7 Million Americans Won’t Be Un-Masking Anytime Soon. When You See Us Protecting Ourselves, Mind Your Business

49 states are doing away with mask mandates as Covid data trends downward, but not every American can afford to let their guards down.

Photo credit: Catherine McQueen/Getty Images

The New York Times recently published a super insightful article titled “Vulnerable to Covid, High-Risk Americans Feel Left Behind,” which is a very good primer for able-bodied, non-immunocompromised folks to read as the country begins dropping mandates everywhere, and hopefully pivoting to an endemic phase of the coronavirus pandemic. As Omicron numbers have plummeted and millions of Americans are vaccinated, boosted, have gotten an infection, or all three, state governments across the country are dropping mask mandates and vaccine mandates to restore a level of normalcy that we’ve waited on for two years. But for many folks, the “resolution” of this public health crisis is not that simple.

Roughly 7 million Americans live with either an immunocompromised system, comorbidities or some form of disability that makes them highly susceptible to severe illness or death if they contract Covid. As the U.S. moves toward the phase of “being able to live” with the virus, there is a considerable amount of people to whom this logic doesn’t apply. And it is that population who, for all intent and purpose, have co-existed at the mercy of millions and millions of folks who have moved about recklessly throughout the whole pandemic.

There are also millions and millions of people who have adhered to safety protocols, been immunized and still caught Covid, specifically when the Omicron variant began spreading rapidly.

Omicron was said to not be as deadly, but much more transmissible than earlier variants. The body count to recovery ratio appeared to be better than the battle against Delta, but the death knell still rang loudly for those who are among the 7 million. And here’s my fear moving forward: that many Americans who suffer from invisible illnesses and continue to follow safety protocols like masking or social distancing will be subjected to ridicule, harassment and possibly violence by “healthy Americans” who do not know how to mind their business, and view the sick as annoying reminders of a disease that the atmosphere will never rid itself of.

Philip Schellekens @fibke

“There is a misconception that the virus is destined to evolve to a more benign form. If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, it’s that the virus has an extraordinary ability to adapt — and it is unpredictable.”

latimes.comOp-Ed: The pandemic isn’t over. Omicron won’t be the last coronavirus variant to haunt usIf we’ve learned anything, it’s that the virus has an extraordinary ability to adapt — and is unpredictable.

If this sounds farfetched, it’s not, as there’s a historical precedent of Americans displaying varying forms of abusive behavior towards ailing citizens. But the larger issue beyond any individual cruelty that may come in a post-mandate/endemic society is this: ableism is baked into American culture and largely dictates how regions govern, often to the detriment of their most vulnerable populations. Even with disability laws on the books that are supposed to serve as protection against discrimination on the basis of health, the reality is Americans pride themselves on being a strong and resilient nation, and believes they have given too much of their lives to being “imprisoned” by this public health crisis. And if their desire for maximum freedom means that a few “weak” citizens have to die, then so be it.

Mx. Charis Hill ♿🏳️‍⚧️ (they/them) @BeingCharisBlog

If you were wearing a mask to protect yourself & others, especially #HighRiskCovid19 people, before; but you've stopped, you're an anti-masker now.