An epidemiologist explains the new CDC guidance on 15 minutes of exposure and what it means for you

New guidance from the CDC says that 15 minutes of exposure – regardless of whether that occurs at one time – can result in transmission of the coronavirus.

---

Tags: covid-19 social-distancing coronavirus-2020 cdc masks coronavirus-transmission

Sick of COVID-19? Here's why you might have pandemic fatigue

It's draining and depressing to stay on high alert month after month after month. Understanding pandemic fatigue better might help you strengthen your resolve.

---

Tags: public-health covid-19 coronavirus psychology handwashing social-distancing social-norms reopening loneliness social-isolation face-masks masks health-behaviors wearing-masks preventive-health effects-of-social-distancing loneliness-and-social-distancing reopening-after-social-distancing coronavirus-and-handwashing business-reopenings covid-19-prevention

Cloth masks do protect the wearer – breathing in less coronavirus means you get less sick

In places where everyone wears a mask, cases of COVID-19 seem to be less severe. Evidence from labs and outbreaks suggests that masks protect not only others, but the person wearing the mask, too.

---

Tags: covid-19 coronavirus pandemic transmission sars-cov-2 n95-masks outbreak exposure viruses masks protection surgical-mask

'Morality pills' may be the US's best shot at ending the coronavirus pandemic, according to one ethicist

Rather than a vaccine to beef up your immune system, a psychoactive substance could boost your cooperative, pro-social behavior – curtailing the selfish actions that spur on coronavirus's spread.

---

Tags: covid-19 coronavirus emotion cooperation psilocybin social-distancing altruism oxytocin face-masks masks public-goods performance-enhancement cognitive-enhancement experimental-economics sociopath human-enhancements rules wearing-masks

Yes, kids can get COVID-19 – 3 pediatricians explain what's known about coronavirus and children

Research shows that children can become infected with the coronavirus and spread it to others. Though rare, some kids do become severely ill and a few have died from COVID-19.

---

Tags: children public-health coronavirus immune-system school death transmission sars-cov-2 disease reopening infection masks kawasaki-disease kids covd-19

Mandatory face masks might lull people into taking more coronavirus risks

Policies meant to improve public health – like mandatory face masks during the coronavirus pandemic – need to take into account how people might adjust other behaviors in response.

---

Tags: covid-19 coronavirus risk risk-taking behavioral-economics face-masks masks health-behaviors behavior mask-wearing

Personality can predict who's a rule-follower and who flouts COVID-19 social distancing guidelines

Psychologists call these traits the 'Big Five': openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. A researcher suggests your profile implies your response to social distancing.

---

Tags: covid-19 coronavirus psychology social-distancing face-masks personality masks narcissism psychopathy mask-wearing openness big-five psychopath dark-triad neuroticism agreeableness personality-traits conscientiousness extraverts social-distancing-guidelines

As coronavirus cases spike in the South, Northeast seems to have the pandemic under control - here's what changed

A key difference is people's behavior, as a doctor explains.

---

Tags: health covid-19 coronavirus pandemic leadership social-distancing masks behavior