There is a huge auditorium full of people at this town hall and I don't see a single person besides me wearing a mask. Not cool.
Oh, wait, there's one other mask!
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli #CovidIsNotOver

Highlights of @ducky 's COVID-19 roundup https://covidbc.webfoot.com/2025/03/07/2025-03-07-general/ this week:

(2024-06-16)

ten people out of 27 had significant improvements after a stellate ganglion block: [...]

The other fifteen partially responded, and got another treatment — which meant that their data couldn’t honestly be used in this comparison [...]

The two who did not respond at all to treatment were two of the three people who only had smell/taste issues
https://www.autonomicneuroscience.com/article/S1566-0702(24)00049-3/fulltext

(2025-03-03)

air pollution and genetics both raise the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.

For each interquartile range–rise in air-pollution concentrations, the risks of COVID-19 infection were 96% higher for PM2.5 and PM10, 97% for NO2, and 98% for NOx.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2421513122

(2025-02-28)

Asthmatics who got Paxlovid for COVID-19 infections were 35% less likely to be hospitalized than ones who got molnupiravir
https://respiratory-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12931-025-03156-2

#CovidIsNotOver #SARSCoV2 #COVID19 #COVID #LC #LongCOVID

Prior to Covid it was normal to mask in the NICU. People understood that premature babies are as vulnerable as they come and need to protected.

Now? Gowns & gloves but no masking.

The damage caused by anti mask rhetoric will be felt for years (possibly decades) to come.

Mask mandates belong in healthcare. We should be providing free respirators at the door & cleaning and ventilating the air.

If you’re a healthcare worker who doesn’t think you need to mask, please read my plea on behalf of vulnerable patients:

https://www.disabledginger.com/p/a-plea-to-maskless-healthcare-workers

We know masks in healthcare stop the spread of airborne disease. We know they reduce the risk of hospital acquired COVID (which has a 10% mortality rate).

We know respirators work even better.

So why aren’t we masking? Why are patients having to bear the brunt of infection control?

https://www.disabledginger.com/p/we-need-mandatory-masking-in-healthcare

#covidisairborne #covidisnotover #longcovid #chronicillness #ableism #eugenics #keepmasksinhealthcare #disability

USA: 🇺🇸

🔹59% of Americans believe the COVID-19 pandemic is over, while 41% think it’s not."

🔹47% of U.S. adults said their lives are fully back to pre-pandemic normal, while 40% said they think life will never get back to normal."

🔹 "More than 7 in 10 U.S. adults, 72%, reported having contracted COVID-19 at some point since 2020, while 28% say they have never had it."

#COVIDisNotOVER #COVIDIsAirborne

Source: https://www.livenowfox.com/news/americans-say-covid-pandemic-over-5-years-later

@auscovid19

Never underestimate the power of wearing a mask. It’s a simple and safe act of compassion, resistance and self care.

Sick of being sick? Wear a mask.

Have a vulnerable loved one you want to protect? Wear a mask.

Work in healthcare and want to protect your patients? Wear a mask.

Want to fight fascists? Wear a mask.

Worried about low vaccination rates bringing back measles, polio and other eradicated diseases? Wear a mask.

Want to resist and keep your activism virus free? You guessed it, wear a mask.

When worn correctly, they’re highly effective. Trump and Vance are as anti-mask as they come, so we need as many people as possible masking in solidarity.

Let’s keep people healthy while normalizing them as an important tool in the fight against disease AND fascism.

#covidisairborne #covidisnotover #fascism #resist #wearamask #pandemic #publichealth #measles

There’s so much going on in the world that we can’t control.

The Covid pandemic gave way to rising fascism, just like the pandemics that have come before.

People are scared. Many lost loved ones. Society changed overnight. The loss of control that many felt allowed bad actors to rise up and capitalize on people’s fear.

No matter what our governments say or do, Covid isn’t over. It’s still killing and disabling people.

What’s worse, the pro infection crowd has become so loud and emboldened that vaccine uptake is down, masks are vilified and we’re seeing a resurgence of diseases like measles and tuberculosis.

Despite all the infectious disease threats out there, we still don’t have mandatory masks in healthcare.

The one place people absolutely can’t avoid, the place they should have a reasonable expectation of safety, has become one of the least safe public spaces.

Patients are being infected trying to access basic healthcare, because staff refuse to mask. Refuse to test. Refuse to isolate.

It’s eugenics, and we need people to realize it before it’s too late.

We need mandatory masks in healthcare. We must protect patients AND staff. We must protect even the ones who refuse to protect themselves.

https://www.disabledginger.com/p/we-need-mandatory-masking-in-healthcare

#uspoli #pandemic #publichealth #fascism #masks #n95 #chronicillness #disability #ableism #eugenics #covidisairborne #covidisnotover

"Certainly the silent organ damage is a real problem, we think, for future development of disease. When you're young and healthy, you can take a certain amount of damage to the system without it showing up. [...] But as people age, their capacity to buffer against that particular set of damage might decline and we might see increased risk of other symptoms, particularly heart, lung, brain, emerging in people's fifties and sixties."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/543885/long-covid-warning-silent-organ-damage-is-a-real-problem

#CovidNZ
#CovidIsNotOver
#LongCovid

Help support Long COVID Recovery- Surgeries

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-my-surgeries-living-expenses

#MutualAid #COVID #Covid #CovidIsntOver #CovidIsAirborne #CovidIsNotOver

Woman, 36, almost passed out while walking. She was in heart failure due to COVID-19

https://www.today.com/health/coronavirus/woman-details-myocarditis-covid-symptoms-rcna63476

on the one hand, i am extremely thankful that 1) she is recovering and 2) this made national news

but i am absolutely terrified that if she hadn't been a white woman, hadn't had good insurance, hadn't had the ability to take off work then we never would've known. and that means this has definitely happened to people who were not privileged enough to receive support to recover.

#Covid #CovidIsNotOver #CovidIsAirborne #LongCovid #Disability

Patients have been bearing the brunt of infection control in hospitals, having to go to great lengths to protect themselves and their loved ones.

They’re unfairly judged, psychologized and mistreated for masking and/or requesting staff mask.

Covid is still here. It’s still killing and disabling people. We’re also seeing outbreaks of tuberculosis, measles and the worst flu season in over a decade.

Public health is being systematically dismantled and gagged by the Trump administration, allowing misinformation and disinformation to flourish and putting even more lives at risk.

Why don’t we have mandatory masking in healthcare? Why are we killing and disabling patients who go there for help? Who can’t ‘just stay home’?

The second article in my Masks in Healthcare series looks at patient stories, retaliation, and what we can do to make hospitals safer for everyone.

https://www.disabledginger.com/p/we-need-mandatory-masking-in-healthcare

#covidisairborne #covidisnotover #longcovid #sarscov2 #chronicillness #healthcare #keepmasksinhealthcare #wearamask #ableism #eugenics #disability

New York confirms two cases of measles as RFK Jr does an about face on vaccinations.

After spending years spreading harmful anti-vaxx rhetoric and lies, he’s now tacitly recommending the MMR in the wake of the first child death of measles in a decade.

More outbreaks will continue to happen until people start vaccinating their kids again.

Measles is incredibly contagious, and it’s airborne. The average person goes on to infect approximately 9 others.

The disease was all but eradicated thanks to vaccination, and it’s on the rise again because of people like RFK Jr

The kids need us to protect them. They need the adults to make smart choices.

Also, wear a respirator! It’ll help protect from measles, covid, flu and more.

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-reports-two-confirmed-cases-of-measles/6171176/

#measles #rfkjr #publichealth #airborne #wearamask #vaccines #hhs #COVIDisAirborne #covidisnotover

#CovidIsNotOver

RFK Jr finally recommends vaccination to deal with the measles outbreak hitting Texas right now.

This is quite the about face for a man who’s been spreading harmful anti-vaxx rhetoric for years.

Just a few days ago he was minimizing the outbreak by saying it was “normal” and recommending vitamin A.

What changed? Not going to lie… my initial thought was “it must be really bad if RFK Jr is pushing the vaccine”

Please folks, get your boosters. Wear a mask. Clean the air. Protect your health & the health of those around you.

https://www.axios.com/2025/03/03/kennedy-jr-measles-outbreak-vaccine

#rfkjr #vaccines #measles #uspoli #hhs #publichealth #texas #wearamask #COVIDisAirborne #covidisnotover #disability

The measles outbreak in Ontario has doubled, putting 18 children in the hospital (one in the ICU).

“He adds measles vaccinations have fallen to about 40 per cent during the pandemic, where before it was 85-90 per cent. He says people aren’t getting the vaccine anymore because of many factors, including “vaccine fatigue”.

Who would have imagined that having to get a series of Covid shots would lead people to give up on vaccines that have saved lives for decades?

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ontario-facing-one-of-its-largest-measles-outbreaks/

#measles #publichealth #pandemic #covidisairborne #covidisnotover #vaccines

There are measles outbreaks in the U.S. and Canada. A disease we eradicated is making a comeback due to dangerous anti-vaxx rhetoric.

We need mandatory masking in healthcare, and we need it now.

A respirator protects against Covid, measles & more.

There’s no excuse to expose patients when we have the tools to prevent it:

https://www.disabledginger.com/p/a-plea-to-maskless-healthcare-workers

#masksinhealthcare #measles #longcovid #covidisairborne #covidisnotover #sarscov2 #n95 #keepmasksinhealthcare #h5n1 #publichealth #donoharm

Die Schulleitung hat wohl auch die Nase voll von #PersonalAusfall .

#FediEltern #CovidIsNotOver #InfluenzaIsNotOver

An unvaccinated child died of measles today, the first such death in almost ten years in the United States.

The FDA just cancelled an advisory meeting to discuss next season’s flu shots, mere days after a CDC vaccine advisory meeting was also cancelled.

RFK Jr is anti vaccine and anti science. His appointment to the head of HHS will have devastating consequences.

If you’re not up to date on your boosters, get them now.

If you’re unsure, talk with your doctor.

No matter what happens, remember that a well fitted mask like an N95 can provide excellent protection against airborne viruses and bacteria.

It’s time to mask up.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-cancels-meeting-select-flu-strains-seasons-shots-rcna193931

#uspoli #hhs #cdc #fda #rfkjr #measles #h5n1 #vaccines #covidisairborne #covidisnotover #n95

From Germany:

Altered corticostriatal connectivity in long-COVID patients is associated with cognitive impairment

Image is from latest Science for ME weekly update

@longcovid
#LongCovid #PASC #PwLC #postcovid #postcovid19 #LC #Covidlonghaulers #PostCovidSyndrome #longhaulers #COVIDBrain #NeuroPASC

@covid19 #Coronavirus
#COVID19 #COVID #COVID_19 #COVIDー19 #SARSCoV2 @novid@chirp.social #novid @novid@a.gup.pe #CovidIsNotOver
@auscovid19 #auscovid19

I thought I'd read "just one more paper" (uh huuuh 😏) tonight

Semi-randomly landed on https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01260-6 from 2021

...huh

"The simplest solution to this is for social-media companies to remove the anti-vaxx misinformation superspreaders: the professional propagandists making a living from the anti-vaxx industry, from their platforms, as detailed in our July 2020 report. There is no moral justification for profiting from harmful lies, and there is no legal barrier to social-media companies’ removing them for breach of their terms of service. In fact, in the USA, moderation decisions are explicitly protected by law. The problem has never been ability; instead, it has been the will to act. Tech companies have failed to act because their business model relies upon keeping users on their platforms scrolling through content interspersed with advertising, regardless of that content’s impact on society. Their failure to act should be punished with tough government regulation." 💥

and that closing paragraph: "All of us have been doing our bit in 2020 and 2021 to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Think of the friends and family you have not seen. Think of the medics risking their own lives and losing patients to this cruel virus. Think of the Herculean efforts made by scientists to develop a vaccine in record time. The anti-vaxx industry and technology companies, however, for their own solipsistic reasons, threaten to derail all that progress. It is up to all of us to stop them from doing so."

#CovidCompetent #CovidIsNotOver #COVID #COVID19 #pandemic #socialMedia #politics #policy #vaccines

Sympathetic article; quotes 3 German experts

"Years after the pandemic, has the threat of #LongCovid subsided?"

https://www.yahoo.com/news/years-pandemic-threat-long-covid-153323420.html

Includes this "Depending on the symptoms, doctors will often recommend exercise therapy ..." but then that can be true for people without PEM

@longcovid
#PASC #PwLC #postcovid #postcovid19 #LC #Covidlonghaulers #PostCovidSyndrome #longhaulers #COVIDBrain #NeuroPASC
@covid19 #Coronavirus
#COVID19 #COVID #SARSCoV2 @novid@chirp.social #novid @novid@a.gup.pe #CovidIsNotOver

1/

Texas becomes the latest State to propose a mask ban (while in the midst of a measles outbreak that’s currently over 100 cases).

These are ugly laws. They’re discriminatory & push disabled people further out of society. They increase the likelihood of police harassment. They paint maskers as “bad”.

There’s an excellent document with scripts for how to call & fight back! 🧵 1/2

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1704ui-FIcCqF97SX5uVnjP-Xi4A6m4WUXjce2ZonKEI/mobilebasic

#uspoli #maskbans #nomaskbans #uglylaws #infectioncontrol #publichealth #texas #measles #covidisairborne #covidisnotover #ableism #eugenics #disability

“Were they dying from Covid or were they dying from chronic disease?”

Easy. They died from Covid.

This idea that having a chronic disease somehow means that it’s ok that you died, or that you could have prevented your own death, is straight up eugenics.

I’m no less worthy of life than those without chronic illness. My chronic illnesses are not my fault. I can’t cure them with diet and exercise (believe me, I tried).

This is health supremacy and we need to call it out. When this behaviour takes root, the elimination of disabled people isn’t far behind.

We are ALL vulnerable to Covid. Placing blame on the individual and waving away millions of deaths as “oh well they had comorbids” is eroding whatever moral compass our society has left.

Mitigate the threat, and less people will die.

Clean air, better ventilation, mandatory masking in healthcare, isolating when sick, free and updated COVID tests and public health education on masks.

It’s time to save lives.

#covidisairborne #CovidIsNotOver #SARSCoV2 #longcovid #chronicillness #wearamask #disability #ableism #eugenics #fascism #rfkjr #uspoli

One year ago today, my partner Brian died. He was one of that week's covid statistics. According to the weekly tracking of covid deaths, 1,515 Americans died in the same week as Brian.
https://mindly.social/@WeeklyAmericanPandemicDeaths@mastodon.social/111982182949584596
Every one of those deaths was a person whose loss hit somebody as hard as Brian's death hit me. Every one was more than just a statistic.

Brian came into my life when I was nearly 50, when I wasn't expecting to meet a special someone. We had 15 wonderful years together. He had semi-retired, was working part-time. I was a bit younger, still working two jobs. We were talking about all the fun things we were going to do when we were both retired. We expected to have another good 10 to 15 years ahead of us.

Avoided covid for four years. Vaccinated, boosted, wearing masks at work or when shopping. Both of my jobs are public facing jobs, so I was especially careful.

But by 2024, everyone else was getting careless. Sick people coughing all over us, unmasked, were all around us. At one of our part-time jobs, where we both worked, was one such person. We both were finally caught by covid.

I was flat on my back at home for a week. Brian was hospitalized in ICU, developed pneumonia, and died.

Covid is still out there, folks. So is flu, and RSV, and other nasty things. If you are sick, stay home. If you must go out, (yes, there are medical appointments, and quick runs for food), then have the common sense to wear a mask out there.

Do it for my Brian.

#CovidIsNotOver

If you want to fight fascism? Wear a mask.

If you want to show solidarity with disabled people? Wear a mask.

If you want to protect your own health? Wear a mask.

If you recognize that no one is coming to save us? Wear a mask.

My ultimate guide to respirators looks at the early days of mask mandates, the rise of antimaskers, how to up your mask game for the ultimate personal protection and why we need to “fix our hearts or die”

https://www.disabledginger.com/p/were-witnessing-the-fall-of-public

#covidisairborne #covidisnotover #wearamask #n95 #uspoli #fascism #chronicillness #longcovid #h5n1 #publichealth #disability #ableism

COVID was an opportunity to adapt and become a more inclusive society.

We could have learned about airborne spread and adopted clean air standards. Improved ventilation. Made more outdoor spaces. Normalized masking.

Instead we’ve politicized infection control and made society less safe for everyone.

400 million people are now living with Long Covid, and our world is less accessible and inclusive than before.

There’s still time to change things though.

Small acts of kindness can do so much for someone like me.

Wear a mask in public. Stay home if you’re sick. Install an air purifier. Open a window. Donate to mask blocs. Do your part.

#covidisairborne #covidisnotover #ableism #eugenics #longcovid #disability #sarscov2

As more States propose mask bans, I want to take a moment to discuss claims that it’s “fear mongering” to say that masking is illegal.

People claim the medical exemption is “good enough”.

This ignores three critical points. Public perception, anti mask sentiment and rampant ableism

First things first, mask bans make masking a criminal offence. They make the act of wearing a mask illegal.

Sure there may be medical exemptions, but they’re incredibly problematic.

Lawmakers specifically chose not to exempt medical masks and respirators. The burden is on the wearer

Second, public perception around masking is very different now than it was before Covid.

People are irrationally angry when they see a mask. They’ve been politicized and folks have created an identity in their minds about who a masker is. A liberal. A sheep. Someone who’s anti-freedom.

None of their preconceived notions are based in fact or reality, but they fuel the anger and rage that gets directed at maskers every day.

When you enact a mask ban, you embolden these people. They aren’t reading the bills and considering medical exemptions.

They just hear they’re banned.

As a result they think they can demand you remove your mask. They may call the police on you. They will certainly feel justified in judging and targeting maskers and declaring that they’re doing “something wrong”.

This emboldening creates a dangerous situation that could easily lead to violence

This is why we must discuss anti mask sentiment when talking about mask bans.

Many disabled people masked before covid. I was one of them. The worst I ever got was a strange look or someone moving far away from me on transit

Since mask mandates ended I’ve been coughed on, spit at and yelled at

People view masks as bad and loathe anyone who’s still wearing them.

When you publicly enact a mask ban, you’re telling those people they’re right. That it’s ok to harass people for masking. That it’s wrong to wear a mask and protect your health.

You’re increasing the hostility.

Finally there’s the issue of ableism. Mask bans make public spaces less accessible. Period.

For many of us a good mask is the only reason we can be out in public. If you make it a crime, we risk being stopped by the police and forced to justify our disabilities.

Many of us have a difficult time getting healthcare workers to take us seriously, but we’re supposed to assume law enforcement will believe we’re masking for the right reasons?

That’s a risk we should never be forced to take. The interaction alone would negatively impact our baseline

Lastly… any reason for wearing a mask should be good enough.

We are still in a global pandemic. Millions are dead, even more are disabled. People are still dying every week.

Wearing a mask to protect yourself - whether disabled or not - is a smart and caring choice

The idea that someone should be forced to justify that choice or risk arrest is patently absurd.

Which is why mask bans are wrong.

The best way to fight these bans is to mask up. The more people wearing masks, the harder they will be to ban.

You can also call and email your local lawmakers and tell them you strongly oppose bans which make a medical mask illegal.

Please don’t wait until someone is assaulted or arrested just for wearing a medical device. Help us fight these bans now.

I’ve written extensively about mask bans, if you want a full length piece about why medical exemptions are not the answer, please read my article on Nassau County

Exemptions leave many people behind. They put undue burden on disabled individuals. They increase risk of profiling marginalized people

https://www.disabledginger.com/p/nassau-county-ny-makes-masking-illegal

#uglylaws #maskbans #discrimination #ableism #disability #uspoli #eugenics #COVIDisAirborne #CovidIsNotOver

You can get a pack of 20 expired FFP2 masks for 99 cents (euros). They're safe, but the elastic band adhesive may fail, so keep a pack in your backpack just in case. I've gone through 125 with @scremlin since November last year and have only had the string adhesive fail on 2 of them. Both failed right out of the pack, so I put them in a separate baggy and will just reglue them on another occasion. Highly recommend if you live in the EU.

https://www.mondkapjes.nl/en/

#covid #masks #masking #mondkapje #monkapjes #CovidIsNotOver

COVID is not just a respiratory virus. It’s not a cold. It’s not “mild”.

It’s a multi system vascular virus that can do damage throughout your body.

It’s also a novel virus. Five years is not a lot of time in the lifecycle of a new disease. The more we learn, the more obvious it becomes that avoiding infection is critical for long term health.

The precautionary principle should have been applied. We need to be humble and realize that we don’t know how bad things will be in another few years.

So wear a mask. Clean and ventilate the air. Avoid high risk settings. Do whatever you can to minimize your risk of infection. Protect yourself and your communities.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44349-025-00015-3

#covidisairborne #covidisnotover #sarscov2 #longcovid #heartdamage #disability #wearamask #PrecautionaryPrinciple

Last week a colleague who had been ill returned to work, wearing a mask. She said "I am following your example".

This is one of the reasons I mask - even though I totally suck at doing it properly and also forget.

To hold the space.

#MaskUp #CovidIsNotOver

I think I’m done trying to see the other side, trying to feel the difficulty that resulted in the moral compromise of those who are “post-COVID”, trying to give benefit of the doubt to lack of access to knowledge rather than willful lack of knowledge or just plain selfishness.

I just 100% feel betrayed, personally, by each and every fucking one of you, who owed and owe me and everyone else better.

#CovidIsNotOver #FuckAllYallWhoActLikeItIs

Association of cognitive deficits with sociodemographic characteristics among adults with #postCOVID conditions: Findings from the United States household pulse survey

https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biomethods/bpaf006

Screenshot from Science for ME weekly update

Hashtags:
@longcovid
#LongCovid #PASC #PwLC #postcovid19 #Covidlonghaulers #PostCovidSyndrome #longhaulers #COVIDBrain #NeuroPASC
@covid19 #Coronavirus
#COVID19 #COVID #COVID_19 #COVIDー19 #SARSCoV2 @novid@chirp.social #novid @novid@a.gup.pe #CovidIsNotOver
@auscovid19 #auscovid19

Hysterical over-reaction × 100. Did ANY of these contrarians lose family or friends in 2020/21/22? Are they still losing family and friends now? Are they, themselves, continually getting flu-like symptoms? The cognitive dissonance must be terrifying.
#StillMasking #Still_ignoring_dirty_looks_from_Covid_deniers #CovidIsNotOver

I still can’t believe having to mask temporarily during a global pandemic broke so many people.

It’s been 5 years & they’re still irrationally angry at the sight of a mask.

They’ve abandoned all sense of self preservation and community care, and lives will continue to be lost because of it.

#pandemic #maskup #covidisairborne #covidisnotover #sarscov2

“Are you going to wear a respirator forever?”

That depends. Are we as a society going to take Covid seriously and actually take steps to reduce transmission?

Because in the “back to normal” denial era a respirator is the best tool I have to stay healthy.

I will wear it as long as it’s necessary because it’s keeping me safe and ensuring I don’t spread Covid or other communicable diseases.

It’s an easy and simple way for me to protect what’s left of my health and practice community care.

I can’t change much, but this is something I CAN do. I can make a commitment to not spreading COVID. I can make a promise to care about vulnerable people. I can commit to adapting to changing threats.

#covidisairborne #covidisnotover #longcovid #wearamask #disability #ableism

Had my first healthcare worker refuse to mask for me. I’ve had many scoff, make accusations of “anxiety” or wear their mask wrong… but this was my first outright “no”.

My chart is documented that I’m immune compromised & require staff to mask. The facility had a policy that if asked, staff will wear.

I was told “no I need to breathe to do my job”. I stood firm & said I’m high risk and masks are required.

They declined again and said they’re “claustrophobic”.

I said “I’m sorry to hear that but you work in healthcare. Being able to wear a mask is a requirement of your job. Please put one on before coming near me” A firm no. They refused to check my chart. Refused to show concern or empathy.

What I did next not all patients would be comfortable with, but I was there for a test that meant this HCW would be up close in my face for an extended time. I was also visibly sick and had already passed out once due to low blood pressure. Putting me at risk for their own comfort was NOT ok.

I said “no one comes near me without a mask. If you’re unwilling to accommodate my disability, go find me someone who is”

They were NOT happy. Stormed out and came back with another HCW who was wearing a mask.

When they returned they refused to leave the room. I asked repeatedly and said I was uncomfortable with them remaining and didn’t want extra people around for the exam. They said I was being “unreasonable”. They remained in the room, maskless, watching me undergo a sensitive exam.

at that point I just wanted the test over with so I could leave. I was exhausted, disappointed and felt utterly disrespected. Everyone who works in a hospital setting is required to be able to Don and doff a mask. If this person genuinely couldn’t, they shouldn’t be seeing patients

When I went to leave I told them, firmly but politely, that if they genuinely can’t do such a small thing to protect the most vulnerable patients they should reconsider working in healthcare. I’ve never seen someone sneer like that. I thought flames would shoot out of their ears

I asked for their full name to lodge an official complaint and they refused. It’s hard to believe this is where we’re at. Before Covid I never had a healthcare worker refuse to mask. I also noticed this HCW wasn’t wearing gloves when the others were.

I took detailed notes the moment I exited the hospital so that I could lodge a complaint without the name, but the entire experience robbed me of spoons and energy. Not every chronically ill patient would be able to lodge a complaint or push for a masked HCW the way I was. Nor should we have to.

This interaction will feature prominently in my next article about masks in healthcare.

I need all HCWs to understand the tremendous privilege and responsibility they have to their patients. We are putting our lives in your hands. Your comfort or personal politics must be left outside the hospital.

If you missed the first article in the series, you can read it here:

https://www.disabledginger.com/p/a-plea-to-maskless-healthcare-workers

#ableism #eugenics #disability #disabilityrights #keepmasksinhealthcare #covidisairborne #covidisnotover #sarscov2 #WearAMask

Tuberculosis outbreaks in Kansas and North Carolina, measles outbreak in Texas and COVID is still everywhere. I’ve not seen a single media outlet mention wearing masks.

In fact masks are banned in North Carolina and Nassau County and more bans are currently on the table.

A good respirator protects from more than just Covid. The people deserve to know how to keep themselves safe.

#uspoli #airborne #publichealth #tuberculosis #covidisairborne #covidisnotover #wearamask #nomaskbans

I am sad I missed this one. It didn’t get far.

#HB58, establishing a committee to study legislative protections and accommodations for individuals with #longCOVID.

INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE.

Rep. Mark McLean for Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs. This bill would establish a committee to study legislative protections and accommodations for individuals with long COVID.

The committee felt that while the problem is real, there was nothing presented in testimony to elevate this illness above others to the point that a special committee is warranted. The committee also felt that the formation of a special committee would be premature, as a recent New England Journal of Medicine article stressed that the medical community is still trying to define long COVID. The committee therefore recommended Inexpedient to
Legislate. Vote 17-1.

#NH #CovidIsNotOver #WearAMask