Some resources for COVID-safer young people

You are doing the right thing to protect yourself and others - but it can get lonely. Here's some ideas and resources that may help.

I’m in a grad school class called Gender and Environment/Sexuality and Space with the excellent Cindi Katz as professor. Thanks to her leadership and support, the class is 100% mask wearing, and it’s also great because she’s very funny and the readings and discussions are fascinating.

One of our assignments is to create an archive to assist young people to find “their people” now, as inspired by Cait McKinney’s 2018 “Finding the Lines to My People”: Media History and Queer Bibliographic Encounter. Katz suggested that “‘Their’ people might be LGBTQ+ or others who feel excluded from/disidentify with dominant social formations.

Not surprisingly, I immediately thought of young people who are engaging in prevention of airborne infections like COVID-19.

“Being COVID safe can make people intimidated by you. It makes people think they can’t take you places that they can. It makes people think you don’t want to talk to them and it often times makes people think you’re sick,” explains acclaimed COVID and masking expert, my 16-year-old daughter. “So you have to work twice as hard to get half as much credit.”

“You have to make yourself seem likable,” she told me. “A lot of people don’t want to talk to people who are wearing a mask, and it’s not super easy to convince people sometimes that they should be comfortable talking to you. You have to look for people who are comfortable with you. If you are used to people starting relationships with you it’s not going to work. Often you are going to have to do the outreach, not the other way around, and sometimes it won’t work. Overall it sucks. “

And that is really unfair.

So here’s a collection of resources that I hope can help. Also if you’d like to help pull together online, hybrid or masked events for young people who are COVID-cautious, leave a comment here or send us a message!

An Archive for Young People
Avoiding Airborne Illness

Thank you for doing what you can to avoid getting and transmitting airborne illnesses!

It can be hard / frustrating / lonely to be one of the few people who is seeking to minimize your exposure to airborne pathogens.

I hope these links and resources will encourage and support you. I want you to know that you are appreciated and your decisions are valid and important.

How to be COVID Conscious in 2025: A Resource Guide

This guide from Seattle is a recent resource that you can share with others. It’s nice to see something like this in a general news outlet, isn’t it?

Peoples CDC

People’s CDC is a bunch of public health good eggs who are providing accurate information about COVID risks. They also send out alerts to help us fight for the policy we need. Their Safer Gathering Guide is a tool you can use to figure out safer situations for yourself and others.

A Reality Check: Violet Affleck’s Speech to the United Nations.

Using her platform as the daughter of famous actors, 19 year old Affleck spoke at a session on air quality at the UN, wearing a N95 mask:

“We are told by leaders across the board that we are the future. But when it comes to the ongoing pandemic, our present is being stolen right in front of our eyes.

For adults, the relentless beat of back to normal, ignoring, downplaying, and concealing both the prevalence of airborne transmission and the threat of long COVID, manifested in a series of choices.

Young people lacked both real choice in the matter and information about what was being chosen for us. Here’s what we know about SARS CoV-2:

It is airborne, floating and lingering in the air. One infection canresult in disabling damage to almost every cell in the body, from the brain and heart to the nerves and blood vessels. Every subsequent infection increases the risk of long COVID and places people who already have it in greater danger.

Here’s what we don’t know: is what it does to reinfect children over and over and over again with no end point in sight from the day they are born.

We are about to find out.”

Online event listings

The Remote Body

I love the name of this newsletter. I don’t like when people say “in-person” to mean being onsite — when I attend online events or talk to loved ones on phone, text or video, I am still a person! I like to say “on-site” for physical space, instead. Anyway, I like the name of this newsletter because we can be embodied — present in our bodies — even when we do remote events.

This newsletter is from a “DIY org fostering community & hosting remote events prioritising chronically ill & disabled folk.” It’s from the UK so a lot of things are in that time zone, so you can use this calculator to figure out what time things will be where you live.

And it’s not just events - they’ve got zines and short stories and art and other things too.

Justin Clarel’s So Very Virtual

Justin Clarel is a Black queer writer, performer, and educator creating and uplifting vibrant stories for a better world. Their newsletter SO VERY VIRTUAL offers listings of online events.

Justin also made this guide to masks - it’s from 2024 but the information is still good!

a guide to getting masks in 2024

Masks Masks Masks (and Air Filters)

Speaking of masks…

Mask Blocs

Mask Blocs are volunteer organizations that give out masks and sometimes other protective equipment. Here’s a list of 234 different mask blocs - is there one near you where you could help out and meet people, and get masks for yourself and others? Or contact a Mask Bloc to learn about how to start your own!

Mask Together America

MTA is a group that advocates for the use of masks to prevent airborne diseases. They They say “your voice matters” — and I agree!

You can find them on a range of social media showing the faces and stories of people who mask, and they fight against mask bans. Maybe you’d like to share your story.

Air Filters for Loan!

There are also some great collectives and groups around the country working to get air filters to events!

Clean Air Club in Chicago was one of the first. They also provide info to help people start additional groups where they live. I’m a big fan of A.I.R. NYC here in my city, which was started by people with Long COVID.

If you’re interested in going to events or helping with events, maybe you can get some air filters loaned out to help it be safer to everyone!

How to decrease risk of COVID/Long COVID if your family isn’t trying to…

Ideas from The Cranky Queer:

It can be super hard and frustrating to try to avoid airborne illnesses like COVID-19 if the people you live with aren’t doing that. Especially if you are a minor and live with family.

That’s why it’s good to think about harm reduction. Harm reduction is often used to refer to reducing the harm of drug use, but really it means taking steps to reduce the harm of anything!

With COVID-19, you need to think about reducing harm in several different ways:

1. reducing the harm of acute COVID (that means when someone first gets sick from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

2. reducing the risk of causing harm to others by transmitting COVID-19

3. reducing the ongoing or long-term risks of chronic COVID-19, also known as Long COVID.

By masking when you are indoors or in crowds outside, you are already doing the second piece - you are reducing the harm of transmitting airborne illnesses to other people.

And if you are masking indoors whenever you can — in school, on public transit, in stores, and so on — you are reducing the risk of all three levels. You are at lower risk of getting airborne conditions.

But what if your family isn’t masking at home?

It is unfair to expect you to mask all day at school and come home and mask too. If you can do so without risking your relationships or triggering abuse, you can choose to mask some or all of the time in your household, unless you are able to be alone in a room when you sleep, etc.

But if you can’t do that — and let’s be honest, many youth would catching hell from others in our families for asking for them to mask outside the home — here’s some other things you can do. And these things will also reduce the risk of Long COVID!

• Open windows. You can also sit by open windows or as close as you can. Remember, that 6 foot rule for social distancing was NOT PROVEN with any data - air is funny, and it could be that the air in the front of a room rises up and travels by the ceiling to the back of the room 20 feet away! But fresh air does a lot to reduce the amount of virus in the air. And it’s free and easy to access, unless it’s very cold out or there is air conditioning on.
  

• Get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccinations do not prevent getting sick. They do reduce the risk of getting severely sick and they do reduce the risk of getting Long COVID. In fall 2025, you probably have to go to a big pharmacy chain like CVS or Walgreens to get COVID vaccinated, or Costco — and some people are having to pay on their own for it. Some people have found that they have had fewer side effects from the Novavax version of the vaccine, also known as Nuvaxovid, which is not a mRNA vaccine but more similar to more traditional vaccines like the flu shot. There is some good info on that here, and they may help you get a discount coupon if you have to pay on your own.
  

  But if you are under 18, you may need a parent or guardian to go with you. Teens For Vaccines tells you what the rules are in different states, and has tips on convincing parents to get you the COVID-19 vaccine.
  

• Put air filters in common spaces. Does anyone in your household have allergies? This will help them too, if they are allergic to indoor things like dust, pets, and so on. You will need to get a HEPA filter. A charcoal filter layer is also best for allergies and taking care of odors from things like smoke and cooking smells. You can also make your own… but keeping your eyes out for a sale on a pre-made one may get you something that is more acceptable to your family because it looks less homemade. For example, this one is relatively small and powerful, and also portable.
  

• Use nasal sprays every day, and especially if you are sick. There is some data that some nasal sprays — including saline-based ones that rinse the nose, and ones that include virus-killing agents or treat allergies — may reduce the risk of getting COVID, make the illness more mild if you do get it and/or reduce the risk of Long COVID. NONE OF THIS IS WELL-PROVEN - but these things can also help you suffer less from allergies and try to help prevent other infections like the common cold. But it is always best to add a mask on top if you can!
  

  For example, a recent study looked at azelastine nasal spray - it is available at drug stores without a prescription, just ask the pharmacist to help find the right one. More studies are needed to confirm this, but it appeared to help prevent COVID infections.
  

  This resource from Long COVID Essentials includes links and info on that and other strategies: “In combination with masking, you can use nasal sprays shown to protect against airborne viruses and gargle with mouthwash that includes an ingredient called CPC (Cetylpyridinium Chloride).”
  

• If you have COVID or another illness, rest as much as you can! Research shows that people who were not able to rest as much when they had COVID-19 — which tends to be people who are low income with jobs that don’t include sick time — were most likely to get Long COVID. But that also could potentially include students who are told to go to school even if they are sick!

  If you have to go to work or school when you are sick or soon after you had COVID, prioritize resting at other times. Instead of going out to meet friends, can you chat on video or text, and then you can rest after? Can you postpone plans for at least a few weeks? Can you trick yourself into resting by listening to boring audio books? Do whatever you can for up to a full month or 2 after getting sick, and it may help you stay healthier in the long run.
  
  If you are resting a lot and still not getting better, you may need to have to really rest instead of relaxing. That means resting your nervous system by NOT exposing it to sound or stimulation. So you may need to really sleep or pretend to be sleeping, just breathing and trying to clear your mind. Some people found that when they did this, they finally started to see some improvements in their long-term symptoms — this is not based on research but what I have heard from people in Long COVID support groups.

  Remember, it is not your fault if you get COVID despite your risk-reduction efforts. We also know that lots of kids and young people can’t control much of their environment, and may need to make compromises or be at higher risk in order to avoid violence and abuse. Please do what is best for you in the short term to take care of yourself, while we fight for a world where all of use have what we need to stay safe.

  If you have other strategies or suggestions for reducing risk even when you cannot control the people around you, please leave them in the comments or contact us.

Long COVID Essentials

This series of resource sheets gives basic information about COVID-19 and Long COVID.

Whether you’re newly experiencing confusing symptoms, have had this disease for years, or are helping others in your community, these sheets will direct you to information and resources to support you along the way.

This series is produced by Long COVID Justice and The Sick Times. It is designed by and for people with Long COVID and associated diseases. All resource sheets have been reviewed by people living with Long COVID and/or caregivers, and by medical experts who provide Long COVID care. Sheets can be printed and/or shared as digital PDFs, and we encourage you to share them widely!

Long COVID Justice and The Sick Times are based in the United States, so some of this information is specific to that context. They are currently able to produce them in English and Spanish.

Here’s links to some of their basic resources on COVID and Long COVID. But there’s many more, so check out the whole series!

LONG COVID BASICS

• How to avoid getting sick with COVID right now

• What to do if you or someone else in your household has COVID

• Still feel unwell after COVID-19? Here’s what you need to know about Long COVID.

• What is Long COVID?

Both Long COVID Justice and The Sick Times have a lot of other info and resources, like this Direct Action Guide from LCJ.

Support for kids and young people with Long COVID

Did you know that Long COVID is likely as common in children and young people as adults and elders? And that means it is very common. If you have been feeling sick a lot of the time, or extra tired no matter how you rest, or just plain weird in ways you can’t really explain, it might be Long COVID.

Long COVID Families

Long COVID Families is an all-volunteer organization that seeks to “accelerate pediatric research, advance access to medical care, and work to ensure children with Long COVID receive the education and support they need.” They stand with families so that no child is denied recognition, care, or opportunity because of this illness.

They were started by adults who were chronically ill as adolescents, so they know what it’s like to be a teen who is facing these challenges. They have information helpful for both parents and young people themselves.

COVID Safe Campus

COVID Safe Campus is a nationwide group of disabled academics and advocates with public health and policy expertise, challenging ableism and fighting for COVID safety in higher education and beyond.

COVID Safe Campus’ mission is to grow and resource a movement to increase protection against COVID, advocate for disability access, and challenge ableism in higher education and beyond.

They work to shift narratives surrounding COVID and conduct public health research centering disability justice and our collective responsibility to care for our communities.

Long COVID Justice

I was one of the founders of Long COVID Justice so I am biased…

… but I think they are great. In addition to general info and advocacy on Long COVID, they have focused info on trans people —who have the highest rates of Long COVID in the US — and a very lively Instagram feed.

Disability Justice resources and readings

A lot of us are COVID-cautious because we are chronically ill or disabled, and/or care about people who are. Disability Justice is the movement that gives us a shared understanding of how we are interconnected — no matter how our body/mind may differ what what is considered “normal” — and that lays out how to treat ourselves and each other well.

Sins Invalid and the 10 Principles of Disability Justice

Sins Invalid is a disability and arts group that was founded by some of the queer Black and Brown people who created the disability justice movement. Their 10 Principles of Disability Justice spell out how we can honor ourselves and each other. If you are feeling bad or lonely due to protecting yourself and others, please know that you are honoring the principles of “COLLECTIVE LIBERATION: No body or mind can be left behind – only moving together can we accomplish the revolution we require.”

PeoplesHub

PeoplesHub is “an online popular education school for activists based in the U.S. PeoplesHub is led by and for disabled organizers and our allies. We offer public and private trainings, communities of practice, and peer support that are grounded in Solidarity Economy and Disability Justice principles.”

I was a part of People’s Hub COVID-19 committee for several years and really appreciated how thoughtful they are about caring for one another in this ongoing crisis.

If you are chronically ill and/or disabled, I especially recommend their community care clinics.

Crip News is a weekly roundup on disability arts and politics. This newsletter shares information on a wide range of events, ideas and practices; not all disabled people or events practice COVID precautions, but here you will find a lot of online as well as onsite events where there may be precautions and/or no one will think it’s weird that you are masking.

Thanks so much for reading this! Please share other ideas and resources in the comments or contact us!