1/ Quoted in this @BostonGlobe piece alongside colleagues @RanuDhillon @cmyeaton @svscarpino @BillHanage on new public health guidance changes in Massachusetts, particularly around curfews

Many important points here...
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/23/nation/after-baker-relaxes-some-pandemic-restrictions-epidemiologists-urge-caution/

2/ Some guidances are likely to have a big impact on curbing transmission. Curfews that send people home from bars or restaurants marginally earlier-- unclear that is going to do much. But reversing it could give the signal that things are "safe"

3/ I think of safety not as a binary on/off switch but as a continuum of risk- more safe, less safe, all have risks, need to weigh those against benefits

Indoor dining checks off many "less safe" boxes- masks off, prolonged face-face contact, ventilation poor to moderate

4/ Reducing capacity will help- it is a measure amongst others to reduce that risk of transmission

Reversing curfew- unclear how many people are going to run to dine indoors late into the night compared to prior

If it is a lot of people, then we will have more transmission

5/ Need to remain vigilant-- our three goals right now should be

-- vaccinate

-- slow transmission by avoiding unnecessary high risk activities

--protect vulnerable w/ $$, rapid tests, safe isolation, & best PPE they can get #BetterMasks

#covid19