#covid-19 blogging

[mixelation]

Once again I am Posting to give you all a friendly reminder that most popular Covid-19 posts on this site contain some level of misinfo. Common types of misinfo include:

"heard from a friend of a friend" medical advice, including "twitter thread of things a nurse told me" or "opinion of a random unverified doctor on social media"-- NEVER follow this type of health advice without checking with proper sources first

anecdotal data provided as fact

misunderstandings or misrepresentations of what disease agencies like the CDC are doing, should be doing, or what it would even be possible for them to do

assigning numbers and statistics to things OP just made up. this ranges from saying something like "only 2% of people mask" to mean "anecdotally i see only a very small number of people masking in my community"* but the actual number is misleading to seem to seem like a real statistic.... leading all the way to people just making numbers up

overly dramatic language**

assigning moral values to things which have no moral weight (e.g., "I haven't gotten covid because I'm a good person who....")

misrepresenting the conclusions of current research. this one is tricky because you'd think linking a study in a high-tier medical journal would be a good source, but I frequently see the following mistakes: overly definitive language, including asserting causation when causation has not been established, or claiming a single study definitively has definitely proven something; not understanding appropriate extrapolations from a study's design (something that happens to cell in a petri dish is NOT definitive of what happens in a body); incorrect biological conclusions/assumptions, or else oversimplification that loses nuance; cherrypicking studies. Remember that Covid-19 is still a very new disease and the research is still evolving. A study that seems extremely important in one year might turn out to be bunk later, not because the study was poorly designed, but because we were missing key info. There is a lot we simply do not know and cannot know and we need to careful of our language when reporting on it.

just straight up made-up facts

Please keep this in mind if you choose to interact with a covid-19 post. Remember to click through on any sources to verify them, to be wary of a lack of verifiable information, and that a post making you feel overly emotional is a sign to double-check the facts and message.

*Clarification: assigning an estimated number to things you see is an innocent rhetorical device in terms of informal communication, which is what tumblr is for. I say things like this in casual conversation too. It only becomes an issue when whatever post is mass reblogged. I'm not saying don't post like this..... I'm saying know to recognize this in things you choose to interact with.

**Again, emotive language is fine for blogging. It's a natural part of human communication, and I do it too. I'm not criticizing that. I'm warning you to be aware of it as a potentially misleading rhetorical device before you hit reblog.

[hillbillyoracle]

Now is the Time to Start Masking Again

If you stopped paying attention to COVID with the release of vaccines, you've missed a lot.

COVID is airborne.

Long COVID impacts 10% of people infected by COVID (though this is beginning to look like a low estimate). Risk of Long COVID goes up with each reinfection. Long COVID is worse than initially reported.

Bisexual and trans people are more likely to develop Long COVID.

Black and Hispanic folks are more likely than White folks experience more symptoms and health problems from Long COVID.

***COVID and Long COVID has much more in common with HIV and AIDS than the flu (28:19 - 38:30 of linked video)***

The Basics

[WEBSITE] You Have to Live Your Life

[ZINE] What's Up With COVID and How to Protect Yourself - 2024 Edition

[FAQ] r/ZeroCOVIDCommunity's FAQ and Resource List

"This is great and all but it's overwhelming. TL;DR?"

COVID is airborne. Long COVID is much more common (and serious/debilitating) than previously thought.

Mask with an N95 or better in all indoor spaces and outside when close to others. Improve your indoor air quality by opening windows and using fans/air filters.

Rapid tests are prone to false negatives so make sure to retest in 48 hours after exposure and/or when you develop symptoms. Isolate in the meantime. Consider upgrading to a NAAT (PlusLife, Metrix) or PCR (Lucira) if you have the money.

Things for you to do today:

buy some N95s or request some from a local mask bloc

open a window more often and/or buy an air purifier

buy the best COVID tests you can afford

Basics in Video Form

If you have limited time, watch the videos with * first. They will cover the basics in about 20 minutes.

*VIDEO: COVID is Airborne [2:53]

*VIDEO: What the latest research tells us about long COVID's most common symptoms [5:58]

*VIDEO: FDA warns of false negatives with at home COVID Tests [2:19]

*VIDEO: How to Stay Safe(r) at Home [10:35]

--

VIDEO: The Astounding Physics of N95 Mask [6:08]

VIDEO: Mask Fit 101: Seal [4:07]

VIDEO: Mask Fit 101: Qualitative [3:49]

VIDEO: Mask Fit 102: Quantitative [5:04]

VIDEO: How to get [and give] FREE Masks [6:07]

VIDEO: Try this DIY indoor air purifier for cleaner air [4:22]

VIDEO: Why is EVERYONE more SICK [54:55]

Want to Get Involved?

Join your local Mask Bloc

No local Mask Bloc? Consider starting one

Talk to the people in your life about COVID

Print quality zines and spread them in your communities

Push for COVID Conscious changes in your spaces.

[theoverstimulated]

"You might think that because you’ve had COVID-19 and lived through it that repeat infections will impact you similarly, but “reinfections aren't harmless. As cases continue to rise and more variants arrive on the scene, infectious-disease experts are warning that repeat infections could have cumulative, lasting effects.”

...If you want to maintain your current level of health and avoid potential damage to your body & organs up to and including your brain & your heart and/or want to live as long as possible, taking precautions to prevent COVID-19 infections is crucial."

[novelistparty]

there was a gaggle of 60yo on the train talking about terrible unusual blood clots in friends and family over the last few years because of covid. and they weren't wearing masks

[nsvry]

[wormsngods]

The worst consequence of COVID was educational institutes realising they can conduct online classes.

[mentallyunstablequeen101]

Soooo- 👉👈I am here to formally confess so * clears throat dramatically*

I am standing here today to formally admit that I was a dsmp Stan during the time period of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic through the 3 months of 2021 😭😭😭😭

( I still like to see what’s going on with Tommy and tuboo for the record, probably am never going to stop ngl-. And um I don’t really regret it chat ( I’m so smart Ikr) it just hit different so no hate)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME COURT

(Also RIP techno blade I miss you 🥲🥹

( reblog if this is you I need to know 👍😭)

[crabussy]

TO PREFACE. this post is ONLY about the people who openly boast about this and act like they're better than people who do wear masks. the rest of you, drink some water and I love you okay?

I'm so so tired of seeing people SO PROUD of the fact that they refuse to wear a mask. it is such a small, small inconvenience to you but its so important to you that you prolong the pandemic and cause more suffering and death. when you parade your ignorance around I want you to remember this number:

6,910,810

thats the number of deaths from covid-19. that's the total number of people who have died because of the virus as of August 29 2023. it's repulsive how you don't even stop to think about the elderly, those with autoimmune diseases, the already sick or disabled who have such a high chance of dying if they are exposed to even one person with the virus. My dad is now disabled from long covid. he hasn't been able to ride his bike, his favourite activity in the world, for over half a year. and he's one of the least affected by the virus. My friend (no longer around) with an autoimmune disease could not travel for three years because aeroplanes were such a high risk zone for her because people weren't wearing masks in such close proximity.

please I am begging you. inconvenience yourself. people are dying.

I know the death toll is dwindling and thats fantastic but it's not over yet.

[lanomin]

Lots o' covid thoughts under the cut. It's hard out here, tldr thank you to those of you who still wear masks

god I almost wish I could turn off my understanding of science and epidemiology, it's been another summer of seeing everyone move on with their lives and just acting like covid doesn't exist and isnt a big deal. And it really really hurts this year, we're finally leaving tennessee but we're going to go through so much covid risk moving back out west.

We've had multiple days where we're both like crying and shaking at the thought of how much covid exposure we're risking with traveling/staying with our parents. And then I see friends and family fucking getting married, and traveling to fucking hawaii, and eating at restaurants and it makes me want to bash my head in because am I crazy???? Is this all in my head am I just anxious and missed the memo that covid isn't a big deal??? And then I read primary source research articles and it's like no!!! covid can permanently disable you and we don't know how to fix it!!

And then it hits that pretty much all of my friends and family who I know are smart and empathetic actually don't give a shit about other people's health and safety and it makes me want to crumple up like a dead spider. And they don't care about me or my boyfriend! We're just those annoying freaks who still care about covid!

And I want to live my life too, so so badly. I want to get married to my boyfriend and go hang out with friends and travel to places I love but I just can't. I can't decide to not give a shit about other people, I cant not know the risks of long covid. And the pandemic won't last forever, no pandemic has, but it's taken so much of my life from me and especially from my boyfriend that it feels like my heart's getting fucking autoclaved.

Leaving tennessee is supposed to be a really exciting new start to our lives, moving somewhere we both love and would actually enjoy living, but the crushing weight of everything these last 4 years is just making it feel like we're going out to a world that wants us dead and will ostracize us for caring about other people. And it's so scary, it's like well tennessee is horrible, but it's a hell we've gotten used to...so maybe we just sit in our cozy bunker out here forever and just deal with it. But it's worth it to get out of here, I know it is, for a chance at a happier life but fuuuuuuuck it's so stressful and hard.

Thank you to everyone still wearing masks, to the mask blocs and communities that give a shit, you really are a light in the dark.

[covicare]

The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Systems

Written by Dev

The COVID-19 pandemic hit healthcare systems worldwide, exposing serious weaknesses and forcing rapid changes. Hospitals were overwhelmed with patients, leading to shortages of beds, oxygen, and protective gear. In places like India, where the healthcare system was already under pressure, these shortages were especially severe, with many patients struggling to get care.

As hospitals focused on treating COVID-19, many regular services like surgeries, cancer treatments, and vaccinations were delayed or canceled. This led to other health issues, like an increase in maternal and child deaths due to lack of access to basic care. For children, interrupted vaccination programs risked future outbreaks of preventable diseases, making this health crisis even worse in the long run. Additionally, multiple countries lacked the proper monetary resources and funding to effectively handle this disaster, aggravating the strain on resources, since the ones that were able to receive healthcare were receiving the same in poor quality, leading to occasional incomplete treatments of the same.

Since all medical resources went towards Covid-19 patients, there was a strain on treating other diseases like Cancer, multiple STDs, etc. Additionally, the lockdown also prevented routine check-ups, leading to a surge in patients with worsening conditions, not necessarily involved with Covid-19. The frequent postponing of health check-ups caused multiple disadvantages, and is a variable that could have lessened the load on the healthcare system.

The pandemic also triggered a disturbing rise in attacks on healthcare workers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), healthcare staff worldwide faced violence, abuse, and stigma. In many cases, healthcare workers were wrongly seen as “spreaders” of COVID-19, leading to harassment and even physical assault. This fear and misinformation affected not only healthcare workers’ safety but also made it harder to provide medical care.

Mental health issues increased during the pandemic too. Many healthcare workers struggled with stress, burnout, and trauma due to high patient death rates and long hours. The importance for mental health was severely underscored during the time of the pandemic, considering extreme levels of anxiety between not only patients but also regular people. People outside the healthcare field also faced mental health challenges from lockdowns, isolation, and fear of infection. With demand for mental health services rising, healthcare systems struggled to keep up. Health scares combined with break in routine spread widespread paranoia within the people.

However, the crisis did lead to some useful changes, like the growth of telemedicine, which allowed patients to talk to doctors remotely. This made it easier for people to get healthcare without leaving their homes and helped hospitals reduce patient crowding. Many healthcare providers also set up drive-through testing and vaccination centers to make these services more accessible. These new methods of delivering healthcare might continue to improve access even after the pandemic.

Additionally, it introduced newever, more enhanced protocols when faced with death or serious situations, which only improved time and response of healthcare systems. The anxiety and mental stress caused by the pandemic also increased the availability of mental health resources and help to people, a part that helped reduced the stigma surrounding mental health.

COVID-19 has shown that healthcare systems need to be stronger and more flexible to handle future crises. Governments and healthcare leaders are encouraged to invest more in public health, improve safety protections for healthcare workers, and support mental health resources. By learning from COVID-19, healthcare systems can better protect both patients and providers when the next crisis comes.

[expendablemudge]

THE WISDOM OF PLAGUES: Lessons from 25 Years of Covering Pandemics, best to learn from someone who knows because he was there

[theoverstimulated]

If you're interested in building community and acting in solidarity, this week's post is a short piece about an easy action you can take today.

[novelistparty]

PSA: a negative covid rapid-test is only a true negative after a second negative test 24-48 hours later Testing only once right before going into a shared-air space is not enough. The oligarchs have found the pandemic to be inconvenient for their quarterly reports and thus they have decided it is over. But it is very much not over. Be careful out there. Violet Blue has a free weekly roundup with information to help you be better informed (make sure to send her money if you can).

[renaissance35]

Holy Sunday Bible scriptures for your fear ☺️

It's so nice to be reassured that there's nothing to fear when Christ is near, and God is watching over you, especially at this time of the year. When the darkness is most apprehensive.

Have a safe and blessed week🙏🙏🏻🙏🏼✝️🙏🏽🙏🏾🙏🏿

[brknelct4444]

guilty pleasure