Question: There has been talk about keeping desks 6 feet apart when we return to work. However, if we are all sitting in a poorly ventilated room together for hours, won’t we all be exposed to each other no matter how close or far our desks are from each other?

Answer: I’m picturing a poorly ventilated box the size of my kitchen. Let’s say there are four people in the box. If you spend enough time there, you’ll be breathing each other’s air no matter how far apart your standing/sitting. In that respect, your concern is correct. But if there’s a mandate that everyone in the box must stay at least 6 feet apart, then it limits the number of people in the box. Instead of 4 people in the box, now only 3 can fit. Your risk is greatly reduced because your box pod is 25% smaller. I think it’s this way with desk spacing too. It keeps the number of people in the room limited, reducing your pod size, and therefore reducing your risk. And please keep pushing for improved ventilation!