Thread by @broadwaybabyto

The CDC decision to change Covid isolation guidelines pushes us further into a culture of forced infection, disability and eugenics in the name of capitalism. It will disproportionately harm disabled, marginalized, unhoused & low income people. A 🧵 on social justice & Covid /1

If you were someone who wasn’t taking Covid seriously - then of course you don’t care if the guidelines are changed. If you’re someone in a position of privilege - who can afford to isolate when sick & is otherwise healthy? Maybe you don’t think it’s a big deal. But it is. /2

Many people in the U.S. are without paid time off, access to childcare, health insurance & more. There’s incredible disparity. Not to mention MANY vulnerable people are struggling financially so a “you do you” approach that puts all the onus on them to stay safe is unjust. /3

There’s many people out there who would isolate if they could afford to. Many people want to do the right thing and protect others but are FORCED to go to work due to inadequate paid sick time. This is forced infection. Everyone they work around are put at risk as a result. /4

There’s also people who NEED to stay home. Maybe your Covid infection is severe. You need to stay home and recover. Now you can’t because the CDC says it’s no big deal & one day is enough. Long Covid risk goes up when you push during the acute phase. This is forced disability. /5

People say “well if they’re worried they can get a doctors note”. It’s not that simple. Many can’t afford the time off to see a doctor, don’t have access to a doctor or lack insurance to PAY for a doctor. These same people won’t be able to afford care if Covid disables them. /6

Other people may not be in a position to push back even WITH a doctors note. If CDC says 1 day is sufficient employers will use that to punish those who need more time. Many ppl are 1 paycheque away from losing their homes & being unhoused also increases risk of Long Covid. /7

“Your health isn’t my responsibility. If you’re worried protect yourself.” Good quality respirators cost money. As do tests, air filters, nose sprays and mouth wash. Mitigation tools SHOULD be free - but they aren’t. “You do you” leaves our most vulnerable by the wayside. /8

Speaking of the vulnerable - disabled people have been screaming for years that the Covid response is inadequate (at best) and eugenics (at worst). Now the CDC are actually trying to claim that the reduced isolation guidelines were done to PROTECT the vulnerable. /9

Their argument is that the easier a guideline is to follow - the more people will do it. This is absurd. Those who don’t want to follow the rules aren’t going to. No matter what we do. These changes make it impossible for those who WANT to do the right thing to be able to. /10

High risk people haven’t been safe for years. We’ve been screamed at & attacked for masking and told to “just stay home.” In many cases we can’t even access safe healthcare which is the ONE place we absolutely can’t avoid. This decision was NOT made to help us. /11

I don’t know where we go from here - but I know this is wrong. Forced infection with a deadly & disabling multi system virus is WRONG. Creating a system where only the most privileged among us have a fighting chance at avoiding infection is WRONG. /12

Is no one capable of thinking about anyone other than themselves anymore? Or of those different from them? Is that why most people seem fine with this decision? I genuinely don’t know - but I hope not. /13

At the end of the day I want to believe in the goodness of my fellow human beings. I want to believe despite all the anger & division we still care about one another. That if we had good public health guidelines & access to social supports - people would do the right thing. /14

It’s hard to keep that hope on days like today. Many of us are hurt, angry and grieving. And that’s ok. Let’s feel & recognize that hurt and then find a way to fight back together. /15

We all share the air. We will succeed or fail together. It’s high time we recognize that & start working collectively to protect everyone. When the most vulnerable are safe - everyone else will be too. It’s possible & we have the tools - we just have to remember how to care. /end