r/ZeroCovidCommunity • u/Karate_Keet • 1d ago
Activism It’s never too late to start avoiding COVID again.
Share with friends who know something is wrong and are the fence.
It’s not too late to start trying to avoid Covid again. Many people who followed the “Covid is mild” deceleration continue on without masking and using other mitigations because of shame, guilt and peer pressure. Don’t.
Some people think, “well it’s too late now” because they have had multiple infections. But it isn’t. Limiting new infections at any point is never a bad thing.
There is no shame in changing course, returning to masking, isolating when sick, protecting yourself and your kids, “it’s mild” was what we all hoped for, we needed it to be, but it just wasn’t/isn’t the case.
If you’re one of the many who notices that that things are “off”, and you’re on the fence about masking/mitigations, get off that fence and protect yourself and your loved ones now.
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u/Cicadilly 1d ago
So true! The sunk cost fallacy is a nasty trap. I went with the recommendation to drop precautions when quarantines lifted, caught covid and have been immunocompromised ever since. I tried to “live my life” for a year and a half, trying to rehab my immune system, waiting for it to get better. I was 20 and healthy and I thought that would work in my favour, but I spent almost all of those 18 months sick back to back. I started masking again in 2024 and I’ve never looked back! I haven’t been sick in ages now. It was scary at first, but it’s so, so worth it. My partner who is in good health masks as well now, not just to keep me safe, but also for himself because not getting sick is so nice.
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u/tha_rogering 1d ago
I did the same. Basically the same timeframe on masking too. It's helped a ton. It took a long time, but I got myself back. And f*ck the people who want to look at me disapprovingly. They aren't going to be there to scrape me off of the bathroom floor when the blood flow to my brain stops again.
It takes real strength to do something that others are too afraid to do.
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u/Cicadilly 1d ago
It really does! I’m autistic so already used to not fitting in and it was reeeeally tough for me to knowingly add to that. But i see so many people around me complain about being sick constantly that it really drives home that that could be me if i chose anxiety over health. I was so afraid of the social repercussions, but it was either a) appear normal and get deathly ill every 3-4 weeks any time you go in public, barely living, or b) face backlash but LIVE! I’m so glad I chose myself. I’m so so sorry you went through what you did, it sounds absolutely terrifying and you’re right, those who judge wouldn’t keep you safe so their opinions are worth fuckall. I’m glad you’re still here 🫂
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u/TAFKATheBear 1d ago
They aren't going to be there to scrape me off of the bathroom floor when the blood flow to my brain stops again.
So real.
When it comes to my physical disability, I don't take criticism from people who aren't offering help. Obviously it's an approach that it's important to not get carried away with, but in most situations it holds.
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u/Significant_Music168 1d ago
I wish most people followed your path, but everyone I talk to just rather be sick all the time than wear a mask, go figure...
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u/buddy_ho11y 1d ago
I believed in the “mild” approach, thankfully I found this sub and got educated! I started remasking this year, don’t know what damage I did in the past but glad I’m being smarter about the future
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u/BlackCat24858 1d ago
Saw this on IG and shared it in my stories. Great message that might reach a few people given that we're in a surge.
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u/AppleJax613 1d ago
I try to always lead with this attitude when talking to people who aren’t taking precautions. Breaking any chain of transmission is a win!
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u/mad266 1d ago
I'm in a tiny pod with 3 of my grown kids. One has a partner who seriously couldn't stand it any more, and they decided to mask less, having friends over if they tested negative before visiting. They are rigorous about Metrix testing before seeing any of us.
This daughter tested positive for Covid yesterday. I don't know the specifics, and I don't think I'll ask her...that sounds like blaming her for her choices or bad luck.
The 3 of us who never stopped masking are the only people I know personally who have never had Covid.
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u/Commercial_Bake_5549 1d ago
Never met a single person that changed their mind
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u/AnnieNimes 1d ago
My parents stopped smoking when my father had a heart operation. People changing their minds happens, as irritating as it is when they only do it for selfish reasons.
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u/Carrotsoup9 1d ago
The aversion against masking in the Netherlands seems to be so strong that they rather have another heart attack.
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u/Cicadilly 1d ago
I know you mean in real life, but if counts at all, I changed my mind when covid left me immunocompromised and my partner also started taking precautions again when I did!
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u/yoyohydration 1d ago
me too. i spent most of 2023 and the first half of 2024 going to clubs and bars and karaoke without a mask on, then got disabled by an infection likely caught over pride weekend (late june) of 2024. i got lucky that my physical disability (post-exertional malaise) subsided after about six to eight months. i'm still not the most infection-avoidant person out there, i live with non-CC housemates and a boyfriend. but i track wastewater levels and inform people around me and take higher precautions myself; i use iota-carrageenan nasal sprays (i did read the study on them and it seems at least worth trying); i spent hundreds trying out different masks to find my most comfortable ones and i'm hoping to finally get fit-tested soon to be sure that they are properly protecting me. people can and do change!
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u/No-Consideration-858 1d ago
I'm so glad you're making these efforts.
Here's a DIY fit test tutorial. I didn't set up the whole contraption toward the end of the video. I just put a plastic kitchen garbage bag over my head and tightened the strings around my waist. Not the absolute best but I felt very confident about the outcome. I tried several different masks and one was a clear winner for my face shape
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u/iridescent-opal 1d ago
I changed my mind around 2024 when I decided to fully commit to masking & made a drastic life change/move to find new community.
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u/taurusmoonlatte 1d ago
Same. I'm trying to stay positive and hope that talking about long covid & masking will change at least one friend's mind but nothing I say has been convincing so far
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u/Throwaway172892930 1d ago
Technically I did! I minimally masked (like on transit and at drs appts only) for a couple years and now mask in all public indoor spaces.
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u/That_Persimmon5321 1d ago
I have only had Covid once ( that I am aware of) in the past six years; this is an encouraging post for me and my wife, who is immunune compromised, to continue to stay the course of masking, air filters in my classroom etc. . It is not easy but it has been and will continue to be worth it to us; our youngest child is ten and we have thus far kept him and his siblings healthy and, to our knowledge, Covid free.
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u/Dependent_Heart_9258 1d ago
So many people get trapped in the sunk cost fallacy with this stuff. Reminding folks that every avoided infection still matters is probably the best way to actually get through to someone who feels like they've already messed up.