Inspire Festival for the Airborne Aware marks a new chapter in COVID-conscious arts The free Zoom festival will bring together music, theater and comedy made by COVID-conscious artists for COVID-conscious audiences

A free Zoom festival will bring together music, theater and comedy made by COVID-conscious artists for COVID-conscious audiences

by Protect the Heart of the Arts

Some medications can help you feel fewer symptoms of colds, flu, COVID-19, & more, but symptom relief from medication does not mean you can’t spread sickness to others!

Feeling under the weather and taking meds to help you get through the day? Many medications can help relieve your symptoms, but this doesn’t mean you can’t still spread your illness to others! Continue to stay away from others as much as possible and wear masks if you have to go out.

Text in a white box on blue gradient background, with a doodle of masked people taking a selfie in the bottom right corner: Help shape our work! We’re a small team of disabled people with limited capacity, and we want to make the greatest impact we can. So let us know: What aspect of what we do is most useful to you? We’ll always be distributing masks directly, but in addition we could aim to: - stock more mask boxes in different parts of the city, - share more frequent wastewater updates, - share more science/educational content, - run more in-person events, - run more online events, - do new things! What would you like to see? And if you want to help out with any of the above, please get in touch! No prior experience needed

We want to hear from you! We dream about doing lots of things, but time and energy are limited, so we need to prioritise - what would be the most useful or affirming for you?

We'd also love to expand the mask bloc to be able to do more, so if you're interested in joining, get in touch!

A sketchy tree on a yellow background. A cloud of purple particles flows from it to a blue windmill and is turned into white wind lines. The headline "Struggling with pollen season?" floats in a cloud above. Text on a white background under it reads: "All our air purifiers are currently available to borrow for free if you want to reduce pollen, germs, dust or other airborne particles in your home or at an event! For details, message or email us at AirLibraryScotland@protonmail.com"

Some signs of spring are more welcome than others 🤧

An air purifier can help reduce pollen indoors - and at the same time also catch airborne germs, dust and polluting particles! If you want to be well, cleaning your indoor air can make a big difference.

Borrow one for free from us!

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 29 March 2026 The BuDS Covid-19 Risk Assessment for the week ending 29 March 2026

More good news, as infection levels in England stay at their lowest level since 2021. The risk level is still Moderate, with 1 in every 640 people in England infected.

A thread 🧵

buds.org.uk/covid-19-ris...

Join us tomorrow night to celebrate the last two years and make plans for the future!
...And also craft and be silly

Email us for an invite link, unfortunately we have no reliable access to DMs here

See you tomorrow!

Your regular reminder:

It’s not vaccines vs masks

It’s vaccines AND masks AND clean air AND tests AND more

You know someone with Long COVID. They need you to ask about it genuinely. - The Sick Times If community-building is a bulwark against autocracy, then asking after one another might be a good place to start.

“When people asked, Why do u think it hit u so hard? it seemed to carry a tinge of suspicion. I must have done something wrong to bring #LongCOVID upon myself, as opposed to it being the cosmic car accident that #illness so often is.”: buff.ly/w8su8Of

via @thesicktimes.org
#ChronicIllness #NEisVoid

Here are 5 reasons why I would wear a respirator, if I lived somewhere with a Meningitis B outbreak.

Jitsi offers Closed Captions and a text chat, and there's no pressure to socialise if you don't have energy or simply prefer to lurk with like-minded people.
Please let us know if there are other ways to make this more accessible to you!

Light blue background with a white field speckled with stars, with balloons on the right. At the bottom is a photograph of three plushies, each wearing a tiny mask and a party hat. Text in the white field reads: It's out birthday! Come celebrate 2 years of Edinburgh Mask Bloc with a chill online hangout Wednesday March 25th, 7pm Message or email us for an invite link

It's our birthday month and we're having a little online celebration! Join us next Wednesday, March 25th, at 7pm on Jitsi Meets for a chill hangout. Bring a craft, bring a snack, and let's celebrate 2 years of EMB!

Please email us for an invite link, and see you there 😷💞

In response to a question from @ZackPolanski.bsky.social on #LongCovid @DrAmirKhanGP.bsky.social says “I feel really helpless when I see them.”

People who were healthy just a few years ago, a lot of them have lost their independence & ability to earn and there’s nothing in place to look after them.

A strategy I am recommending to people who don’t want to mask all the time is always in healthcare facilities and public transportation, AND if you see someone in a mask, put yours on. The first helps protect spaces high risk people may have no choice but to go, the second shows them support.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 15 March 2026 The BuDS Covid-19 Risk Assessment for the week ending 15 March 2026

More Covid good news, as infection levels fall to their lowest level since 2021. For the first time, we have reduced the risk level to Moderate, with 1 in every 638 people in England infected. (1/3)

buds.org.uk/covid-19-ris...

@suchnerve “I don’t want to wear a mask all the time” Alright. Would you please wear it sometimes? Sometimes > never. Like just keep one in your bag, and put it on when you’re in an extra crowded place maybe?

A classic anti-masker tactic is to claim that if you don't wear a mask 100% of the time, it isn't worth it. Untrue. Every single time you wear a mask, you reduce the chances for viruses to spread. Wearing a mask always improves public health, even if you only do it occasionally.

Measles Find out about measles, a highly infectious viral illness that can be very unpleasant and sometimes lead to serious complications.

🚨 The most effective way to protect your family from measles is to make sure you’re all up to date with your MMRV vaccinations.

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can make children seriously unwell.

I urge all Londoners to check whether you or your children need to be vaccinated.

Please note that this event has been postponed. We will post here when we have the new date.

When I read this press release I think of, among other things, all the healthcare workers who died or are now living with Long Covid. They should have had adequate and appropriate protection. The people making these decisions should be made to pay.

a huge elephant with a flag saying "long Covid, ME, PAIS" It is sitting on 2 people who are saying: "I've got a feeling we might need to address postinfectious conditions" "Are you sure we can't ignore it a little longer?"

To mark International Long COVID Awareness Day on March 15

From Kornelia Paulsen (who no longer seems to be on social media)

#LongCovid #PASC

#LongCOVIDAwarenessDay

Learning to wear a #respie when out and about seems like a big ask… but once you get in the habit, you hardly think about it at all.

Prevention is still the best option. You’ll not miss your energy, tastebuds, ability to concentrate etc… until it is gone.

A teenage girl with long blond hair is holding her assistance dog - a tan and white spaniel. She is wearing a dark jacket and a blue hat. She is smiling. They are standing with a road in the background.

“Before I got ill I was active and independent"

Molly, aged 17, describes things many people never have to think about, standing up, concentrating, eating, or leaving the house, can suddenly become incredibly difficult.

www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2593333...

#LongCovidKids #LongCovidAwareness

Every day is Long Covid Awareness Day! Today, March 15, the world comes together for International Long Covid Awareness Day. A day centered on raising awareness of Long Covid and amplifying the voices of those suffering from Long Covid. It’s a day for patients, allies, researchers, and healthcare workers to unite across borders to raise awareness together about Long Covid and push for prevention, recognition, protective policies, funding, research, patient-led research, proper testing, validated biomarkers, and diagnosis, equitable care, global equity in care and research, disability support, workplace and school accommodations, education for clinicians, and the urgent development of effective treatments and a cure. This day is about pushing for all of these priorities and so much more! Ways to participate today and throughout Long Covid Awareness Week: ➡️ Mask up in public spaces (if you can) to help prevent infections and reinfections. ➡️ Participate in social media activities: Share your story or lived experience Use the Long Covid awareness profile ring for your profile photo Boost and repost Long Covid patient voices ➡️ Join an online event: attend a Space, webinar, panel, or patient discussion ➡️ Attend a demonstration ➡️ Wear Long Covid awareness colors: teal, gray, and black ➡️ Take photos of buildings and landmarks illuminated in Long Covid colors, or light up your home or business, and share them online ➡️ Support the community (if you are able) by donating to mutual aid requests, research, or advocacy groups ➡️ Check the many actions and events on social media and the ILCA website calendar: https://www.longcovidawareness.life/calendar⁠ Remember to hashtag all your posts! There are several hashtags; some of the main ones are: #LongCovid #LongCovidAwareness #LongCovidKids #LongCovidAwarenessDay #LongCovidHeartbeats #OneInfectionAway #LitForLongCovid #ILCAD2026

Ways to participate today and throughout Long Covid Awareness Week:
#LongCovid
#LongCovidAwareness
#LongCovidKids
#LongCovidAwarenessDay
#LongCovidHeartbeats
#OneInfectionAway
#LitForLongCovid
#ILCAD2026

“You’re not just becoming disabled, you’re realizing how easily society at large and people in your life will abandon you when you cannot offer them things.”

⬇️⬇️⬇️

#LongCovid
#LongCovidAwareness
#LongCovidHeartbeats

It’s International Long Covid Awareness Day.

One of the best things you can do to support people with Long Covid is wear a mask (ideally a respirator like an N95).

Masks break chains of transmission.

They prevent infection.

The only way to avoid Long Covid is to avoid Covid!

Things we want people to know. 6 years after the start* of the COVID-19 pandemic. *The day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. This was not the date of the first case.

It’s not just a cold. We wish it were just a cold. We would not keep talking about it if so. Since 2020, doctors, scientists, and millions of people who have had COVID-19 have learned that it can cause permanent damage to multiple organ systems within your body, leave you disabled and unable to do the things you love, and significantly harm your quality of life. A cold cannot disable or kill you the way COVID-19 can.

We know a lot more about prevention than we did back then. We all remember when we thought maybe we’d be ok as long as we were 6 feet away from sick people; that masks worked one way but not the other; and more. But just like with all new viruses and scientific study, we learned more as there was more time to study and observe, and we now know that wearing masks and keeping cleaner air are key to protecting ourselves and others. Now that we know better, we can (and should) better protect ourselves and others.

We understand the frustration about vaccines, but they are still extremely important. We all remember when vaccines were first made available, and it would’ve been great if that was the end of the pandemic. It wasn’t. And a lot of people have gotten frustrated and have given up on vaccination. It’s true, the virus that causes COVID-19 changes (which is why, like the annual flu shot, we need to get updated COVID-19 vaccines each year), and the vaccines we have now will not eliminate COVID-19 on their own. But they are still very effective at preventing serious illness and death, so even though they are not the one quick solution to the pandemic we all wish they were, they are still extremely important, and we should all stay up to date.

This week marked the anniversary of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve summarized our thoughts a bit below, but tl;dr: Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still with us, & although we may be tired of hearing about it, it’s extremely important to continue to take steps to protect ourselves & others.

Light gray poster with the WHN logo “whn.global” at the top. Large headline in teal and black reads: “Long COVID has a long list of symptoms.” Below, smaller bold text says: “Over 200 symptoms have been reported in people living with Long COVID.” At the bottom: “World Health Network - Science for a safer, healthier world.”

Teal poster with the WHN logo “whn.global” at the top. Large white text lists Long COVID symptoms: “Brain fog, Fatigue, Memory problems, Difficulty concentrating, Headaches, Dizziness, Shortness of breath, Chest pain, Heart palpitations, Rapid heart rate (tachycardia), Post-exertional malaise (symptoms worsen after activity), Sleep problems, Insomnia, Muscle aches, Joint pain, Nerve pain, Tingling or numbness, Tremors.” At the bottom: “World Health Network - Science for a safer, healthier world.”

Teal poster with the WHN logo “whn.global” at the top. Large white text lists more Long COVID symptoms: “Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), Blurred vision, Sensitivity to light or noise, Loss of smell, Loss of taste, Altered smell or taste, Nausea, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Loss of appetite, Skin rashes, New allergies, Mood changes, Anxiety, Depression.” Lower down, bold white text says: “Over 200 symptoms have been reported; only a portion are shown here.” At the bottom: “World Health Network - Science for a safer, healthier world.”

Long COVID can affect many systems in the body. Researchers have documented more than 200 symptoms, ranging from fatigue and brain fog to heart, lung, and neurological problems.

The symptoms shown here are only a small sample. Preventing infection helps reduce the risk of Long COVID.

Hand-painted by the volunteers, with love. We will never forget them. ❤️

Send us your thoughts, photos, voice notes (for our podcast), and more from Long COVID Awareness Day 😷

Whether you’re participating from home/bed or in person at an action, we’d love to hear from you!

We're looking forward to be chatting about our work alongside Glasgow Mask Bloc next week! Hear more about how we started, what things we have planned for this year, and ask us questions!