#WeGotThis: To Our PWN Family Regarding the Coronavirus Epidemic

March 13, 2020

Dear PWN Family,

Recent weeks have been full of news—some of it confusing and contradictory—about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization this past Wednesday.

We have heard that PWN members are anxious and we understand. As people living with HIV and other chronic conditions, health for ourselves and our loved ones is a gift we rarely take for granted. But don’t forget – the HIV community knows better than anyone how to respond to an epidemic with organized compassion, collective action, and grace. We know how to take care of each other–and we will.

Some people in positions of power will attempt to seize this crisis to divide us based on where we come from, what we have, and how valuable we are in their eyes. They will try to harness panic to crack down on borders, scapegoat Asian Americans and immigrants, grant huge tax breaks to corporations rather than invest in public health, and limit our rights to vote and protest. They want us to operate from a place of fear.

But we are greater than fear, and we have a powerful history of rising to the occasion. Now is the time for action, not panic. Like HIV advocates in the 1980s, we can organize our own response, regardless of what actions the government does or does not take.

So what can we do?

As individuals: we can wash our hands, avoid touching our face, limit direct contact with others, avoid crowds and unnecessary travel, cancel large in-person gatherings, prepare to stay home if we are sick or get exposed to COVID-19, and check on our neighbors.

Together: we can demand our government do everything it possibly can to protect our public health: fight for housing; provide paid sick leave for people to stay home with their families; compensate those who must be quarantined; guarantee food, shelter, and quality health care for all, including people who cannot go to work or who lose their jobs; protect the rights of workers who care for people who are sick in our homes and our hospitals; ensure free testing and treatment for everyone who needs it, regardless of insurance coverage, immigration status, or ability to pay; develop plans to protect the rights, health and safety of houseless people, students, and LGBTQ+ youth if schools and support agencies close; and ensure a vaccine, when available, is free and readily accessible to everyone.

Knowledge is power. There is a lot of misinformation going around. You’ll find some resources that we think are reliable and helpful below.

Most importantly, remember: we are in this together. We’ll survive and thrive together, by creating systems to support each other, to check in, support and share supplies with folks who are sick, hungry, and isolated. Stock up, but don’t hoard. Prepare, but don’t panic. We love you and #WeGotThis.

Know the Facts:

COVID-19 is thought to be transmitted mainly from person to person, either through respiratory droplets or where people are in close proximity to each other (6 feet or less). It is also possible that coronavirus can be transmitted through surfaces and objects that have the virus on them. There is no evidence to support the idea that transmission of COVID-19 happens through food.

Not everyone who acquires COVID-19 will show symptoms. You can be contagious even if you do not show symptoms of COVID-19. This is why it’s important to self-quarantine if you know you were exposed. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and respiratory distress.

Most people who acquire COVID-19 will recover. Some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19: older adults and people with other serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and a compromised immune system. We do not yet know what the specific risks are for people living with HIV (PLHIV). It’s likely that PLHIV who are not virally suppressed and who have a low CD4 count may be at elevated risk for serious illness if they acquire COVID-19.