I am still masked up in my picture on here, and in my opinion, for good reason. COVID-19 is still very much present in our lives and I don’t see it going away. Those of us who are not vigilant, especially those of us who live with one or more disabilities, are foolish to think we are safe.
I’ve noticed more and more news media dropping the “19” and just defining COVID as COVID so we’ll do the same here at Access Press unless advertisers and sponsors specify otherwise.
We may be somewhat safer but we still need to guard our health. My bout with COVID was thankfully mild – like a very bad cold. Others have not been so fortunate.
Masking is hard for me and for many of us. I am an adult on the spectrum who doesn’t even like tags in the back of my shirts. A mask can feel intrusive. But wearing one is something I do when I am in big crowds or even have the hint of a cold.
I was doing a bit of shopping the other day and took note of how many people are and are not masked up.
Long haul COVID is something we all need to guard against. It can worsen existing disabilities and health conditions. Many of us have dealt with or continue to deal with it. Some of us have lost loved ones to it. I am watching someone I knew as energetic and engaged forced into early retirement, and it has been a big physical and mental struggle for her.
Since July 2021, long COVID was added as a recognized condition that could result in disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). That’s according to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The federal website outlines a wide range of health problems that can be ongoing.
Post-COVID conditions can include a wide range of ongoing health problems. Such conditions can last weeks, months or years.
Post-COVID conditions are found more often in people who had severe COVID illness. But don’t let one’s guard down after a mild case because anyone who has been infected with the virus that causes COVID can experience post-COVID conditions.
People not vaccinated against COVID and who become infected may have a higher risk of developing post-COVID conditions compared to people previously vaccinated, according to the CDC.
The CDC also notes that while most people with post-COVID conditions have evidence of infection or COVID illness, in some cases, a person with post-COVID conditions may not have tested positive for the virus or known they were infected. As free home test kits go away and testing sites close, it may be harder for many of us to keep testing due to test kit costs.
CDC and its partners are working to understand more about who experiences post-COVID conditions and why, including whether groups disproportionately impacted by COVID are at higher risk.
Here is the link for more information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html
Press Conference this Thursday
Mental health advocate and their allies have been on the move this legislative session. The Mental Health Legislative Network is holding a press conference at noon Thursday, February 23 at the capitol. NAMI Minnesota and allies will be highlighting the bills introduced and hearing from a number of the legislators who are carrying the bills.
There will be a livestream on NAMI MN’s Facebook page.
