Different activities come with different levels of risk. And different people have different levels of comfort with risk.
Understanding the riskiness of different activities can help you make informed choices about what you are willing to do.
And understanding what you–and others–are willing to do can help you decide how close of contact you are willing to have with each other.
Your level of risk is the same as the risk level of the people you are exposed to!
Social Activities and Levels of Risk
Adapted from Vox, based on work by Julia Marcus, Harvard, and Eleanor Murray, Boston University
Lowest Risk
Home Alone or With Housemates
- Stay home as much as possible.
- Try to allow only people you live with into your home.
- Wash your hands.
- If you’re sick, stay home and isolate from housemates.
Moderate Risk
Outdoor Activities
- Wash your hands and don’t touch your face.Â
- Stay at least 6 feet away from people you don’t live with.
- Wear a mask.
- Avoid shared surfaces like swings or benches.
Higher Risk
Outdoor Gatherings
- Wash your hands and don’t touch your face.
- Stay at least 6 feet from people you don’t live with.
- Wear a mask.
- Don’t share food, toys, and other items, and avoid shared surfaces.
- Participate in events like these infrequently.
Highest Risk
Indoor Gatherings
- Wash your hands and don’t touch your face.
- Stay at least 6 feet from people you don’t live with.
- Wear a mask.
- Don’t share food, toys, and other items, and avoid shared surfaces.
- Open windows for better ventilation.
- Try to avoid gathering indoors as much as possible.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how risky is…
More information is available at the Texas Medical Association site.Â
