COVID Advocacy Initiative

ID: Elle Siebert, Nicholas Rodelo, and Sara Johnson stand outside of City Hall after the Long COVID Awareness Day resolution was announced. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Los Angeles recognizes Long COVID Awareness Day. Local advocates pushed America’s second largest city to formally observe the day on March 15. By Miles W. Griffis.”

“We need to maintain and build this momentum through Long COVID Awareness Day,” said Johnson, who supported the Los Angeles resolution. “This [recognition] should be a springboard.”

The city council of Los Angeles passed a resolution to recognize Long COVID Awareness Day on March 15. The resolution will also light the iconic City Hall teal.

@mileswgriffis.bsky.social was at City Hall and spoke with the advocates who made it happen: bit.ly/40BRxHT

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for March 3, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is “high” (represented with an orange color) and stable (represented with a side to side arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is “moderate*” (orange) and slightly decreasing (represented with a diagonal down arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and slightly decreasing. Text below these metrics reads: “*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions.”

The COVID-19 picture in the U.S. hasn’t changed much over the last month: national disease levels are declining, but very slowly, as some parts of the country remain disease hotspots even as we head into the spring. Flu is similarly still at high levels. bit.ly/4sktidd

It's #PHANtasticFriday and we're highlighting on-the-ground heroes who are making a difference. Clean Air Allies is hosting a video contest for youths age 13 or older, in grades 9-12 during the 2025-2026 school year! https://cleanairallies.org/contest/

Long COVID clinics are quietly closing, leaving thousands of patients without specialized care - Scienceline Long COVID clinics began opening in swaths across the country in 2020 to provide specialty care for patients living with this chronic condition, which occurs following a COVID infection. As of March 2...

Scienceline: 'Long COVID clinics are quietly closing, leaving thousands of patients without specialized care'

'Patients, providers and advocates say they are worried about the future of treatment'

By Emma Smith (@3mm4sm1th.bsky.social)

scienceline.org/2026/01/long...

Fight for masking in healthcare!
Sign Petition:
✍🏼 bit.ly/MaskUpColorado

@michael-hoerger.bsky.social
@maskblocla.bsky.social
@drjudystone.bsky.social
@cleanairla.bsky.social
@covidadvocacy.bsky.social
@covidsafersf.bsky.social
@covidsafecolorado.bsky.social
@covidsafecampus.bsky.social

#COVID19 re-infection doubles risk of long COVID in kids, young adults, data reveal

The second infection was also tied to a 50% or greater increase in several specific #longCOVID conditions, including myocarditis and fatigue

www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...

New Yorkers, have you called your NY State Senator and Assemblymember yet today? #NoNYMaskBan

⚠️ NY's budget is late. Legislators are still debating if it should include anti-mask legislation.

✅ We can win this, but it's go time NOW!

📞 Call your reps by 5PM today! If you called before, call again.

👥 Tell a friend to do the same!

Call Script Tool: bit.ly/no-mask-ban

#NoNYMaskBan

7 people wearing masks and holding flyers in a subway station

A photo of text that can be found at the following link: https://www.bcid.org/statement-of-joe-rappaport-brooklyn-center-for-independence-of-the-disabled-gov-hochuls-proposed-mask-ban-will-hurt-disabled-new-yorkers-most-recent-cases-of-pe/

We strongly urge Governor Hochul to end her pursuit of a mask ban.

Lawbreakers will continue to mask their faces with or without a ban while disabled New Yorkers will suffer if there is one.

http://bit.ly/3RnMaHJ

@kathyhochul.bsky.social @speakercarlheastie.bsky.social @leaderasc.bsky.social

Attention New York!

Image Description: Drawing of a person wearing a mask and NY hat. Text says: CONTACT YOUR NY STATE SENATOR AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER And urge them to speak out against any mask ban and anti-mask legislation in the state budget. #NoNYMaskBan COVIDAdvocacyNY.org

NY Governor Hochul is trying to pass a mask ban in State Budget!

Please call your NY Senator & Assemblymember, Senate Majority Leader, Assembly Speaker, & Governor Hochul & urge them to reject any mask ban & anti-mask legislation in the State Budget! #NoNYMaskBan

covidadvocacyny.org/stopmaskbanny

Budget deadline is approaching, and we need all hands on deck. Can you send our call tool to 3 friends today? Bonus points if they're in upstate NY! #NoNYMaskBan
www.jewsformaskrights.com/resources/ma...

Trump administration axes COVID funding for state, community health departments

The CDC is terminating $11.4 billion in grants and contracts awarded to health departments for COVID-19 response.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...

Photo: Virginia Guard Public Affairs / Flickr cc

‘Scared to put on my mask’: Cancer patient says she was intentionally coughed on in spat over mask The Republican-led state House passed a bill Tuesday that would adjust exceptions to the state law governing masks. The bill is awaiting a decision by Gov. Roy Cooper.

Here’s the thing about mask bans and medical exemptions.

Even if you believe the police won’t harass folks for masking (which is a position of privilege as they WILL harass marginalized people)… bans embolden anti-maskers & they become more aggressive.

They put vulnerable people in danger:

Post Text: CALL TO ACTION Block Hochul’s Mask Ban Push WEDS 3/26: Day of Action Governor Hochul is trying to sneak a mask ban into the state budget before the 3/31 deadline. We’re flooding the phone lines to say: NO MASK BAN. Join us this Wednesday, March 26th, for a day of action against anti-mask laws in NY. Join phone banks & take action: bit.ly/3-26-action Invite your friends! The more calls, the louder we are!

TOMORROW! Join us on Wednesday, 3/26, in flooding the phone lines against mask bans in NY! Phone banks hosted by @nyclu.org , @bendthearc.bsky.social, and more at the link.
bit.ly/3-26-action

#NoNYMaskBan

DEADLINE TONIGHT, 6 PM: Submit testimony against the anti-mask bill, SB 0709 (Remote or in-person) It’s urgent to submit testimony to help stop Maryland’s dangerous mask criminalization bills (SB 0709/HB1081)! Deadline is 6:00 PM on Mon. Feb. 24, 2025 [EASTERN STANDARD TIME].

URGENT ACTION ITEM:

The Senate version of Maryland’s anti-mask bill is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday (Feb. 26) in the judiciary committee. NOW THROUGH 6 PM (Mon., Feb. 24), we have an opportunity to submit testimony on the bill.

Instructions 👇
nomaskbanmaryland.substack.com/p/deadline-t...

JPR Committee Session, 2/26/2025 YouTube video by MGA - JPR

The Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing is live now.

The mask criminalization bill (SB0709) is bill 7 out of 9 on the schedule. We will try to provide an update when SB0709 is coming up next.

You can watch a livestream of the hearing on YouTube 👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnJn...

U.S. weighs destroying $500 million in stockpiled covid tests The government is reviewing proposals to shut down the program that ships free covid tests to American households and has been considering destroying 160 million tests.

SCOOP: Trump administration has been evaluating the costs of destroying or disposing of tens of millions of coronavirus tests that would otherwise be provided free to Americans. My story w/ Carolyn Y. Johnson.

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Public health experts agree that there is no urgent need for free tests to be sent to American households now, given low levels of covid-19. But they said keeping the tests on hand is an insurance policy in case the virus evolves to cause a large outbreak again.

Nationally, the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently high.

This paragraph from @washingtonpost.com's reporting on Trump potentially ending free COVID tests is factually incorrect.

According to CDC wastewater data, COVID levels are currently HIGH.

COVID still causes serious illness and death for too many. People still need free tests!

U.S. weighs destroying $500 million in stockpiled covid tests The government is reviewing proposals to shut down the program that ships free covid tests to American households and is considering destroying 160 million tests.

This is outrageous. US should not destroy $500 million in COVID tests!

Hundreds of people in the US are still dying every week from COVID.

People are still getting COVID and then Long COVID and other serious health issues from COVID.

COVID wastewater is high.

COVID is not over.

wapo.st/42VLGQh

Worldwide Mask Bloc Directory – Find your local Mask Bloc MaskBloc.org lists active Mask Blocs around the world. Free high-quality masks, COVID-19 tests and other equipment for your community. Mutual Aid & We Keep Us Safe.

Some orgs to support @jews4maskrights.bsky.social @covidadvocacy.bsky.social @longcovidjustice.bsky.social and maskbloc.org

5 CALLS TO MAKE BY 11 A.M.: Can't call all 5? That's totally fine! Any calls you can make will help show that we don't want this bill. Delegate Joe Vogel, 410-841-3103 joe.vogel@house.state.md.us Delegate Adrian Boafo, 410-841-3047 adrian.boafo@house.state.md.us Delegate Karen Simpson, 410-841-3436 karen.simpson@house.state.md.us Delegate Ryan Spiegel, 410-841-3792 ryan.spiegel@house.state.md.us Delegate Karen Toles, 410-841-3524 karen.toles@house.state.md.us Emails are another helpful form of outreach!

📲 ACTION NEED: Md's mask criminalization bill will be read in the House judiciary committee TODAY at 11 a.m. We are urging everyone to call and email the bill sponsors ASAP!

Find scripts here: nomaskbanmaryland.substack.com/p/oppose-mas...

'Masked Harassment' Bill: How New York’s Mask Ban Invites Misuse & Bias — Jews for Mask Rights New York’s updated mask ban promises safety through exceptions, but critics warn its reliance on subjective intent invites biased enforcement. Opponents argue it risks harming marginalized groups whil...

Is the updated NY mask ban any better? Not really, but it pretends to be. With useless carveouts & a focus on “intent,” it invites bias & puts mask-wearers at risk.

Our post explains why the Masked Harassment Bill fails to protect anyone. #NoNYMaskBan

www.jewsformaskrights.com/resources/wh...

‘Scared to put on my mask’: Cancer patient says she was intentionally coughed on in spat over mask The Republican-led state House passed a bill Tuesday that would adjust exceptions to the state law governing masks. The bill is awaiting a decision by Gov. Roy Cooper.

There’s also the issue of public perception.

Anti mask sentiment is a problem and people have been harassed, assaulted, spit on & more just for wearing a mask.

When you pass a mask ban, even with a medical exemption, you reinforce the notion that masking is “wrong”.

It emboldens anti-maskers:

#StopMaskBans.docx Take Action Together to Defend Our Human Right to Mask Protection. Link to This Doc bit.ly/StopMaskBans Letter Campaign on Action Network bit.ly/3XLuhqG Table of Contents Link to This Doc bit...

Maryland!
Mask ban goes to the floor at 1pm!
See:
bit.ly/StopMaskBans “Maryland” section to take action!
@togetherwemask.bsky.social (Shout-out for the great resource: MD, IL, UT, IN, TX, NJ, NY, NC, Chicago, LA, St Louis, Louisville KY--so many places; check out their fantastic work!!!)

Quote: Stop Mask Ban Bill HB1081 in Maryland! Maryland Dept. of Health says universal masking should start up again in medical facilities WYPR - 88.1 FM Baltimore | By Scott Maucione Source: wypr.org: https://bit.ly/WYPR_Mask2025

Maryland Dept. of Health asks for universal masking as respiratory protection from viruses. @wypr.bsky.social bit.ly/WYPR_Mask2025 Yet, Democratic state delegates want to ban masks.🧵
#StopMaskBans

Here's a link with the info, help us sink this crap- masks4md.carrd.co?fbclid=IwY2x...

Kiebpoli, wearing a pride mask from MaskC, posed for Julie Lam to support MaskTogetherAmerica’s nation-wide ‘StopMaskBans’ campaign.

"A mask ban is ludicrous & dangerous. Any person should have the right to wear a mask without repercussions for their own health or the health of others.” Kiebpoli Calnek, writer/director, posed for @msjulieslam.bsky.social to support #MaskTogetherAmerica’s national #StopMaskBans campaign.

#NoMaskBanMD Rapid Response Call Action Call. Today (February 17, 2025) | 7 pm. On Feb. 5, several Maryland lawmakers introduced legislation that, if passed, could lead to fines or even jail time for individuals found guilty of "intentionally harassing, intimidating, or threatening another person" while wearing a mask. Regardless of carve-outs, this legislation puts mask-wearers at risk of harrasment and profiling. Join us tonight to learn how you can take action. REGISTER: tinyurl.com/Feb17MaskBanAction (link in bio)

RAPID RESPONSE ACTION CALL TONIGHT: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

US Justice Dept demands data on criminal cases involving mask-wearing defendants The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday ordered federal prosecutors to turn over examples of cases in recent years in which defendants were charged with committing crimes inside a federal building whi...

"The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday ordered federal prosecutors to turn over examples of cases in recent years in which defendants were charged with committing crimes inside a federal building while wearing a face mask, according to an email seen by Reuters." 👀

www.yahoo.com/news/us-just...