​The Dos and Don’ts of ‘Quarantine Pods’

         It might be awkward, difficult and even risky. But joining a social bubble might just save your sanity.     
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     My kids are increasingly missing their friends and sense of normalcy; it feels like something has to give or we’ll all lose our minds.
​     One idea that some families are considering — and that infectious disease epidemiologists think might be a smart way to balance mental health needs with physical safety — is to create quarantine “pods” or “bubbles,” in which two or three families agree to socialize with one another but no one else.
     In a pod, families hang out together, often without regard to social distancing — but outside of the pod, they follow recommended social distancing rules.
The reality is, people need social contact, and some families are struggling without it. So we need to find ways to socialize safely.