quite an important point that hasn’t been made before and I find it’s fair to suggest introducing some minor inconvenience for everyone to avoid major inconvenience (not being able to travel home when planned, etc.) for a non-neglectable number of people.
(FWIW regarding your concrete suggestion: I agree that having to wear masks during lectures seems very low cost. It also seems to be quite low benefits, though, as you’re much more likely to get infected during informal interactions while talking to people than during a lecture.)
I had not heard about nasal sprays being possibly useful. Sounds like there’s preliminary in vitro evidence and a couple of case studies: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.02.408575v3.full https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7645297/ Though I’m confused about why there isn’t more evidence either way given the first info came out in 2020.
AFAIK there is one positive, randomized trial for a nasal spray containing Iota-Carrageenan (Carragelose): “The incidence of COVID-19 differs significantly between subjects receiving the nasal spray with I-C (2 of 196 [1.0%]) and those receiving placebo (10 of 198 [5.0%]). ” It is available at least in Europe, and in the UK I think under the brand name Dual Defence. Why it has not received more attention is beyond me.
Perhaps CEA could buy some and have them on offer at check-in?