Face Masks: A User's Guide

Plus: Pandemic Vocab; Attacks On Health Workers Goats and Soda editor's note Maxwell Posner/NPR Runners and bikers and walkers and hikers are a global community. And it's not always a leisure activity. I remember talking to James Kassaga Arinaitwe, co-founder of Teach for Uganda, about how he used to [run 8.8 miles to school as a kid]( fueled by a glass of milk and a sweet potato. But many of us engage in outdoor exercise because we love it. And now we face a new dilemma during this pandemic: [Do we need to wear a mask when exercising?]( And if we do, what's the strategy when wearing a mask makes your workout more challenging? Those are questions I've been pondering as I run and bike in Maryland, where I live. So I began reporting on this subject. With the help of the talented NPR video team, I shared my findings in a video and a blog post. [See the video and read the story here.]( Happy (masked) exercising to all! Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- in the news Ahmad Al-Basha/AFP via Getty Images ['I Will Kill You': Health Care Workers Face Rising Attacks Amid COVID-19 Outbreak]( A doctor in Yemen says he was threatened at gunpoint when treating a patient infected with the virus. The incident is part of a larger trend of pandemic-related attacks worldwide. [How Chile Ended Up With One Of The World's Highest COVID-19 Rates]( It's a wealthy nation with a robust health care system. Life expectancy is greater than in the U.S. So what went awry? [No Rest For The Gravediggers Of Afghanistan]( They are working harder than ever to keep up with the death toll from the novel coronavirus. [Pandemic Causes China To Ban Breeding Of Bamboo Rats And Other Wild Animals]( The idea is to reduce the risk of spread of viruses through animal-human contact. Bamboo rat breeders are devastated. And critics say the ban has too many loopholes. COVID questions Malaka Gharib/NPR [Coronavirus FAQs: Is There A Polite Way To Remind Someone To Follow Pandemic Rules?]( And if you're headed back to a physical workplace, how do you keep safe? [What's A Fomite? Pooled Sampling? A Guide To Pandemic Vocabulary]( The novel coronavirus has brought a slew of new and unfamiliar terms into use. [A User's Guide To Masks: What's Best At Protecting Others -- And Yourself?]( They're made of cotton. Or polyester. Or paper. Or polypropylene. Here's what researchers say about the effectiveness of the different models. in remembrance Eduardo Munoz/Reuters; Andaleeb Rizvi; Lucas Jackson/Reuters; Javaid Iqbal; Anita Pouchard Serra [Global Lives Lost: From A Soccer Pioneer To A Climate Change Leader To A Wise Grandma]( COVID-19 has killed half a million people around the world. We asked writers and activists to share stories of those who've died during the pandemic. links we like - NPR is featuring a new tool to assess the [coronavirus risk in your community]( in the U.S. - Find out [how snakes can fly.]( Hint: It's not in a plane. - Even at a time of mask tensions, it's important to have a sense of humor. Our colleague Malaka Gharib has a cartoon in The New Yorker about ["how to guilt people into wearing a face mask."]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [goatsandsoda@npr.org](mailto:goatsandsoda@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](