2023-05-11

On my emerging disability in the era of COVID.

On May 11th, 2023, the United States Government declared the coronavirus pandemic officially over.

More specifically, they declared the COVID-19 “Public Health Emergency” over. This had far-reaching impacts, ranging from millions of people losing their healthcare to student loan payments resuming this summer. As of that day this week, people could no longer get free COVID test kits from their insurance provider, the data reporting on COVID statistics will change completely, and state and federal programs that relied on there being an eagle-stamped State Of Emergency will stop or wind down. Despite the fact that 1,000 people still die every week from COVID-19. Even my own workplace in “liberal Massachusetts” will “no longer require faculty, staff and students to receive a COVID-19 vaccination” starting in July.

Also on May 11th, 2023, I started using a cane to alleviate my long COVID symptoms.