What's riskier: grabbing a drink at your favorite bar or hopping on a flight for winter vacation? According to state experts, going to an indoor bar is currently the No. 1 riskiest activity in terms of COVID-19 exposure for patients. By comparison, traveling by commercial airplane ranks eighth on the same list.
Last week, the Illinois State Medical Society and the Illinois Medical Professionals Action Collaboration team released its latest COVID-19 Risk Survey, which ranks 42 everyday activities from working out at a gym and attending a backyard barbecue to commuting by bus or train. The list is compiled with help from primary care physicians, medical leaders and infectious disease specialists.
The second and third riskiest activities go to hugging or shaking hands and attending a large indoor religious service, concert or event of more than 50 people, respectively. The lowest ranking activity is getting restaurant takeout, which is followed closely by running, jogging or hiking as well as pumping gas. What about other forms of dining out? Eating inside a restaurant comes in 15th place, going to an outdoor bar comes in 17th, and eating at an outdoor restaurant sits at 38th place.
The chart also very clearly highlights what health professionals have been saying all along: Every activity increases in risk when folks aren't wearing masks or practicing social distancing. Take a closer look at the full list of doctor-ranked activities here.
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