COVID resources

COVID Resources

I'm collecting COVID resources here mostly to make it easier for me to grab the links I use for most often but secondarily in the hopes it's helpful to other people as well. I live in the South, US so these resources will have an American bias but I've tried to note where resources might be helpful for international folks.

All notes are my own. I am not an expert in this. Take my thoughts with a grain of salt.

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General

Pandemic Mitigation Collaboration - Data Dashboard
Solid source for fairly current COVID numbers. Uses a combination of wastewater data and confirmed reports to give estimates in plain language. Updated weekly.

Lola Germs - How to Stay Safer at Home
Solid video on what people can do to stay safer when sharing homes with people who don't take precautions. I don't second their recommendations of nasal sprays/rinses and supplements - the research for these is weak, hasn't been replicated, and in several cases has been since retracted. Otherwise - great vid.

The Sick Times
In the long tradition of patient journalism, The Sick Times is a blog and newsletter focusing on chornicling the realities of COVID from research to legislation to experiences "on the ground". Vital resource.

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Masking

PCDC - Masking
Quick overview on why masking is important and which masks offer the best protection.

Minute Physics - The Astounding Physics of N95 Masks
Video on how mask materials work. The fiber in the middle layer is more like a magnet for the viruses than a strainer.

Lola Germs - Mask Fit 101 : Seal
Lola Germs - Fit Test 101: Qualitative
Lola Germs - Fit Test 102: Quantitative
Mx. Germs Classroom Series - video overviews of concepts you'll hear talked about with masks. Not everyone can afford a fit test or tolerate the motions well but knowing the basics are important for understanding research about masks.

PHAN - Comparison of Global Mask Standards
Not sure how a N95 compares to an FFP3? This writeup breaks it down in easy to understand language.

r/Masks4All Recommended Masks
Thorough overview of different mask options for different face sizes (including kids) and medical concerns. Includes international options.

MaskBloc.org
Is money preventing you from masking? Here's a directory of masking mutual aid and clean air groups. While it has a US focus, there are international groups as well.

Lola Germs' Elasto Guide
Prefer a reusable mask? Here is a thoroughly researched guide to all the different kinds of reusable mask options at all different price points.

Gerard Hughes - Elastomeric Speech Inteligibility Tests
Work in customer service and still want to mask? Here's a comparison of several elastomerics and how well they perform on speech inteligibility tests.

Lola Germs - Why Earloop Masks and KF94s Aren't Good Enough
Good explainer video on why earloop masks often don't pass fit tests. If they're all you can use, using a snugger/ear saver can help a lot.

Fit Tests 4 All Kit
Probably the easiest way to do a qualitative at home fit test. If it's sold out, try back another time. Took me a bit before I could snag a kit

Gerard Hughes - Fit Tests 4 All Demo
Great video demonstration on how to use the above kit correctly. Very helpful to have a visual for some of the motions that need tested. Clear and easy to understand.

SIPmask Valves
Gerard Hughes - Stress Testing SIPmask Valves
SIPmask valves are a good way to ensure you can take a drink. Good option for traveling on long flights and some types of events.

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Clean Air

DIY Air Purifiers - CR Boxes
CR Box written instructions in multiple languages
UC Davis College of Engineering - 4 Filter CR Box
The 3D Handyman - 1, 4, and 5 Filter CR Box Builds
Gata - 2 Filter Triangle CR Box
r/CRBoxes - 1 Filter CR Box Considerations
Tony Youngblood - Compact collapsible quiet 1 filter CR Box
r/CRBoxes for more design ideas
Pros: sometimes cheaper per air exchange. Even a CR "slab" (1 filter on fan) can help improve air quality in a room. Cons: Materials are most accessible in North America.

Buying an Air Purifier
CADR Calculator
Use this to calculate what Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) you need for your space. You want at least 5 air changes per hour if possible to cut down on transmission.

Housefresh - Air Purifiers
Pretty solid site for air purifier reviews. Used it when we were selecting which air purifiers we went with and it was helpful. Much more thorough than similar Wirecutter reviews.

ACH Recommendations for Residential and Commerical Spaces Trying to figure out how many air changes your church or anarchist infoshop needs? This lists out many different spaces and the recommendations for each.

Carbon Dioxde Monitoring
>> Ambient carbon dioxide concentration correlates with SARS-CoV-2 aerostability and infection risk
>> Carbon Dioxide Levels as a Key Indicator for Managing SARS-CoV-2 Airborne Transmission Risks Across 10 Indoor Scenarios
>> CO2 concentration as an indicator of indoor ventilation performance to control airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2
Several studies have looked at C02 measurements as an easier to quantify metric for air quality with relation to COVID and found that it's fairly reliable. Can be helpful for running safer events, meetings, and classrooms. Aim to keep a room's C02 levels below 800ppm (through air purification and opening windows) to reduce transmission.

Housefresh - Air Quality Sensor Recommendations
Housefresh also has some air quality sensor recommendations including one that's under $100.

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Distancing

***Note: Indoor dining is very high risk. Outdoor dining is debated. Remember COVID moves like smoke. If you could smell a person's cigartte, you could catch COVID from them.

In Person Events
PCDC - Safer In Person Gatherings
Goes over considerations for safer in person events including masking, air quality, testing and tracing. Great place to start.

Parallel Play Chicago
New COVID conscious org in Chicago that's running great queer friendly COVID safer events; in person, hybrid, and distanced. Great example of what's possible.

AirgasmicLA
Clean air org in LA with a focus on supporting drag shows and queer events with air purifiers. Their events are a great example of a sliding scale of precautions events can take.

Clean Air Festival
Outdoor COVID safer festival in Vancouver, Canada. Great example of what outdoor festivals can look like. Also has included hybrid elements in the past by having some events online, recorded, or streamed.

Distanced Events
Hang In Events
Online events geared toward people who are still COVIDing. Trivia, craft circle, writers group, and more. Very much appreciate they have non-Meta platform options for keeping in touch.

Melissa's Fedi Events - Craft Club
A fediverse based craft club that meets once a month on Zoom. All crafts welcome.

Distanced Hangout Ideas
How to Play Jackbox on Zoom (or similar)
Instructions from Jackbox themselves on how to play their games across a few different platforms with friends and family.

This Discord Has Ghosts In It
Got a birthday coming up? Wanna throw a COVID cautious halloween party? This Discord Has Ghosts in It is a game played in a Discord server set up like a haunted house. Humans can only talk. Ghosts can only type. 6-16 players. One facilitator. 1-3 hours.

Werewolf
Need a game that takes less effort or prep? Werewolf can be easily adapted to Zoom or similar. No cards needed. Moderator/storyteller can randomly assign roles via DM.

Together Among the Stars
GMless duet game about traveling planets and what you both find there. Kind of a collaborative story telling game. The original game - Alone Among the Stars can be played as a coop with a little imagination.

Descended From The Queen
For the Queen is an easy game to adapt to distanced play if you have a physical or digital copy. If not, consider trying some of these "descendants", many of which are free and offer online versions to play with friends.

Quest - TTRPG
While this game is designed for children, it strikes the balance of being simple to teach and plenty fun to play. Great for a group that wants to dip their toes into RPGs. Also has the bonus that the base game is a free digital download so everyone can grab the core rules.

Crosswords Arena
Want a replacement for Words with Friends or Scrabble? This analog won't ask for a sign up of any kind. Easy to throw on with a friend as you chat over voice or text.

Art Assignment Night
Each person could pick out and complete an assignment from The Art Assigment then show it off and chat out it.

***Prepped Powerpoint Night: Pass screenshare around and give 5-10 minute talks on a niche topic of personal interest. The more niche, the more entertaing. Take questions after.

***White Elephant Presentation Night: Each person prepares 10 slides of random images. Someone else has to give a talk with the slides as if it is their own.

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Vaccination

***Given the current situation with vaccination, this section is very much under construction.

***Vaccination availability, who is eligible, and whether insurance will cover it varies wildly state by state right now. The best option is to search for local reporting to see what your local area is doing. Health departments might offer a free vaccine to those who are eligible. If you have a PCP, they may offer it. Pharmacies are varying wildly in how they're handing it - always call with any questions.

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Testing

PCDC - Testing
People's CDC overview on different kinds of tests, their cost, ease of use, and accuracy.

virus.sucks - PlusLife FAQ
PlusLife devices are a third kind of test - NAAT. They're not approved by the CDC, can be pricey upfront, and now tariffs have made tests more expensive. We have one (with lots of tests left) and like it so I'm putting this link here for our reference. Might not be right for others.

***Resources for accessing testing are majorly lacking. Insurance often covers tests in a doctors office or at a pharmacy. Phramacies usually sell RATs and sometimes PCRs. Many health departments still offer free testing. Some mask blocs also distribute free tests. This is one way governments are burying the magnitude of COVID - by preventing people from being able to know if they have it.

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Positive for COVID?

PCDC - What to Do if You Have COVID
The People's CDC's guide on treating COVID. Covers preparing your home for illness, isolation tools and timelines, treatment options, and considerations for long term recovery.

WHO - Symptom Management Post COVID
Helpful information on managing symptoms like breathlessness, difficulty swallowing, and mood/attention difficulties. Use caution around their advice about exercise - currently the Rest and Pace Protocol has more support.

Long COVID Justice - Guidelines for Returning to Exercise
Considerations for returning to usual forms or exercise and exertion. Includes info on tracking symptoms and vitals, adapting exercise + activities to suit your current limits, and why it's so important to go slowly.

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Long COVID

Lola Germs - Why is Everyone Getting Sick?
Long video but very worth it. Explains what Long COVID is, why it's more dangerous and common than people think, the troubling parallels to the AIDS crisis, where COVID nihlism and eugenics is headed, and why it doesn't have to be this way.

Pacing Tutorial
A quick read - overview of what pacing is, why it can help, and how to begin doing it. Pacing is a *vital* strategy for managing Long COVID and ME/CFS generaly.

Guide to Long COVID - Pacing and Rest for Long COVID
A longer patient authored guide to pacing and how to begin with it. As a few other recources at the bottom of the post as well.

Washington Post - Pacing
Possible paywall. Good look at what pacing looks like across many different people, severities of long COVID, and lifestyles.

COVID Long Hauler Advocacy Project - Comprehensive Guide
Guide for patients and doctors for what testing is appropriate/needed and conditions that are more common among long haulers. Some guidance for recovery care.

Long COVID Alliance
Long COVID Advocacy group. Has resource lists, research for patients and providers, and calls to actions.

Long COVID Doctor Map
A map of doctors specializing in Long COVID. Very much US focused. A handful listed are in major cities in Canada.

Long COVID Support Groups
A list of Long COVID support groups currated by International Long COVID Awareness. Includes groups all over the world. Also has groups for Black women and for children.

r/COVIDLonghaulers
Most active reddit for Long COVID survivors as far as I can tell. Solid recource side bar, some of which is duplicated here.

illmarks - Resource List
COVID resource list with an emphasis on Long COVID and disability studies + justice. Especially love the section on disability and art as it can be difficult to find but very affirming.

Indefnitely Ill : Post COVID Fatigue
Found via illmarks - deeply beautiful essay on when the body demands rest indefinitely and how to concieve of it. As a fellow long mono survivor, it captures the experience of chronic illness in a realistic and compassionate way.

My Favorite Dharma Talks on Illness
When I've been bedbound and unable to even look at a computer or phone, dharma talks have kept me company during some of the most difficult moments of my life. I've collected my favorites here. Some with simple ideas and some with quite deep ones but all helpful to me.

My Chronic Illness Resource List
This resource list focuses on survival and improving day to day quality of life while having a chronic illness - particularly energy limiting ones. It covers things from mindset to food to cleaning to entertaining yourself in bed.

Long COVID Public Domain Graphics
Public domain graphics to assist in Long COVID awareness. Include the Long COVID Ribbon and common slogans. More on what the Long COVID ribbon represents here.

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COVID Bereavement

***Still working on this section. It's important and I want to do it right.

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[ marz corbeau ]