COVID-19 is something that many of us are afraid of. I’ve talked a bit about my experience with symptoms and getting tested. Despite my test coming back negative, I’m still up in the air about what has been causing my and my partner’s symptoms. I’m not alone in this, either. Charis Hill recently wrote about their experience in addition to co-founding the #HighRiskCOVID19 hashtag.
To keep up with breaking news, visit Healthline’s page about COVID-19
Let’s take a look at what’s happening now and what might happen in the future.
What’s going on?
Some healthcare systems are preparing for the worst, like Henry Ford in Michigan. Following Italy’s lead, they’ve already pre-determined disabled folx to be lower on the survivability list and worth of pulling ventilators from. They aren’t the only ones, either. Ableism has been running rampant, both on a systematic and individual level, including not giving a shit that many of us are at-risk. Thankfully, the blowback has been big enough that HHS’ Office for Civil Rights in Action issued a statement Friday that this type of thinking is wrong and discriminatory.
Protective equipment is in short supply right now, too. Ableds who won’t need these things hoard them. Meanwhile, disabled folx and healthcare providers are being screwed over. Hospitals and clinics are reusing PPE, even using garbage bags that won’t protect them at all. HCPs are asking for donations of PPE if possible (check in your area before donating) and some are even considering taking home-made masks. Cool companies like Bauer are making PPE, though! There’s also a cool 3d printer N95 facemask design out there for those looking to make some. If you’re using disposable masks, make sure to dispose of them properly.
A 17-year-old was turned away from the ER due to not having insurance. He died because of COVID-19 symptoms soon after. This is why we need universal health care. In other shitty news, Israel didn’t translate a lot of COVID-19 related information into Arabic, leaving a ton of people out.
Joel Freedman, the owner of an abandoned hospital in Philly, refuses to reopen unless he gets around $70 per room per night. Hahnemann University Hospital could hold 500 patients. Holiday Inn Express-Midtown is doing more for the cause right now than Freedman.
As if that weren’t enough, ER doctors who speak up about shortages – such as Dr. Ming Lin – risk their jobs to do so. His employers requested he remove social media posts showing the reality of working at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, Washington. When Lin didn’t, he was fired. Apparently, it doesn’t matter that we have a shortage of health care providers.
A vaccine is getting tested as you read this!
Speaking of essential personnel, some people are making the argument that we need to nationalize food delivery apps like Grubhub and Uber Eats. Conversations about doing the same with other essential services like grocery stores, too. Considering the amount of price gauging, lack of protections, and lack of hazard pay, it’s worth a thought.
That’s it… right?
Not even close!
That stimulus bill got approved after being delayed by the GOP for BS reasons like wanting to eliminate Roe V Wade in the middle of a pandemic. It doesn’t actually help everyone that it should, so that sucks. Trump’s also not reconsidering cuts to the CDC budget so, you know, that’s terrifying. Combine that with fighting with states over supplies – monetarily and verbally – and it feels like we’re screwed.
While everyone swoons over how Cuomo is handling NYC’s infection rate, he’s done nothing to ensure the safety of people at Riker’s Island. In fact, Riker’s now has the highest infection rate in the world.
Some people are using this horrifying event as a call for eco-fascism. It’s awful and completely expected at the same time.
Another expected and upsetting occurrence has been anti-Asian violence. Whether it’s putting someone down verbally, coughing on them, or physically attacking them, racism has been on full display. While there’s no doubt that this would happen to a degree regardless, Trump’s comments about this being the ‘Chinese’ virus have absolutely contributed to the problem.
Dr. Fauci is trying hard to get people who aren’t listening on board with social distancing, etc. He’s starting to appear on late-night shows to get the message out. Without saying it, it’s clear he’s trying to undo the harm Trump has done with misinformation. You really should watch his visit to The Daily Show. Not everyone appreciates Fauci like I do. In fact, Trumpers are targeting him for trying to protect people.
Some of Trump’s misinformation included the notion that a malaria and anti-rheumatic drug would help ease COVID-19 symptoms. Not only has this not been studied, but it’s led to a run on these medications. It’s gotten to the point that patients on these medications for chronic illnesses are being taken off of them and ‘thanked’ for their ‘sacrifice.’
At least some news networks are cutting away from Trump’s lies?
What happens now?
Well, it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Fauci predicts it will be ‘several weeks’ before we’re done socially isolating. Some other experts have predicted this will be on-and-off for a year at least.
Since people of all ages are refusing to engage in social distancing techniques, we’re not going to flatten the curve as much as we truly need to. That’s especially true when around half of all people infected with COVID-19 don’t show symptoms and probably think nothing of going out. Our healthcare system will be taxed beyond what it can take, far beyond what we’re already seeing. They will start rationing care, especially thanks to Trump turning down a number of offers of COVID-19 tests, ventilators, and more.
I hope that we don’t wind up like Italy, now clocking almost a thousand deaths a day. I fear that’s where we’re headed, though.
Instacart and other contractor-based companies engaged in essential services will strike. Instacart is planning to do so tomorrow, so this isn’t an edgy prediction. Others on the verge of striking due to lack of protection and hazard pay include garbage people and Amazon workers.
We’re all grieving, and that’s only going to get worse, too. It might take the disguise of anger or other emotions. Hell, it can even present in being unable to remember how to do easy things we do every single day. Telehealth and telemedicine – especially for mental health – will see a huge uptick. Companies like Better Help and Talkspace will try to give away free therapy for people affected by COVID-19. Unfortunately, they’re going to get overwhelmed quickly.
What does the long-term future hold?
Obviously, the hope is that the world can fight off increased COVID-19 infection until we have a vaccine. Even then, we’ll have to ensure that enough of the vaccine is produced that people can be protected. Covering as many people as possible requires us to make some healthcare changes or, at least, exceptions. Ideally, this will cause a shift toward universal healthcare. Unfortunately, it’s also something that will take a while. While the vaccine process is going as fast as possible, some estimate an effective vaccine will take 12-18 months to get into production. Honestly, that’s probably closer to 2-3 years.
It’s possible that there will be a certain level of herd immunity as people recover. This might aid those trying to vaccinate others who haven’t had it as they can test for antibodies (once that test is developed). However, herd immunity only lasts a small time. Until a vaccine is developed, it’s clear that our population will decrease by a significant amount.
Longer-term protections for essential care workers, from grocery workers to health care providers. Current laws have left people unable to make any income, drastically switching jobs, or forced to work and expose themselves to COVID-19.
Wearing masks will become the norm around the United States, particularly in concentrated metro areas. We’ll begin to see masks as commonplace instead of odd. I’m honestly excited because maybe I won’t feel weird wearing my mask for MCAS.
Public places will start pairing down the number of tables they have to give more space. This will wind up having an awesome plus for those of us who need extra space for accessibility reasons. We’ll see far more accessibility measures put in place, from remote work to everyone being allowed to vote by mail. Alyssa MacKenzie recently wrote a piece about how abled people’s fear right now is what she experiences year-round. For the first time, abled people are experiencing the concerns the rest of us do all the time. Abled people will start understanding chronic illness more.
Depending on who gets elected for the next few presidential terms, we’ll see nationalization for things like the internet. More protections will be put in place for essential workers.
Mutual aid – something marginalized folx have relied on for ages – will start becoming more commonplace. This is especially true in the odd interim spot before some of these accessibility measures are formally instituted. There are already multiple sources of mutual aid out there, both based on identity and location.
My hope is that the people coming to grips with inequality they never saw before will learn about what methods we have for fighting these issues. Lack of accessibility is something we’ve discussed openly and often. Still, it seems like abled folx only care when accessibility helps them, and that’s frustrating.
At the end of the day, it seems like we’re hopefully waking up to what inequality looks and acts like within society. It’s absolutely a long time coming. In recent years, movements like Black Lives Matter have highlighted racism and police violence. Anti-ableism, anti-sanism, and other anti-oppression movements have gained more and more momentum. Even social distancing is a social justice measure.
Ideally, with the flaws being pointed out in our capitalistic system, we will start to shift away from the cover feudalism we live in. I really hope that we use this opportunity to move towards improving our country and our world.
If I’m honest, though, I know not all of these things will change, and it’s a goddamn shame.