Brutkey

katharine
@thatkatharine@ohai.social

49% OF COVID INFECTIONS ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, which means you may not know if you are actually sick. This is why it's important to take a multilayered approach (one or more of the following) to protect yourselves and others: N95 and KN95 masks HEPA air filtration Good ventilation (carbon dioxide ‹800 parts per million) Up-to-date vaccinations Rapid tests before gathering Attention to wastewater levels of COVID-19 Yale SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Sources: The Lancet Regional Health, CDC

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infographic from Michael Hoerger labelled Jan. 12, 2026, SARS-CoV-2 New Daily Infections, Wastewater-Derived Estimates (U.S.). graph shows the waves of estimated Covid infections spanning 2020–2026. x-axis displays the years, y-axis shows numbers of daily infections. the first three waves, in 2020, early 2021, and mid-2021 show wave peaks estimated between 500,000 and 800,000 infections. the fourth wave, the rise of omicron, peaks over 5 million. the next seven wave peaks range between 1 million and 2.5 million. As of January 2026, the US is in its 12th Covid wave..

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close up of bowl filled with a mixture of corn and chicken salad and blue corn chips tucked in around the edges and centre

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bowl filled with ramen and cucumber slices with a glob of seaweed in the middle

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The music industry is deeply tied to the night time economy, which not only fuels its venues and events but also serves as a primary employer for musicians and other arts workers. When the pandemic hit, the abrupt shut down quickly revealed just how precarious workers in those positions are. This work is largely in person, pays minimum wage, happens in crowded spaces with poor ventilation, rarely offers paid sick days or leave, much less any kind of health insurance or job security. These pre-existing inequities are not unique to this industry, but ones that have been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic.

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McBride's case is not unusual. To write this story I put out a call to speak with musicians who have been affected by long COVID. There were far too many respondents to interview, but of the group who reached out, the majority of musicians and music workers navigating long COVID were first infected after 2022, amidst the lifting of many pandemic restrictions and preventions worldwide, and in spite of the fact that the first round of vaccinations and boosters had been released. None of the musicians I spoke with for this piece work in the industry full time, reflecting the lived reality of many musicians and music workers, especially since the pandemic was first acknowledged as such.

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Broadly, silence around the ongoing pandemic is affecting our ability to collectively bargain for health and safety protections we should be entitled to. This invisibilization of COVID from conversations in live music can make it incredibly difficult for artists to ask for protections or accommodations. "I've been told by at least three people that sit on audition panels to not even bother auditioning" Cameron explains. "One, I can't audition if I'm masked and singing. And two, there would just be no way for them to ever have room to talk about it or to find a way to make it safe."

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salad with kale, shredded cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, mandarin oranges, and croutons, served in a paper bowl.

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close-up of ramen noodles with sliced mushrooms and zucchini chunks in a bowl

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A collection of COVID-19 related badges divided into three categories: Merit Badges, Proficiency Badges, and Mastery Badges. Each badge represents different actions or achievements related to COVID-19 prevention, safety, and awareness.

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Screenshot of part of Covid-Safe Scouts page includes the COVID-Safe Scouts emblem; text describing COVID-Safe Scouts as a group advocating for COVID safety through respirators, masks, ventilation, and air quality; and the first set of Merit badges.

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black and white illustration of a giant N95 mask with human legs dancing in front of a pleated curtain

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