DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive

> Should we also now insist on distancing and/or masks when we show more than one person?

A similar question arose in a conversation this morning. We are facing this question as labs in general, and research labs in particular, hope to reopen before classes begin in higher ed. Many campuses are struggling with how to provide social distance in spaces designed for collaborative work. I have heard suggestions of split shifts (e.g. a 6 AM to noon shift and then a noon to 6 PM shift) and staggered days at work to get more people into the labs for the work that needs to be done there without too much crowding. It is difficult to assess the infectious disease risks in these scenarios.

To answer your question more directly, I suspect that the home institution, rather than the press, is best equipped to identify protocols for how social distancing happens in labs. So while large lab group shots seem to be a bad idea, I don't think that insisting on specific practices in ambiguous situations is an appropriate role for C&EN.

Bottom line: in my personal opinion, moderation and context in assessing possible illustrations seems to be best road to me.

I hope that's somewhat helpful.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu

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