It’s a new year, and a new wave of COVID-19 is cresting throughout the United States.
In Kansas and surrounding areas, wastewater tests — which function as a preliminary public health alarm system — indicate worryingly high levels of the virus. Nationally, Eric J. Topol, a professor of molecular medicine, expressed his concerns in the Los Angeles Times, labeling the current variant as “the second-biggest wave of infections in the (U.S.) in the pandemic, after Omicron,” which rose to dominance in December 2021. It’s estimated that approximately 2 million people are being infected each day.
Last November, the Kansas Reflector warned of a resurgence of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses during the holiday season, rightly encouraging prevention and treatment. As we enter the fifth year of this endemic, it is very important not only to be cautious with ourselves, but also to take care of each other.
Personally, I’m up to date on vaccines, and, as an introvert, I often social distance without question. Admittedly (and ashamedly), though, I have not been masking while in public as frequently as I should, given our worsening reality over recent weeks. Unsurprisingly, my lax behavior resulted in me contracting COVID–19 for the second time, and considering my health care crisis last year, this behavior was negligent.
More than that, I feel frustrated that I have not acted in a way that is consistent with my principles and values, which are rooted in the network and the care of the network. Thankfully, a caring friend reminded me that none of this is our fault as individuals. For nearly a decade, we have all been largely left alone in the face of COVID-19 and its ever-evolving manifestations, which is unfair and negative for public health.
As government rules diminish and structural responses struggle to gain prominence, now is the time to look at each other. From social media channels showcasing mitigation methods to playlists highlighting the ethics of care, there’s a lot we can do to better protect Kansas communities and the world.
A big component of our new general is appreciating – and accepting – what it has replaced in our society, and then learning to adapt tactics that put the collective ahead of individual needs and needs. Wearing a mask while traveling, traveling, or even going to the grocery store, for example, can help protect others, especially immunocompromised workers, who can’t go to those crowded spaces. When we come together, at weekly events or annual celebrations, we want to do so consciously, making sure that all other people of all identities can come together.
“A pandemic that claimed the lives of other people, estimated to exceed the total number of civilian deaths in World War I, is still active and claiming as many lives as the planet allows,” Estelle Ellison, a disabled Black trans woman who explores the intersections of ableism and capitalism, wrote in an essay last month.
Choosing to be less cautious by assessing only our non-public threat points is, in a way, ignoring the wishes of other people we come into contact with in our daily lives. Although I’ve been experiencing mild symptoms lately, I’m staying home until my check comes back negative, because I know that any viral contact with another person can change your life, or even end.
During the Omicron wave, our state lost 59 Kansans in a single day, according to data collected through the Covid Act Now coalition. As Rebecca Barrett-Fox wrote last fall, “acute COVID-19 infections were the fourth leading cause of death. “in the United States in 2022. “
Sadly, though, death, in my view, is not the worst outcome imaginable, as other people with long COVID in particular (and others with other chronic ailments made worse by the virus) may tell you.
The important thing not to forget is that each and every action has a charge. It’s important to note that this fee may not be charged to you, your child, a friend, your neighbor, or a total stranger who has a long road ahead of them.
In the face of the many drawbacks of the pandemic, true community care is emerging as a practice that transcends non-public convenience. Rigorous post-exposure testing (with or without symptoms) and adherence to stay-at-home protocols, if your privilege allows, acts of solidarity. Orchards Drug in Lawrence and other local pharmacies still offer free PCR tests, and online resources like the Clean Air Club consultant allow us to tackle this not unusual challenge responsibly.
As it states, “Part of responsible citizenship during a pandemic involves avoiding becoming infected (and likely spreading infection) as much as possible. It also involves having a plan in place in case we do get infected.”
My long-term vision is one that centers those with the least access, inclusion, and strength in our collective decisions, so that we can foster a society where everyone can fully participate in life.
Personally, I prefer a world that allows other people with disabilities and other risks to be relegated to the margins of society because the rest of us refuse to make concessions on COVID-19. I know it starts by expanding on how I enjoy my values as “real limitations on (my) behavior. “
In his column, Topol called out a culture of dissent, saying that a “state of denialism and general refusal to take simple steps to reduce the risk of infection can be seen everywhere.” He also noted that COVID-19 “has once again proved to be highly resilient, capable of reinventing itself to infect us.”
In unity, we too can find resilience. And while the pandemic is the only global crisis, it offers a key lesson: We can redefine what it means to take care of ourselves by deliberately taking care of others.
Kendra Bozarth (she/her) is a writer, writer, and organizer specializing in economic policy and narrative change. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to magnify the voices of others affected by public policy or excluded from public debate. Find information, adding how to submit your own feedback, here.
by Kendra Bozarth, Kansas Reflector January 12, 2024
It’s a new year, and a new wave of COVID-19 is sweeping the United States.
In and around Kansas, wastewater tests, which serve as an initial formula for public health alarm, indicate troubling levels of the virus. Nationally, Eric J. Topol, a professor of molecular medicine, voiced his concerns in the Los Angeles Times, calling the existing variant “the second-largest wave of infections in the U. S. “”The U. S. in the pandemic, after Omicron,” which has risen to dominance in December 2021. It is estimated that around 2 million people get sick every day.
Last November, the Kansas Reflector warned of a resurgence of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses during the holiday season, rightly encouraging prevention and treatment. As we enter the fifth year of this endemic, it is very important not only to be cautious with ourselves, but also to take care of each other.
Personally, I’m up-to-date on vaccinations, and since I’m an introvert, I distance myself socially without a doubt. However, it’s true (and embarrassingly) that I haven’t masked in public as I should, given that things have gotten worse in recent weeks. Unsurprisingly, my lax habit led me to get COVID-19 a second time, and given my fitness crisis last year, this habit was negligent.
More than that, I’m frustrated with myself for failing to act in ways that upheld my principles and values, which are rooted in collectivity and community care. Fortunately, a loving friend reminded me that none of this is our fault as individuals. For almost half a decade, we have all been largely left alone to navigate COVID-19 and its ever-changing manifestations, which is both unfair and detrimental to public health.
As government rules diminish and structural responses struggle to gain prominence, now is the time to look at each other. From social media channels showcasing mitigation methods to playlists highlighting the ethics of care, there’s a lot we can do to better protect Kansas communities and the world.
A big component of our new general is appreciating – and accepting – what he has replaced in our society, and then learning to adapt tactics that put the collective ahead of individual needs and needs. Wearing a mask while traveling, traveling, or even going to the grocery store, for example, can help protect others, especially immunocompromised workers, who can’t make it to those crowded spaces. When we come together, at weekly events or annual celebrations, we want to do it consciously, making sure that all other people of all identities can come together.
–Kendra Bozarth
“A pandemic that claimed the lives of other people, estimated to exceed the total number of civilian deaths in World War I, is still active and claiming as many lives as the planet allows,” Estelle Ellison, a disabled Black trans woman who explores the intersections of ableism and capitalism, wrote in an essay last month.
Choosing to be less cautious by assessing only our non-public threat points is, in a way, ignoring the wishes of other people we come into contact with in our daily lives. Although I’ve been experiencing mild symptoms lately, I’m staying home until my check comes back negative, because I know that any viral contact with another person can change your life, or even end.
During the Omicron wave, our state lost 59 Kansans in a single day, according to data collected through the Covid Act Now coalition. As Rebecca Barrett-Fox wrote last fall, “acute COVID-19 infections were the fourth leading cause of death. “in the United States in 2022. “
Sadly, though, death, in my view, is not the worst outcome imaginable, as other people with long COVID in particular (and others with other chronic ailments made worse by the virus) may tell you.
What’s necessary to remember is that every action or inaction comes with a cost. Importantly, that cost might be billed not to you but to your child, a friend, your neighbor, or a complete stranger who has a whole future ahead of them.
In the face of the many drawbacks of the pandemic, true community care is emerging as a practice that transcends non-public convenience. Rigorous post-exposure testing (with or without symptoms) and adherence to stay-at-home protocols, if your privilege allows, acts of solidarity. Orchards Drug in Lawrence and other local pharmacies still offer free PCR tests, and online resources like the Clean Air Club consultant allow us to tackle this not unusual challenge responsibly.
As it was said: “Part of the guilty citizenry in the face of a pandemic is to avoid becoming inflamed (and probably spreading infection) as much as possible. It’s also about having a plan in place in case we become inflamed.
My long-term vision is one that centers those with least access, inclusion, and strength in our collective decisions, so that we can foster a society where everyone can fully participate in life.
Personally, I prefer a world that allows other people with disabilities and other risks to be relegated to the margins of society because the rest of us refuse to budge on COVID-19. I know it starts by broadening the way I live my life. values such as “actual limitations of (my) behavior. “
In his column, Topol denounced a culture of dissent, saying that “a state of denial and general refusal to take undeniable measures to lessen the threat of infection is visible everywhere. “He also noted that COVID-19 “has proven once again to be very resilient, reinventing itself to infect us. “
In unity, we too can find resilience. And while the pandemic is the only global crisis, it offers a key lesson: We can redefine what it means to take care of ourselves by deliberately taking care of others.
Kendra Bozarth (she/her) is an editor, writer and organizer who specializes in economic policy and narrative change. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Kansas Reflector is owned by States Newsroom, a network of grant-backed news bureaus and a coalition of donors as a 501c public charity(3). Kansas Reflector maintains its editorial independence. Please contact Editor Sherman Smith if you have any questions: info@kansasreflector. com. Follow Kansas Reflector on Facebook and Twitter.
Kendra Bozarth (she/her) is an editor, writer and organizer who specializes in economic policy and narrative change.
TOOLKIT FOR DEMOCRACY
Our stories can be republished online or in print under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4. 0 license. We ask that you edit them just for pleasure or for short, provide attribution and link to our website.