I am Dr. Ellie Murray, assistant professor of epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health. I research the control of disease patterns in human populations. Specifically, my work is centered on improving evidence-based decision-making by patients, clinicians, and policy makers. In recent months, I have zeroed in on understanding the spread of COVID-19. I developed a spectrum of risk and harm reduction tips for every setting – from seeing friends and family, to traveling, to medical appointments and more – in an effort to help people choose low-risk activities that are sustainable in the long-term.

Ask me anything about:

• What are the risks of returning to everyday activities? ◦ How can I evaluate the risks of different activities?
• How can I see family and friends safely?
• What do the COVID-19 numbers in America mean?
• Is it safe to travel?
• Should I go to the doctor/dentist – or reschedule?
• Should I go to restaurants?
• Can I safely return to the gym?
• How long will social distancing last?
• What does “herd immunity” mean? Is it a good solution to address the pandemic?
• How can we improve COVID-19 testing?
• Are there certain activities that are legally allowed during reopening that I should still avoid because they’re high-risk?
• What are the best types of masks for exercising, returning to school and/or work, traveling and more?
• What are the most important precautions for preventing the spread of coronavirus?
• Where can I find the most accurate, up-to-date information on COVID-19?
• What should I do if I’m experiencing COVID-19 fatigue?

I have been quoted in news stories covering these topics in publications including Wired, Business Insider, Vox, U.S. News ＆ World Report, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Politico, The Atlantic, New Scientist, Slate, The New York Times, Medium, The Boston Globe, and more.

I was previously a postdoctoral research fellow in Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. I have an ScD in Epidemiology and MSc in Biostatistics from Harvard, an MPH in Epidemiology from Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, and a BSc in Biology from McGill University.

Proof: https://i.redd.it/2zwzlrdxy6i51.jpg

EDITED: Thank you everyone for writing in – this has been a wonderful conversation! You've all asked really important questions but unfortunately I have to log off for now. In the meantime, for more on my public health perspectives follow me on Twitter at @EpiEllie. Stay safe and be kind to each other. We're all in this together.