Pandemic fatigue can mean lowering your guard

+ A tale of 2 Chiles US Edition - Today's top story: Sick of COVID-19? Here's why you might have pandemic fatigue [View in browser]( US Edition | 24 October 2020 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair After all these months living under the threat of COVID-19, I suspect you’re as ready as I am to see the end of this pandemic. And you might be pretty weary of all the precautions you’ve been taking: washing hands, masking up, keeping your distance. Texas A&M public health researcher Jay Maddock knows it’s really tough to stick with behavior changes meant to improve health – think about the challenges of quitting smoking or eating right. But with coronavirus cases on the rise, now is not the time to give in to your pandemic fatigue. Maddock has some suggestions for how to [stick with the behaviors that will keep you safe](. This week we also liked articles about [the origins of ballot privacy](, [why Chileans may replace their constitution]( and the [future of the post office](. Maggie Villiger Senior Science + Technology Editor It’s tempting to take a break from pandemic precautions. Erin Clark for The Boston Globe via Getty Images [Sick of COVID-19? Here’s why you might have pandemic fatigue]( Jay Maddock, Texas A&M University It's draining and depressing to stay on high alert month after month after month. Understanding pandemic fatigue better might help you strengthen your resolve. A sign keeping campaigners at a distance in the New Hampshire presidential primary election at the Town Hall in Chichester, New Hampshire, Feb. 9, 2016. Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images [19th-century political parties kidnapped reluctant voters and printed their own ballots – and that’s why we’ve got laws regulating behavior at polling places]( Kristin Kanthak, University of Pittsburgh Laws that have long kept campaigners away from voters at polling places may not work in a world where a T-shirt symbol can be interpreted as campaigning. ‘Chile Decides’ whether to change its military dictatorship-era constitution at a popular referendum on Oct. 25. Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images [Chile puts its constitution on the ballot after year of civil unrest]( Jennifer M. Piscopo, Occidental College; Peter Siavelis, Wake Forest University On Oct. 25 Chile will decide whether to replace its dictatorship-era constitution with a new one written wholly by the Chilean people. The vote shows how protests can change the course of a nation. - [An epidemiologist explains the new CDC guidance on 15 minutes of exposure and what it means for you]( Ryan Malosh, University of Michigan New guidance from the CDC says that 15 minutes of exposure – regardless of whether that occurs at one time – can result in transmission of the coronavirus. - [COVID-19 causes some patients’ immune systems to attack their own bodies, which may contribute to severe illness]( Matthew Woodruff, Emory University Are antibodies that attack a patient's own organs contributing to severe forms of COVID-19? A new study suggests specific antibody tests that may reveal the answer. - [Mail delays, the election and the future of the US Postal Service: 5 questions answered]( Jena Martin, West Virginia University; Matthew Titolo, West Virginia University Two legal scholars explain what's causing the USPS mail delays, what they mean for the election and the agency's deeper financial problems. - [The history of oath ceremonies and why they matter when taking office]( - [What the rise of digital handouts on Venmo and Cash App says about our fraying social safety net]( - [OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma may settle legal claims with a new ‘public trust’ that would still be dedicated to profit]( - [When fracking moves into the neighborhood, mental health risks rise]( - [How to track your mail-in ballot]( - [P-TECH high school model connects students to college and careers]( Video With concert halls shut down, classical musicians are turning to online streaming. Sot/Stone Collection via Getty Images [Writing the “Isolation Rag” – a composer reflects on his experience making music during a pandemic]( Scott Wheeler, Emerson College A composer and performer talks about the impact of the pandemic on classical music performances and his experience composing in isolation. You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451