<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
</head>
<body>
<p>Hi again-</p>
<p>I was able to get informal feedback from the WHOI Covid committee
who have been in charge of employees and WHOI UNOLS ships, wrt
COVID planning and travel permissions.</p>
<p>They are OK with daily outdoor isolated activity. So those from
WHOI among this group in UK would be able to join the rest if that
is the decision. However, I don't think this works in Spain, as
the country is restricting anyone from leaving quarantine until
they have a negative result on a test on day 7. So maybe our
group in Vigo can go out after one week for exercise- tbd. <br>
</p>
<p>In addition, I brought up the issue about the optics of
foreigners bringing in COVID if you go out for outdoor activity
before testing negative, and then tested positive (my email
earlier). That was considered more of a personal decision. You
do need to be sure that you as seafarers in UK are allowed
outdoors before testing on day 5 in the first place.</p>
<p>And finally to this topic, opposite to what we've discussed, WHOI
has phase I and II for outdoor activity, making the restrictions
looser in the first week (OK to be outside) and more restrictive
the second week (stay inside- this is for crew joining a ship).<br>
</p>
<p>Secondly, <b>the WHOI policy on positive test results, but no
symptoms, is you are NOT allowed to sail, unless you remain w/o
symptoms for the quarantine period</b> (normally 14 days). So
if you tested positive on day 5 and remained asymptomatic for
qtine and tested negative at end, you could sail. Anyone testing
positive on day 12 would not have enough time, and NOT be allowed
to sail, even if they tested negative say during MOB. <b>Second
tests are not enough.</b> The evidence they are seeking after a
positive PCR result, is a period of 14 days w/o symptoms to
confirm. <br>
</p>
<p>So I think Heidi is right, we need a clear plan on what to do
with positive results, but I don't think they are that likely now
that I read this good link to an MIT medical article on false
positives,
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://medical.mit.edu/covid-19-updates/2020/11/pcr-test-result">https://medical.mit.edu/covid-19-updates/2020/11/pcr-test-result</a></p>
<p>a key line being<i><b> "</b></i><i><b>we have done </b></i><i><b><a
href="http://covidapps.mit.edu/dashboard" class="external"
target="_blank">more than 156,000 tests</a></b></i><i><b> on
asymptomatic individuals through COVID Pass and have had fewer
than 90 positives,” </b></i></p>
<p>Still some discussion needed. I'm up for another PO call or? as
we all need to be on board with these plans (which will always
remain "plans of the moment").<br>
</p>
<p>Later, Ken<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2021/04/08 2:03 PM, Ken Buesseler
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:5615cef0-85f9-c1f1-e916-2b5e3386a419@whoi.edu">
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<p>Here was my last thought after today's discussion about when to
open up the solo exercise option.</p>
<p>Let's say we start outdoor exercise on day 2 and everyone tests
negative on first PCR test, day 5. Great.</p>
<p>Let's say we start day 2, and 1 or more test positive on first
PCR test, after day 5. Not Great. We immediately will need to
be thinking about retesting, replacements, extending Q-tines,
etc. Also, the news will get out (on WhatsAPP, calls to family)
and the story will be - <i><b>"US scientists arrived in UK are
testing positive for COVID."</b></i> and furthermore, <i><b>this
group has been walking around the streets of our fair
city..... </b></i>I think the optics and PR would not be
good, and why risk it. If after day 5 PCR test, we only allow
those who test negative out (hopefully 100% of us), that story
doesn't happen. A similar positive test result on day 12 will
be interpreted as the US scientists picked up COVID in
Southampton.... also not good, but a different story.<br>
</p>
<p>Does this resonate with anyone but me? I walk every day. I'm
worried about the social consequences of (false?) positives and
how to deal with them, and we are opening up a new planed
activity not specified when we all signed up for this Qtine and
got Institutional travel approvals. I'm also trying to confirm
verbally/informally that the WHOI folks will even be allowed
outside their rooms at all- it was not part of the approved
travel plan with individual isolation at the hotel, but I think
it would be allowed.</p>
<p>FYI, I am VERY willing to go with the flow and PO vote, but I'm
trying to think through the worst case scenarios, and this is a
slightly different reasoning than I've heard so far.</p>
<p>So glad we are able to have this open discussion- Ken<br>
</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Ken Buesseler
Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://cafethorium.whoi.edu" moz-do-not-send="true">http://cafethorium.whoi.edu</a> @Cafe_Thorium
Director, Center for Marine and Environmental Radioactivity
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.whoi.edu/CMER" moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.whoi.edu/CMER</a> @whoi_cmer
508-289-2309
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Ken Buesseler
Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://cafethorium.whoi.edu">http://cafethorium.whoi.edu</a> @Cafe_Thorium
Director, Center for Marine and Environmental Radioactivity
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.whoi.edu/CMER">http://www.whoi.edu/CMER</a> @whoi_cmer
508-289-2309
</pre>
</body>
</html>