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Coronavirus Bubbles

 Coronavirus Bubbles

    As the country reopens, many people have begun to meet friends from outside their household. While it's important to wear a mask and maintain social distance, some are just aching to hug a friend, be near loved ones, and return to normalcy. As important as physical health is, mental health is also something people should look out for during the pandemic. Quarantine has caused lots of stress and anxiety for many adults and children, and the added factor of not being able to talk to or see friends in person has also taken a toll on mental health. According to a poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, "53% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus". Many adolescents and young adults are struggling to balance mental health with physical health/safety. Experts have determined there is a way to balance the two and meet friends as you would pre-pandemic, without masks or a distance of 6 feet. The method to do so includes maintaining a social/coronavirus bubble with a select group of people. However, strict rules need to be followed by members within the bubble to ensure that everyone stays safe. 

What is a Coronavirus Bubble

     A social or coronavirus bubble includes a select group of people whom you have close physical contact with. The point of the social bubble is to limit the number of people you meaningfully interact with. Coronavirus bubbles allow you to have close contact with a certain group of friends without putting others at risk. Experts recommend capping each bubble to 10 people, or 2-3 households. Some experts also recommend that members of a bubble should be around the same age and older people who have underlying health conditions should refrain from creating social bubbles. 

Coronavirus Bubble Rules 

     There are rules that need to be established and followed by group members to ensure that everyone in the coronavirus bubble stays safe. Before forming a coronavirus bubble, make sure that all potential members are tested for the virus. Many people can still carry the virus but be asymptomatic. The last thing you would want is to create a coronavirus bubble with a COVID-19 carrier, and have everyone in the bubble infected. Other rules should include, but are not limited to the following. 
  1. Everyone stays 6-feet away from those outside of the bubble
  2. Everyone wears masks in public
  3. Everyone limits in-person social interaction to those within the bubble
    It's important for everyone in the bubble to follow rules created to prevent infection. Before you form a bubble, make sure that all members of the bubble agree to abide by whatever rules are created. Even if one person in the bubble breaks a rule and doesn't maintain distance with those outside the bubble, they could become infected and spread the virus to all 9 of their bubble mates. While the benefits of having a coronavirus bubble are great and allow you to meet friends without having to social distance, the potential consequences of a coronavirus bubble are even greater. If one person in the bubble is infected, risk of transmission isn't only limited to members of their household but also all members of their bubble. 

Conclusion

     Creating bubbles during the coronavirus pandemic is a great way to maintain your sanity during a time of social distancing and mask wearing. It's important to balance both your mental health and your physical health during these unprecedented times. If maintained correctly, a coronavirus/social bubble can allow you to meet in close physical contact with a group of friends, while also decreasing chances of transmission by abiding to a strict set of rules. Communication within bubbles about rules and what is allowed outside of the bubble is very important to maintaining everyone's health and safety. Have fun with your bubble but also remember that one reckless decision can lead to the infection of everyone in your bubble.


Sources

  1. “How To Create a COVID Bubble and Why You Should Consider One - COVID-19, Featured, Health Topics.” Hackensack Meridian Health, 26 Aug. 2020, www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/HealthU/2020/08/26/how-to-create-a-covid-bubble-and-why-you-should-consider-one/
  2. Roberts, Michelle. “Coronavirus Bubbles: How Do They Work and Who Is in Yours?” BBC News, BBC, 6 July 2020, www.bbc.com/news/health-52637354.
  3. Moyer, Melinda Wenner. “The Dos and Don'ts of 'Quarantine Pods'.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 June 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/parenting/coronavirus-pod-family.html.


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