Instagram story viewer> @ottsaferaircollective> Posts

Ottawa Safer Air Collective

@ottsaferaircollective

1.7K

followers

145

following

Advocating for Covid-19 safer & informed communities. Find learning resources through the link in our bio!
📍Un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territory

POSTS STORIES REELS

Local Ottawa organizations and collectives- I want to work with you!

Maybe you've seen more people masking lately, or you've seen calls for action to mask as an integral part of disability justice. Maybe you've been attending some masked events in the city, and you're interested in learning more.

I want to help with that!

One of the biggest barriers to masking I hear from people is they're not sure how to go about it. Where to get masks, resources, how to have discussions about why they're masking again, why it's important, how to implement masking requirements at events, etc. And that makes complete sense! It can feel incredibly overwhelming trying to navigate it all - and I want to help make it feel that you're not alone in this process.

I would love to talk with you/your organizing group about safer air practices. Why they're important, how they're related to your social justice concern, and how to implement them effectively!

So if you're interested in chatting, please feel free to reach out. I would absolutely love to hear from you! by @ottsaferaircollective

ok guys the alt text and image descriptions are finally pinned in the comments!! I am going to go eat dinner and then will put more thoughts here :)) by @ottsaferaircollective

Slide 1: It’s Pride Month. Queer communities continue to be disproportionately impacted
by Covid-19 and the consequences of infections. And there is no pride in allowing the unmitigated spread of a mass deadly and disabling illness when we have the knowledge and tools for prevention - this is your invitation to mask up again.

Slide 2: It’s important to understand that there was no end to Covid-19, there was simply an end to mandated precautions. Waves have been consistently higher post 2022 than they were during lockdown 2020-2021.

Slide 3: Queer Community & Covid-19 Infections. As a result of the pandemic, which is ongoing (see previous slide), queer individuals continuously face “worsening of life circumstances, including physical health, mental health, financial stability, meeting basic needs, and feelings of social connectedness” (1). Notably, trans people experience some of the highest rates of Long Covid compared to other community members (2). So if your pride is about celebrating and protecting our marginalized community members- then your pride should also include masking and other precautions. by @ottsaferaircollective

by @ottsaferaircollective

Last month, I was sharing my experience as someone who continues masking partially due to the ongoing risk of Covid-19 infections with a new acquaintance. This individual said to me: "I'm sorry to hear you're still impacted by Covid-19".

I sat with that statement for a while- because while I knew they were sincere with their statement, it also reminded me of the fact we simply do not know something, until we know. And the majority of people are completely unaware of the actual reality and risk that comes from repeated Covid-19 infections.

While I think it is a very important discussion to look at implementing masking as a facet of accessibility, it's also important we reflect and share how masking is an investment in our public health for us all. It is a way of protection for us all, to limit the transmission of illness research has shown to do significant short and long term damage. The risks that come with infection are carried by us all- they may be different, but none of us are exempt from health problems arising post infection. None of us. by @ottsaferaircollective

Alt text and image descriptions are found pinned in the comments!

Now, before anyone begins to comment "but I can't wear a mask in more spaces..." then this post isn't for you. It isn't about you. If you have taken the time to genuinely reflect on your capacity to mask, your resources that help you to mask, and you are not able to mask in more spaces? You have to honour that for yourself.

The concern is that there are a LOT of people, particularly leftists, and ESPECIALLY white leftists, who are incredibly selective about where they mask, despite the fact they:
1. Understand that the pandemic is ongoing, and that other airborne illnesses like measles, RSV, and influenza are deadly and disabling, and they know that masking is an incredibly effective intervention to prevent transmission.

AND

2. They understand that marginalized populations are more likely to face consequences from Covid-19 infections and other airborne illnesses.

AND

3. They believe that community care is important, that it requires some discomfort and inconvenience if it means showing up for each other.

And yet, many choose to only mask in select places, because they themselves don't want to deal with the social discomfort and isolation that can come with choosing to mask consistently. They don't want to navigate it because it's "too much". They think that being called on by their disabled community members to mask more consistently in more public spaces is "too much to ask".

I ask you to reflect honestly with yourself if you do have the ability to mask in more spaces consistently. This doesn't mean it has to be 100% on all of the time- but if you have the ability to wear a mask more consistently in more public spaces, I invite you to consider doing so. by @ottsaferaircollective

Alt text and Image Descriptions are pinned in the comments!

Masking, especially with a well fitting KN95 or N95 respirator, is an incredibly effective intervention for preventing the transmission of illness. And it's no different than other socially accepted preventative health behaviours in our society- washing our hands, no longer allowing smoking in restaurants or in health care facilities, wearing a helmet, using a seat belt, or using condoms and getting tested for STI's. These are all common practices that are socially accepted in our society because research has clearly shown that help keep us safer from harm.

Wearing a mask is the same thing, and the research is clear: Covid-19 isn't gone, and it's incredibly deadly and disabling. Not only Covid-19, but influenza, measles, and more.

Why would we turn away from an effective intervention that could help prevent disability and death? Why would we not embrace what we have learned, that masking can be incredibly effective at keeping people safer?

Wearing a mask does not mean giving up your life. But it is a way to keep yourself living safely. by @ottsaferaircollective

It's March, which means it's International Long Covid Awareness Month. And I have some feelings.

I sit and watch organizing collectives in Ottawa (and beyond) mobilize for various issues. Palestine, Iran, Congo. Failing public transit, the governmental push to privatize healthcare, and climate justice.

And as I watch these collectives mobilize, and as I participate in them myself, I am always stuck wondering: How many people are going to become chronically ill because of this gathering? Who might become disabled? Who might die, all because of an illness that was transmitted, unmitigated, in this group?

Organizing comes with risk. But that risk shouldn't come from illness that we could prevent the transmission of. And this isn't to say we shouldn't organize- we need to. But can we not do it while also keeping each other safer? Is wearing a mask, using air purifiers, really too much to ask?

If you're looking at this and don't believe that Covid-19 is still an issue, look at waste water estimates for daily infections in the USA from the pandemic mitigation collective. You'll see how daily estimates have been significantly higher, on average, post 2022 than they were for the majority of 2020-2022.

And know that a significant portion of Covid-19 transmission is asymptomatic (various studies I've looked at found asymptomatic transmission rates between 35-59%).

And consider the fact that Dr. David Putrino, an expert on Covid-19, said that there is no such thing as a Covid-19 infection without prolonged consequences.

Or, just dig a little deeper into the masking community. To those with long covid, who talk openly about their experiences. Learn from them. Read their poetry, witness their art, and sit with the discomfort of how your actions have unintentionally contributed to their inability to safely participate in society.

And maybe you're thinking, "but I don't see many people masking anymore".

Have you stopped to consider that so many people with Long Covid, those who continue to mask, have built communities in spaces where you aren't, because where you go, isn't safe or accessible to them? by @ottsaferaircollective

-----------------
A common theme/response that I hear from people when I talk about the fact that I still choose to mask, is that masking is "living in fear". And I find it to be an incredibly interesting, and telling, response. What makes it living in fear?

Recognizing the science and research that have found that Covid-19 infections are incredibly damaging? That with each reinfection, your risk for Long Covid increases? The fact there are 200+ symptoms of Long Covid?

I also come at this as someone who has been learning and practicing precautions for several years. When mask mandates were removed in 2022, I never fully stopped masking. But it wasn't until I entered my MSW in 2023/2024 that I really started reflecting on my behaviours and their consequences. At that time, I started listening more intently to disabled activists who said masking was an integral way to show up for community. I have gone through these questions and reflected on them myself, which is part of the reason why I offer the thoughts here. Intentionally reflecting on why we hold our beliefs and perspectives offers incredible insight into where we get our information from, and why we believe what we do. by @ottsaferaircollective

**Opportunity to contribute to research on Covid Conscious Communities**

Hello folks! @jamiemater shared their project with me and now I am sharing it you all in hopes to have more people contribute to their research on Covid conscious communities! The link can be found by clicking on the link tree in the bio. If you have the capacity, please take the time to help a fellow community member out and have your thoughts and perspectives heard in this research project!

Alt Text: Survey about covid-conscious communities. Calling all covid-conscious people! This survey is a part of a thesis project by Jamie (they/them), a chronically ill and covid-conscious master's student in social anthropology, writing about how covid-conscious communities resist harmful societal norms and systems. Please share your opinions and experiences so that Jamie can spread them in Swedish academic spaces!

Image Description: One slide with a dark blue background and white text. by @ottsaferaircollective

Seeing Covid-19 safer artists, artists who recognize the benefits of masking, who talk about community care and protection, it makes me feel so much joy. It reminds me that art is so intertwined with community care and collective responsibility. And I love learning about new artists who are also Covid-19 safer! Some of my personal favourites are @theyaresam (their poetry book until tender helped me finally have the words to understand and express my own gender identity) and @jensenmcrae (who I got to watch when she came to Ottawa on tour with Noah Kahan and her music has gotten me through SO much). There's also @strawfairylemonade - who makes some of the MOST gorgeous mask chains and jewelry I have ever seen in my life. Finding their account provided me with so much joy in seeing how masking in such a beautiful act of self expression! And @starlyartstudio, who I have learned so much from about the intersections of community, care, creativity and art. Starlyartstudio has created an incredible zine- Masking Through Blackness: Mask Fitting, Self Expression, and Community Care (which you can go support directly, check out their second pinned post and the link in the bio!!) and please don't forget their colourful mask chains- they are dreamy and downright beautiful✨

So who are some Covid-19 safer artists you enjoy and recommend? by @ottsaferaircollective

I make this post being someone who used to have this perspective, and the reason that I no longer hold it is because I took the time to learn from immunocompromised, disabled, and chronically ill community members. I took the time to sit with the sting of the truth: my actions have absolutely harmed people, even when I didn't know it and it obviously wasn't my intention. But my intention didn't matter when my ignorance was driving the impact.

And here's the thing. I have been on this learning journey for YEARS. This is something that happened overnight. But it is absolutely something that has come from intentional work and reflection, even when it was uncomfortable, what it came from having to make peace with the harm I've caused.

Multiple things can be true at once. It can be amazing that you're taking up masking again, AND still that your previous and current actions still carry harm. Just because you have been given feedback on your actions and behaviours (from the community you are trying to protect and keep safe), please do not let that discourage you from continuing masking. It can be uncomfortable, and it can hurt. But know that your continued choice to mask has so many benefits, for yourself and others! by @ottsaferaircollective