Field Notes: Long Covid disability accommodation tips, hugs after top-surgery, 30% of Americans are not ready to go to the movies
Plus, a helpful question to ask kids or adults when they are having an emotional moment
Hello, friends! I hope you are having a sweet week. It’s in the 80s here — a disconcerting anomoly for April in New York — and I’m trying to get outside as much as possible and savor the soul-nourishing sun.
Here is this week’s Field Notes, six interesting things related to health that I’ve come across lately…
Long Covid Is a Disability. Here’s How to Ask for Workplace Accommodations. (Wall Street Journal) Useful piece from Laura Casey for both employers and people with disabilities, including long Covid, which counts somewhere between 7.7 million and 23 million people in America, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
When Someone You Love Is Upset, Ask This One Question (The New York Times, gift link) — The question to pose to emotional kids and grown-ups is: “Do you want to be helped, heard or hugged?”
Project Next Gen: The United States Gets Serious for New Covid Vaccines — (Dr. Eric Topol’s Ground Truths newsletter) $5 billion in new federal funding announced on Monday finally extends U.S. investment in better Covid vaccines, including nasal options, and Dr. Topol lays out 4 reasons this additional support for the future is so important.
The Battle Over Abortion Pills (The New York Times, gift link) — Today’s Morning Briefing newsletter detailed a helpful summary of the history and context surrounding the recent contradicatory (and alarming) judicial rulings on mifepristone. “The U.S. courts have since made abortion less accessible, but scientific developments — namely the rise of abortion drugs — have pushed in the other direction.”
Hugging: Gender affirming top surgery gave me things I never knew I was missing (Your Trans Friend newsletter by Robin Taylor) — I really appreciated this enlightening, personal story of top surgery — complete with helpful definitions — one of many terrific posts from the Your Trans Friend newsletter. As Robin writes in the About section: “Why do you need a trans friend? Because it’s so much harder to hate someone when they have a name and a face and they make you laugh. And I have all of those things. I’m funny and charming, I tell great stories, I might even get you to tear up once in a while. And while you’re busy seeing me as a human, you’ll start to see others as more human, too. Already got a trans/queer friend? Well then, don’t you want another?” Yes, please!
How the Public’s Comfort With a Range of Activities Has Shifted Since the Pandemic Began (Morning Consult) — This survey of thousands of Americans is updated monthly with their behavior and opinions related to the coronavirus. The most recent batch of data came out today. It might seem like the world is full on back to “normal,” but many people are still uncomfortable with pre-pandemic activities: For example, over 20% of people don’t feel comfortable eating in a restaurant. About 30% of people don’t feel comfortable going to the movies. And less than half of people don’t feel comfortable flying internationally.
Where is your comfort level? How do these numbers strike you? I haven’t been to a movie yet, but I did board a plane recently for the first time since 2019. It felt weird, unsettling, and then … pretty great. I love traveling and had missed it.
Step by step, we have to figure out for ourselves what we feel comfortable doing.
To our journeys,
Brianne
Plane, trains, automobiles (as well as buses and trams). I took 8 flights in 2022 including 2 international trips - been to 3 countries. I have never tested positive for Covid although there was a good chance that I had it before there were home tests. I few into Seattle just as the pandemic hit there and got very sick 4 days later. Maybe I acquired immunity early on. Presently, I am more concerned about catching the flu or a stomach virus. Don’t bother with masks but wash my hands frequently!