This is a thing? Blue-check MD uses personal CO2 monitor to keep an eye on levels in public spaces

We had no idea that bringing a personal CO2 monitor into public spaces in order to assess risk levels of contracting COVID-19 was a thing.

Years of constantly being told by the media and the government that everyone is going to die  affected a lot of people, but this takes it to a whole new level:

This is why we should have been investing in ventilation two years ago. After 2.5 hours in a theater, the CO2 level is super high (3355).

I wore an N95, as I always do indoors. But many in the audience were not wearing any masks 😟 pic.twitter.com/JBinK8ZcBC

— Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD (@arghavan_salles) September 3, 2022

Let’s start with the obvious. If you’re the type of person who feels the need to monitor the CO2 levels in public spaces, why on earth would you stay if you felt the levels had become unsafe?

We aren’t the only ones wondering:

This is an honest question – why carry a CO2 monitor with you if at an insanely high CO2 reading you don’t get up and leave immediately?

— Sophia 🇺🇦 😷 ♦️🇺🇸🐎 (@Sophiepedia) September 4, 2022

The doctor was good enough to answer:

It’s a fair question. I put a lot of faith in my N95. And the monitor helps me know how much risk I’m taking and how hard I should encourage others around me to mask. Eg, I have family members who think I’m over the board since I always mask. Showing them numbers seems to help.

— Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD (@arghavan_salles) September 4, 2022

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Fair enough on the personal risk-assessment, but why does anybody else need to be encouraged to mask by a stranger in a theater who shows them a little device with a number on it? That just seems…odd.

Looks like this is a fairly common occurrence for this account:

This is the highest reading I’ve seen so far on the subway. Somewhat crowded car, but not overly so. pic.twitter.com/yQpz91d08t

— Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD (@arghavan_salles) September 4, 2022

Wondering what’s happening on the subway? Here are a couple of readings from last night. pic.twitter.com/WfI73eRZ1P

— Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD (@arghavan_salles) September 4, 2022

Newark airport could do better (this is in terminal)@EWRairport pic.twitter.com/qDzzCMPb84

— Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD (@arghavan_salles) September 2, 2022

Here’s the level right now on the plane (1750) prior to takeoff. As a reminder, I also check my bag and sit close to the front so I can board last and minimize time in this poor ventilation environment. pic.twitter.com/NuG8mynK6a

— Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD (@arghavan_salles) September 2, 2022

You get the picture.

We’re all for people doing what they think is necessary to protect their health. We’re just not sure that constantly monitoring CO2 levels while you’re out in public is, well, healthy.

For those wondering (and there appear to be quite a few) about the correlation between CO2 levels and the risk of contracting COVID-19:

Just to clarify, since people seem confused:

1) N95s decrease risk of transmission of airborne illnesses.

2) CO2 levels reflect ventilation and therefore indicate risk of transmission of airborne illnesses.

3) N95s don’t work by filtering CO2.

— Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD (@arghavan_salles) September 4, 2022

Thanks for clearing that up.