004 = Quarantine Kits and Contagion Calculus

**Quarantine Kits and Contagion Calculus** is the fourth episode of A Problem Squared.

### Show Notes

Problems featured in this episode:

* Why is this episode so late?
* What to take when in hospital quarantine?
* Tips for working at home from two pros.
* Does the exponential maths of viral memes check out?

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### Summary

#### Quarantine Kits

What happens if you get quarantined in the hospital? This was a question posed to Bec as recently, after a live show, she fell sick and was brought to the hospital by ambulance after having Covid-like symptoms.

Bec mentions that quarantine rooms in hospitals have minimal facilities (bed, bathroom and sink) which she notes that if you're quarantined in a hospital, you won't need much else, since you'll probably be spending your time resting. She mentions that she didn't really use her tablet or read her book while she was there.

Some important things to bring would include essentials like toothbrush and toothpaste, toiletries, socks to keep feet warm, a spare blanket, and a set of spare clothes for discharge. Matt also suggested having someone to contact in case you need anything else, or a ride back home (though they'd need to abandon the car for 2 weeks). Also, for a joke, she recommended bringing something to put into the vial for coughing phlegm into (like wasabi) as a prank.

#### Working from Home

A number of viewers asked Bec and Matt about tips for working from home, which they both decided to answer together, since they mainly work from home most of the time.

The first thing they recommended when starting working from home was to try not to call people too much, otherwise one might get tired really easily. They found that a lot of people were calling each other, whether to catch up or for trivial work matters. Another thing is to set a routine while at home, getting up at a certain time and doing things by a schedule. Bec found it hard initially to work without a schedule, and has since made a system for her to create a checklist and get things done.

Bec also gave some advice for people who would like to get exercise while staying at home: getting into dance. She recommends trying to learn the dance in the music video for Iceland's 2020 Eurovision entry *Think About Things*.

Actual tips:

A tip for getting up a reasonable time is having a normal schedule: forcing a routine to stop work so you sleep earlier, and setting alarms to wake up early. Bec recommends SAD light alarms, which gradually increase in brightness until it sounds, so it's harder to fall back asleep.

Tip for focusing on your work is by creating a dedicated work space, a place which is just for work. If possible, don't work in a place where you relax, as it might make it harder to relax later when you associate it with work. Even if you only have 1 room, you can set up a corner of your room for work.

#### Contagion Calculus

A problem posed by Bec to Matt was relating to the different rates of Covid-19 spread, which differed depending on the reporter, and she wanted to know which one to believe. Referring to a infographic she posted on Instagram and Twitter, she felt that the infographic made sense so her, since she was to kind of person who wouldn't check it. Thus, she asked Matt to help check if the stats were correct.

Researching the lab on the infographic, Matt found that it came from a reputable lab, Signer Lab, and then did further investigations on how they came to the conclusion. Those infected with Covid-19 are highly infectious for the first 5 days, based on the R0 infection rate which is the average number of people an infected person will infect.

They worked it out by checking that within the first 5 days, if a person infects 2.5 people, then within 10 days, those 2.5 people will infect 2.5 people of their own, leading to 6.25 people who are infected. So, the lab worked it out by taking 1 (original infected) + 2.5 + 2.5^2 ... + 2.5^6 (since 30/5 = 6) = around 406. This infographic is based on the total number of people infected, while graphs that call to "flatten the curve" are generally based on new cases, where the ideal is 0.

Matt also comments on how the infographic doesn't really show the scariness of exponential growth, where a tiny difference in the beginning can make a huge difference in the long term. Different estimates for R0 range from 1.5 to 3.5, and Matt used an analogy to explain how a 3.5 times exponential growth would get out of hand much faster than a 1.5 times exponential growth. Either way, he does believe that it checks out, but doesn't show the full benefit of lowering infection rates.

#### TL;DR

Q: What should I bring to the hospital for Covid-19 quarantine?

* Some toiletries, probably socks and blanket for warmth. Entertainment optional, as you may not need it.

Q: Any tips for working from home?

* Normal tips: Have a good schedule with a useful routine, try SAD alarms and only work in your dedicated work space
* More specific tips: Try not to call people too much, you might get tired, and good exercise is dance.

Q: Are the stats in Bec's infographic accurate?

* Yes, based on the total number of people who will be infected after 30 days.