Recently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines regarding the coronavirus. As someone with cerebral palsy, the thought of catching COVID-19 scares me. For some people, the symptoms are debilitating. The most recent information, which was made public on Thursday, showed that there were 8,950 new COVID-19 cases and 39 new deaths in Massachusetts in the previous week.
In some cases, COVID-19 can be life-threatening. Many people also experience Long COVID. According to recent official data from the National Center for Health Statistics, about 7.5% of American adults—or nearly 20 million people—are currently experiencing Long COVID symptoms. The symptoms of which include fatigue, difficulty breathing, and mood changes.
I am due to go back to college in person this September. This will be the first time since the pandemic began. I don’t want to get sick this fall. I am nervous about what in person classes will look like. Remote learning didn’t work well for me.
However, I want to feel safe at college as well. I don’t want to go back to college, only to end up getting sick. COVID-19 could mean that I’d miss classes or end up in the hospital. Cerebral Palsy is considered a comorbidity as well.
It has been challenging to live through this pandemic as a disabled person. I want people to understand that. If people in your life seem anxious, please be patient with them. The last few years have been challenging for all of us. We should be respectful of everyone around us.
Sources:
Anthes, Emily. “C.D.C. Eases COVID Guidelines, Noting Virus Is ‘Here to Stay’.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Aug. 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/health/virus-cdc-guidelines.html.
“Covid-19: Comorbidity Expanded.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 Dec. 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/health_policy/covid19-comorbidity-expanded-12092020-508.pdf.
“Covid-19 Long Haulers Explained.” UC Davis Health, UC Davis Health, https://health.ucdavis.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-information/covid-19-long-haulers.
DiGiammerino, Thea. “Mass.. Reports 8,950 New COVID-19 Cases This Week.” NBC Boston, NBC10 Boston, 11 Aug. 2022, https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/mass-reports-8950-new-covid-19-cases-this-week/2806061/.
Ducharme, Jamie. “1 In 5 U.S. Adults Who Got Covid-19 Now Have Long Covid.” Time, Time, 22 June 2022, https://time.com/6190112/long-covid-prevalence-us/.