Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - As Western New York begins to get back to work in a very limited capacity, how are doctors advising people to change their behavior as we begin to open up?
There are ways to minimize risk while also reducing “quarantine fatigue” by bringing people in (distant) contact with others.
“There are ways to do it, and be smart about it,” said Dr. Tom Russo, Chief of Infectious Diseases at UB’s Jacobs School of Medicine.
“I think it’s OK for people to start to break out of this doldrum that they’ve been in, but when you go outside and are in close contact with individuals, you need to wear a mask. The mask is our ticket to be able to start to open things up, interact again, and do it in a safe fashion.”
Russo said masks aren’t perfect, but they are a great way to add a layer of safety when beginning to take part in social activities once again.
While there is risk involved in any type of gathering, Russo said it’s important to inform people of ways to get together that involve minimal risk so they don’t turn to higher-risk activities.
“Crowded house parties are going to be worse than backyard parties,” Russo said. “When food and drink is involved you can’t wear the mask, and it’s harder to separate indoors. The outdoor venue is the better venue.”
Could increased antibody testing in Western New York change how confident we are in social settings?
Erie County began offering free antibody testing on Tuesday, and the response caused many to not be able to get through on phone lines. Of over 27,000 people tested for antibodies, over 7 percent get back a positive result.
“We think right now that if you have a positive antibody test you probably have a short-term protection against the new virus,” Russo said.