First and foremost, we are making this statement out of love for our communities who continue to navigate immeasurable difficulties, grief, and trauma related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of December 19, 2022, almost 9000 individuals have died from COVID in Oregon, and countless others live with the long-term impacts of COVID including long COVID, economic and housing instability, mental health stressors and social isolation. 1.1 million people have died due to COVID in the United States. Much of this could have been prevented if not for racism, ableism and staunch individualism. Our communities who already face the brunt of health inequities, deserve to not only live, but thrive. We have a responsibility in creating a world where that is possible. 

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County, state, and national public health authorities have struggled to keep up with the torrential waves of emergency the pandemic has brought since 2020. Their capacity to maintain ongoing public health programs and services has been severely taxed to the detriment of those communities most reliant upon our public health system to protect their health in the most basic ways. Funding and long term planning for COVID-19 related programs is inconsistent at best. Data collection practices have been dismal with the lack of disaggregation shadowing the needs of communities deemed unmeasurable or inconsequential and the changes needed are slow coming.

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Our community partners, communities most impacted, are being tapped to advocate for vaccinations and hosting vaccine events with their communities because there’s a lack of trust between community and the government. These pressures amplify the burnout and fatigue BIPOC communities are experiencing, especially in the face of rent increases, increases in costs overall, lack of mental health resources, and continued violence towards people of color. Additionally, our state’s booster rates are at 40% and disparities in vaccination rates still persist for various communities of color as well as immigrant and refugee populations due to institutional barriers.

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The levels of transmission rise despite declarations of safety. As of December 15, 2022, 98.5% of the US population lives in an area with substantial of higher transmission. And we can expect a surge this winter. We cannot “go back to normal”. COVID-19 and its impacts are present in every decision made from now on, conscious or not. Long COVID is a mass disabling event with many sighting difficulties getting the care and support needed to navigate this new chronic condition. Now is the time to act from a place of creativity and care rather than fear, capitalism, and ableism. In addition to long COVID, the mental health impacts have been and will continue to be enormous. We are not on the brink of disaster, we are actively navigating the disaster. Both Long COVID and increased mental health impacts have and will continue to have profound impacts on the lives of our communities if sufficient action is not taken.

People are worth more than anything we do, create, sell, or provide. This is not the time to dispose of one another. This is an opportunity to choose, commit, and practice something different than what we’ve been doing.