Understanding this virus
Fact is: You cannot compare it to the flue. Neither by how deadly it is, nor side effects (short and long term).
You can be contagious 2-3 days before you have any symptoms. Sometimes (usually in younger people) even without any symptoms at all.
Just "feeling healthy" is not enough.
Such a contagious window is usually about 7-8 days long. You will usually be sick longer than that, though, apart from the long term effects.
In that timeframe it is most crucial to avoid others. This should also be done for the rest of the quarantine, though, as you can be outside the statistical median.
Risks for healthy adults
What do we currently know about Covid and personal risks to healthy adults?
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In general, the younger the less risky. BUT there are always exceptions. Who says you can't be the one of the 5%?
One gene-marker, one underlying issue so far unknown can make a huge difference.
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80% (especially in younger and healthy adults) lose smell, most recover this after weeks or months. A few will not however.
Some get parosmia instead or on top (brainfuck!).
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80% (also healthy adults) seem to have some kind of heart issue afterwards, some smaller, other larger.
This can have a serious long term affect on your general health and future as dancer.
It can also show itself as fatigue or short breathing.
Overall you need to balance the risks against the need to go out there and dance with a lot of strangers.
Be aware that - even with a good immune system, even as younger and healthy - there is a medium risk of heaving problems for many years afterwards.
Sometimes for life.
Tests
There are two tests right now:
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PCR tests using a swab, can take 1-2 days before the lab returns the results.
They are legally valid for all cases, incl. airports and other countries, but a bit more costly.
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New rapid antigen test that is done directly at the doctor's and takes only 15min. The costs are also in the area of 15-30 EUR.
They are scientifically as reliable as the PCR ones (for testing negative) and can be a quick and cheap alternative where legal issues
are not of relevance. So far not all airports or countries accept those yet. Ask your doctor.
Risk groups
Do not attend any such dance event if you are in a risk group.
They can never be really safe, and the risk through such large group events is very high, even with precautions.
One must always take into consideration the attendance of people, that did not minimize their exposure, and could
be or become infectious during an event. With a higher incidence (in Winter times) even more so.
And this can also be different per country. Some do have almost no counter measures in place or people do not follow them.
Basic recommendations
In general: The more local and the more insight your own bubble of people, the better.
Especially international events are a high risk interaction and should be avoided until outdoor events can happen again (temperature wise).
Please always check if you can join any event with a fixed partner.
If not, maybe limit the number of people you want to dance with for the event.
Any outdoor event is much safer, even with less physical distance, as the wind disperses the aerosol more easily and quickly.
For indoor events consider wearing masks (both leader and follower to combine their 20% effectiveness).
If an event does not have a protocol in place, and doesn't provide enough space and a lot of fresh air/circulation, try to avoid those.
Even with many protocols in place, however, there is still the very real risk of getting directly infected when dancing with a contagious person.
Always have in mind, that you can without knowing infect others around you. Some of them back at home, friends, family.
We all need to try protecting those as good as we can - even if we decide to be OK with some "Russian roulette" with our own body.
Before and after the event:
- Make sure to self-isolate before and after the event as much as possible (7 days are usually a good minimum, 10-12 more safe for others).
- As 80% of people without more serious symptoms lose smell (partially or complete), you can check your senses here the day prior to the event.
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Consider taking a rapid test the day before or the day of the event. They are now affordable and done within 15-30 min.
Only if that one comes back positive, you need to take a more in-depth PCR test.
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After the event it makes sense to test around 3-6 days later.
As directly after you might be already infected, but the virus didn't yet replicate enough to be detectable.
Disclaimer
The guidelines and conclusions here represent the current status quo and consensus of the international scientific results so far.
They cannot be legally binding and can be subject to change, if new data arises.
We clearly distance ourselves from anyone who plays down the pandemic threat or ignores the civic responsibility of
each and everyone for the sake of others.
Status: October 2020