Coronavirus FAQs: How To Stay Safe While Protesting; When To Go Out After Recovery

This is part of a series looking at pressing coronavirus questions of the week. We'd like to hear what you're curious about. Email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions."

What risks are there in attending a protest rally?

Modelers say it's difficult to assess how the protests will influence COVID-19 infections. But, it's clear that a key ingredient for transmission is present at many of these rallies: close contact.

The images of protesters standing shoulder-to-shoulder — some wearing face masks, others not — raises concerns, especially in cities with higher rates of infection. Earlier this week Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was concerned about what mass gatherings in the streets "could mean for spikes in our coronavirus cases later." She urged protesters to consider their exposure and consider being tested.

In Colorado, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced free tests for demonstrators earlier this week. Officials in Atlanta and New York have suggested testing as well.

"Testing everyone that participated in demonstrations would be useful in communities where many new cases are being reported every day. These new cases indicate that transmission is occurring at a high rate in the communities," explains Bill Miller, an epidemiologist and physician at The Ohio State University. He says there are several scenarios that could give rise to the spread of the virus or even a superspreader event, where a number of people become infected. For instance, "you might have a small number of infected people who are particularly active, moving around in the crowd. If one or more of these people are shouting often and not wearing a mask, the situation is a set up for a superspreader event," he explains.

He says an alternative to testing everyone is active contact tracing. "With new cases, the tracers could ask about demonstration participation, including days and times," Miller explains. Then, if cases are linked to a demonstration, a call could go out to get everyone who participated in that event to be tested.

Being outdoors seems to reduce the risk of exposure because the virus can't survive long in sunlight and there's better air circulation, but it's no guarantee against infection. So, to reduce your own risk, it's best to continue practicing social distancing and wear a face mask. There have been family-friendly events where protesters sit in a public space such as a park or library grounds, remaining six feet apart.

And, of course, remember to wash your hands – or use hand sanitize – after touching others or shared surfaces.

If I tested positive for COVID-19, how long should I wait before going back out into the world?

The first thing to keep in mind when it comes to COVID-19 is that all advice is preliminary — based on studies and cases experts have looked at so far. There is still a lot we don't know so guidelines and precautions may change, says Lawrence Gostin, director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University.

That said, if someone was infected with COVID-19, here are recommended guidelines for when it's safe to start going out to the grocery store and other public settings again.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends waiting at least 10 days after the date symptoms started and at least 3 days after you've recovered to discontinue isolation.

Which raises a question: How do you know if you're recovered? "Recovery," according to the CDC, is defined as a resolution of fever, coupled with a progressive improvement in other symptoms – without reliance on fever-reducing medication.

"The idea is 10 days after your symptoms started, the chance of being able to actually isolate a live virus [in a patient] is so low — it's almost zero – so the chances of being infectious after that point is [also] very low," says Dr. Abraar Karan, a physician at Harvard Medical School.

But you do have to be careful in assessing symptoms and determining if they have truly ended. Sometimes symptoms can be severe for weeks. Some patients may see a brief abatement and then have symptoms recur or become more intense. A doctor's input is critical.

Also, some symptoms, like loss of sense of smell, can take weeks to fully resolve, says Dr. Davidson Hamer, a professor of global health and medicine at Boston University.

When it comes to risk of contagion, the symptoms to be most concerned are cough, fever and difficulty breathing, Hamer says — and those are the ones that should be completely resolved for at least 3 days before going out.

"People should not be out in public until at least 3 days after complete cessation of [these] symptoms," he says. "If they have fever, the fever should be gone and they should not be taking Tylenol or something to suppress that fever."

The longer you can wait, the better, notes Gostin. He recommends waiting even 10 days after your symptoms are gone and then discussing with your doctor before going back to work or resuming your regular daily activities.

If you tested negative but still feel like you're exhibiting symptoms of the virus, Gostin also says it's a good idea to retest several days later for reassurance. And if you can't get tested for any reason, they say it's a good idea to still follow the same 10-day, 3-day rule.

If you're asymptomatic but tested positive for COVID-19, the World Health Organization recommends waiting 10 days from the time of the positive test before discontinuing isolation.

Karan says it's still possible to transmit the virus even after waiting 10 days from the day your symptoms hit – but it's pretty unlikely. "Everyone's going to be a little different," he says, "but most people fall within that 10-day window; it's considered to be relatively safe at that point."

And when you do decide to go out, experts say to always use precautions like wearing a face covering and practicing good hand hygiene — washing with soap or using hand sanitizer often and using antiseptic wipes to wipe down surfaces like door handles and grocery store carts before touching them.

If I travel to a new city, should I quarantine or self-isolate once I get there?

Some states and countries have implemented mandatory quarantines for any travelers coming in, so the first thing to do is check the requirements for your destination point and make proper arrangements beforehand. For example, through June 30, Hawaii is requiring that anybody entering the state or traveling between its islands "quarantine for 14 days or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter," according to a proclamation from Gov. David Ige's office.

If you're not entering an area that requires a quarantine period — or would still like some guidance to keep in mind when going to a new city — here are some of the most important risks to weigh.

All experts we spoke to, as well as the CDC traveling guidelines, agree that one of the main factors to consider when traveling during the pandemic is the rate of transmission in the area you're coming from and the rate in the area where you're headed. If you're coming from a place with a relatively high number of new cases each day, and you're not self-isolating, you may be infected and not yet realize it.

One precaution to avoid triggering any infections in your destination, then, is to isolate at home as much as possible for two weeks prior to departure and practice social distancing measures — like wearing a mask and staying six feet away from others — anytime you do go out in public spaces. That way you lessen the risk of unknowingly bringing the virus with you into your destination.

"I think that [even] if somebody has been sheltered at home, has been really cautious and is very unlikely to be infected when they enter a new place, then that new place might [still] recommend that they be quarantined," says Dr. Dr. Davidson Hamer of Boston University. "But honestly, their risk of transmitting disease is probably close to zero because they haven't had any exposure [in their local community]."

But there is another way you could become exposed — your method of travel. If you drive alone with minimal stops, there's probably a lower chance that you have been exposed to a symptomatic individual than if you board a crowded bus or plane, says Dr. Abraar Karan of Harvard Medical School. Read more about the risks of driving vs. flying here.

Self-isolation measures in a new location also depend on where you bed down once you arrive. If you're staying with friends or family, then you should discuss what precautions they have been taking prior to your arrival and make sure you're not exposing yourself to additional risk in their home.

"When we move from one place to another, it would be ideal to self-isolate for 14 days. But if not, try for at least five days," says Lawrence Gostin, a global health specialist at Georgetown University. "And when you do begin to relax measures and go back out into the world, take very special care. Be even more rigorous with your hand washing, disinfecting, mask usage and social distancing." [Copyright 2020 NPR]