A recent article in Forbes covers our government’s plans to shutter its national Home Test2Treat program. In the article, senior contributor and infectious disease specialist Dr. Judy Stone highlights the implications of losing the program and MaskTogetherAmerica’s fight to save it.
Dr. Stone reports that 63K people, mostly uninsured or underinsured, have enrolled in the program. She interviews real people to uncover the barriers they faced trying to obtain timely testing and treatment and the role Test2Treat played in helping them access life-saving care.
Dr. Stone points out since the program was part of the government’s intent to “reduce disparities for those underserved and vulnerable populations who are disproportionately affected by” COVID, dropping the program is a strange way of demonstrating commitment to that goal.
Test2Treat should be expanded, yet our government plans to shut it down by April 16. We can’t fight COVID by taking away the tools! We must speak up! Write to leaders here!
“Let’s save Home Test to Treat. Please write to your government officials on ME Action Network Founder Julie Lam was interviewed on “Conversations with Dawn Karima.” Dr. Karima and Julie had a terrific talk about sickness prevention and Julie urged everyone to help save Test2Treat.org. This program provides FREE tests, telehealth service and treatments for COVlD and Flu. Dr. Dawn Karima is an indigenous artist and scholar who has won many awards including a NAMMY and a Global Music Award. When she heard that Test2Treat will close 4/16.
Dr. Karima invited Julie to her podcast a second time. This interview was featured on Talktainment Radio and Spotify.
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Talktainment Radio.
MaskTogetherAmerica also posted a reel on Instagram.
The ME Action Network has joined in our fight to encourage US officials to expand the Home Test2Treat Program instead of shutting it down!
Home Test2Treat was designed for people who are uninsured, or have Medicaid, Medicare, Indian Health Service or VA coverage to get free tests then obtain free treatment without ever leaving home. The program also allowed anyone testing positive to access free treatment, even if they have insurance with a private plan. The program is set to end on April 16th and the free tests have already run out.
We’re so grateful to have ME Action Network co-sponsor our letter campaign – and we need your help, too! Click here to tell the federal government to save this life-saving program!
MaskTogetherAmerica knows America can’t afford to lose its Home Test to Treat program, so we created a letter campaign to fight back.
This wonderful program provides people who are uninsured or have Medicaid, Medicare, or Indian Health Service or VA coverage with FREE tests, telehealth and treatment for COVID and flu.
Enrollees are initially mailed at-home rapid tests for both COVID and flu (LUCIRA® by Pfizer COVID-19 & Flu Home Test), and they can receive antiviral treatments if eligible.
In addition, anyone in the US testing positive might be able to get free treatment! If sick, regardless of your insurance, you could get free telehealth care and at-home treatment for COVID or flu. As long as you test positive, you can receive care. BUT IT ALL ENDS April 16!
Our government has abruptly decided to shut it down! We can’t let that happen. It’s reckless to let COVID run rampant by cutting isolation, access to tests, and treatment for those who need it most.
Please join us in telling leaders to continue Test to Treat. Saving this program means saving lives!
Click here.
On March 15, MaskTogetherAmerica’s Dr. Marjorie Roberts, Dr. Robi Tamargo, Julie Lam, Dr. Angelique Corthals and Dr. Linda Green spoke at the Long Covid March in Washington, D.C. They called on the US government to provide adequate funds to address Long Covid and commit to actually ending this continuing public health crisis. MaskTogetherAmerica volunteers met with lots of patients and allies at the March, many who drove across the country to get there. It felt important to represent those too ill to make it in person.
Millions of Long Haulers need our love, support, and advocacy! MaskTogetherAmerica continues to raise awareness – not just on Long Covid Awareness Day but every day. We oppose the CDC’s approach that fails to emphasize prevention, minimizes the risks of COVID, downplays isolation for infectious people, and dismisses the impact of ongoing repeat infections. We stand in solidarity with everyone devoted to ending this pandemic on Long Covid Awareness Day and beyond.
The live recording is available on YouTube. Watch our speakers in this edited video.
Media coverage of our speakers at the Long Covid rally included MedPage Today, Gray Television Washington News Bureau and the Times Union.
On February 13th, 2024, media outlets like the Washington Post reported that the CDC is considering proposed guidance to eliminate the recommended 5-day isolation period for those infected with COVID-19, despite that experts acknowledge there’s been no change in the science to indicate people are any less contagious during those five days.
In response to news of these proposed changes, we wrote a letter to President Biden on February 17th, asking him to stop the CDC from forcing infection on Americans. Please follow the link or scan the QR code to tell President Biden not to support this cut in isolation!
It’s simply reckless to let the virus go unconstrained in our public transportation systems, workplaces, schools, stores, and senior community centers. The Washington Post claimed CDC’s proposed weaker isolation policy would not apply to healthcare settings “with more vulnerable populations.” But the truth is: we are ALL vulnerable to COVID and Long COVID! Another truth is that even those the CDC considers the most at risk from acute infection are not hidden away, safe and separate from everyone else – nor should they be. They’re part of society!
Learning to live with COVID shouldn’t mean simply ignoring it. We need to handle it, instead. We need paid sick leave. Cutting isolation forces people to work while sick. The CDC is ignoring a huge loss of life as well as an escalating Long Covid crisis. The President has the power to veto this cut and every letter you send shows how furious we are.
Long COVID is mass disabling Americans. Millions have been put out of work. We must end this health crisis. And you can help! The CDC will take public feedback in April, but we can’t wait to take action. We must urge the White House to veto CDC’s attempt to normalize COVID-19 and Long COVID now.
In September of 2020, Biden promised he’d do everything he could to “contain the virus.” He said at the same time, “I’ll always put your health and safety first.” Let’s tell Biden to affirm his commitment to public health and to the health of every American.
Remember that mitigation is about love, survival, and community!
On March 11th, MaskTogetherAmerica hosted esteemed immunologist Professor Akiko Iwasaki of Yale School of Medicine in a webinar on the possible root causes of Long COVID.
Akiko Iwasaki, PhD is Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at the Yale University School of Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator since 2014. Prof. Iwasaki’s research focuses on the mechanisms of immune defense against viruses at mucosal surfaces, which are a major site of entry for infectious agents.
Prof. Iwasaki has received many awards and honors including the 2023 Else Kröner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research. She has been a leading scientific voice during the COVID-19 pandemic and is also well known for her Twitter advocacy on women and underrepresented minorities in the science and medicine fields and has been named to the 2023 STATUS list of the ultimate list of leaders in life sciences.
Prof. Iwasaki is the director of the Center for Infection and Immunity and is at the forefront of several Long COVID investigations including the Mount-Sinai Yale Long COVID study, Yale LISTEN study, and Yale Paxlovid trial.
The Expert Forum was hosted by our advisor Dr. Robi Tamargo and MaskTogetherAmerica Coordinator Sarah Cahill.
Watch the recording on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Millions of Americans are suffering from debilitating symptoms and conditions after being infected with COVID. Some people get it over and over again and each infection worsens their health.
MTA founder Julie Lam and MTA advisors (Dr. Angelique Corthals, Dr. Robi Tamargo, Dr. Marjorie Roberts, and Dr. Linda Green) will be there to speak up and walk in solidarity to show support for the marginalized community in this pandemic. Millions of Long Haulers in the US need our love and community support. We’d love to see you there, too!
Change won’t happen unless we band together to ask for it. We’re now in the 5th year of the pandemic. Instead of normalizing mitigation, our government is normalizing COVID. Americans are getting COVID every day. People are dying from it every day, despite the abundance of mitigation tools. Only people who are suffering from Long COVID as a patient or caretaker or family member understand the devastation of being unable to navigate the broken health system for often-unaffordable treatment or care, or for a cure that doesn’t exist.
Meanwhile, COVID is preventable and our country has the resources to prevent transmission, but people from the top down choose to ignore this escalating crisis.
We won’t give up! We might be a small group but we will use our voice! If you’re in the area, please join us on March 15th and make your voice heard.
P.S. Masking is required at this march! For more information, go to LCDCMarch15.com.
Watch the February 13th, Q&A Recording of our Brace for C19 Wave 2024 Virtual Event! Hosted by MaskTogetherAmerica coordinators Christina Auriana and Sarah Cahill, our February webinar featured four experts who care about us. These experts shared their advice to help us navigate the ongoing pandemic and help our communities do the same, covering topics like:
• How to manage the risk of COVID infection in seeking health care? Kevin Kavanagh, MD, MS, Board Chairman of Heath Watch USA(sm).
• How detrimental can Long COVID become? Dr. Marjorie Roberts (PhD in Business, Long COVID Advocate, NIH RECOVER representative).
• Let’s clear the air on COVID Aaron Collins (“Mask Nerd” and mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science).
• How to build safer communities using science-based protection? Dr. Kaitlin Sundling (physician, scientist, and cytopathologist).
Watch the full video on YouTube to hear their insights and help spread the word to raise awareness and keep each other safe!
Mitigation is about love + survival + community.
Watch the Jan 24th, Q&A Recording of our Brace for C19 Wave 2024 Virtual Event. Our experts shared their advice to help us navigate the ongoing pandemic and help our friends, families, and communities do the same. Hosted by MaskTogetherAmerica coordinators Lindsay Schwarz and Sarah Cahill, our experts tackled an array of topics:
• How to measure COVID-19 risk —Dr. Michael Hoerger (Assoc. Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry, & Oncology, and Director of the Health Psychology doctoral program at Tulane University)
• The relationship between COVID and POTS —Rachel Hellman (PMHNP DNP student and Founder & President of Awareness for POTSies).
• Why the U.S. COVID response is failing us and what we can do about it —Dr. Angelique Corthals (Assoc. Professor at John Jay College, and Consultant for Doctors Without Borders).
• Making the most of clean air —Aaron Collins (“Mask Nerd” and mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science).
Watch the full video on YouTube. Share to raise awareness. Mitigation is about love + survival + community.
Contact Awareness for POTSies.
Watch Sep 21st Webinar Recording of Q&A with Dr. Angelique Corthals, Associate Professor, Pathology, Biomedicine & Epidemiology, Biological/Forensic Anthropology, City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, to learn about the layered approach and tools we desperately need to prevent sickness and transmission of COVID-19 on YouTube.
Mitigation is about health equity. Let’s urge the CDC to promote all the mitigation tools to stop transmission and support research and development for better tools. Please sign and share our petition.
Dr. Robi Tamargo, PsyD refers to her personal experience contracting Guillain-Barré Syndrome as an example to confirm that Neuropathy is one of many Long Covid symptoms, as listed on the CDC’s webpage for Healthcare Providers.
In her Sep 14th Q&A webinar, Dr. Tamargo also talked about a long list of disabling Long Covid symptoms including POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). Watch the full recording on YouTube.
Use all the tools to prevent Long Covid
Masks, Air Purifiers, PCR Tests, Paid Sick Leave, Remote Working and Education about Long Covid are ALL effective mitigation tools. Unfortunately, the CDC’s public awareness campaign mainly focuses on pharmaceutical interventions. Please sign our Petition to demand CDC embrace the layered approach. Add your name to support our action.
“We have more tools than ever to protect against serious COVID-19 disease and death, but we must make sure everyone has equitable access to those tools,” said Director Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H., regarding the Bridge Access Program to safeguard Free C19 Vaccination for Uninsured and Underinsured Adults.
Dr. Cohen’s recent statement reflects our government’s sole focus on pharmaceutical interventions in mitigation, instead of embracing the layered approach.
In reality, we have abandoned “more tools than ever.” Masks, Air Purifiers, PCR Tests, Paid Sick Leave, Remote Working and Education about Long Covid are ALL effective mitigation tools. Unfortunately, the CDC’s public awareness campaign only focuses on vaccination.
As Dr. Cohen said, we need equitable access to tools, but not just vaccines and treatment. Shots and treatment don’t stop transmission. In general, pharmaceutical interventions are not applicable to everyone due to their immune systems and medical conditions. The layered approach is needed to ensure health equity.
Just like the vaccines, treatment and tests require updating to target new variants and their effectiveness reduces as the virus rapidly mutates.
A real-world study published in JAMA Open Network found that Paxlovid is now less effective at preventing hospitalization or death in high-risk patients as compared to earlier studies. Read the article in Medscape.
COVID-19 has already killed millions and at least 65 million people have Long Covid around the world. Roughly ¾ of US adults are at high risk of severe Covid because of medical conditions, disabilities, racial discrimination, social disparities and environmental factors. That doesn’t even include children. COVID-19 is a leading cause of death and severe sickness in children. Long Haulers, disabled by organ damage and chronic symptoms, are also joining the high-risk community.
People who get Long COVID require comprehensive care and a complicated diagnostic process. But unlike other wealthy countries, the US doesn’t have safety nets or healthcare for all. Hospital and medication costs can make a person without adequate health insurance homeless. That’s one glaring reason why lack of prevention puts the most vulnerable people in great danger.
In July, 2023, our community posted their demands for Dr. Cohen on Facebook in over 100 comments. Together we created a petition to demand the CDC embrace ALL the tools. We are once again in another wave. It will take every one of us to move this mountain. Please add your name and share the petition.
Watch the Sep 8th Q&A Recording from Brace for C19 Wave 2023 with MaskTogetherAmerica Town Hall Virtual Gathering
To help everyone stay informed about the new C19 surge in the U.S., MaskTogetherAmerica started a Webinar series. Our September 8th webinar featured Dr. Kaitlin Sundling, a physician, scientist, and pathologist from Madison, Wisconsin, Dr. Jon Levy, Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Health at Boston University School of Public Health and Michael Bailey, founder of Indoor Air Care Advocates from Alabama.
Click to watch the Sep 8th Webinar
We are hosting a Town Hall Gathering on September 7 & 8
Click and join our Q&A sessions with Experts. Registration required.
Meeting Schedule:
Dr. Camille Clare | Thu. Sep 7 | 5 PM EDT. Let’s pay attention to the steep rise in COVID hospitalizations & ER visits among Ages 0-1. What are the preventive strategies for pregnant people and new parents?
Dr. Angelique Corthals | Thu. Sep 7 | 6 PM EDT. Vaccine Only Won’t Stop the Spread. Why is the layered approach necessary?
Dr. Robi Tamargo | Thu. Sep 7 | 7 PM EDT. What happens when COVID damages your brain and the nervous system? Let’s discuss the Neurological Impact of Long Covid.
Community Chat | Fri. Sep 8 | 5 PM EDT. Meet our team. Bring your stories and share with us.
Dr. Kaitlin Sundling (Masking in Healthcare) | Fri. Sep 8 | 6 PM EDT. Nosocomial infection endangers patients and healthcare workers. Let’s discuss mitigation strategies to prevent healthcare-acquired infections.
Dr. Jon Levy | Fri. Sep 8 | 7 PM EDT. Environmental Science in COVID Prevention. What an institution can do in order to keep citizens informed and reduce the risk for all.
Michael Bailey, founder of Indoor Air Care Advocates | Fri. Sep 8 | 8 PM EDT. Clean Air Helps Keep Kids in Classrooms. How can parents advocate for their children to reduce transmission of airborne viruses?
Click and join our Q&A sessions with Experts on Sept 7 & 8. Registration required.
“You’re not alone. We are in this together.”
Members of our advocacy group made this promise in April 2020. MaskTogetherAmerica is committed to supporting public health through raising awareness by amplifying individual voices through images and writing.
Our grassroots campaign has over 10K followers, reaching over 100,000 social media users per month. Because of our followers, we reach every state, even other countries including Canada, Japan, U.K. and India.
We use our platforms on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to share published articles about preventable diseases because life-saving info about preventive measures shouldn’t require subscriptions.
Though COVID-19, RSV, Flu, TB and many other respiratory infections are preventable, we are losing precious lives daily. Countless people are suffering due to post-viral issues including Long Covid. People need to know the truth.
The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over for ~200 million high-risk Americans. More than ever, the absence of preventive protocols in public spaces makes COVID-19 an emergency to the elderly and spoonies, especially those who are immunocompromised.
“If I can’t do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” Dr. King said. We are inspired by this human-rights leader. Join our movement. Raise awareness. People can’t be forced. They need strong reasons to take action. Let’s promote the layered approach in sickness prevention through education.
Stay #COVIDSMART
Isolate when testing
Wear N95s together
Disinfect frequently-touched surfaces
Clean hands regularly
Open windows
Air purifiers + HEPA filters
Test and report to Make My Test Count
2nd Bivalent (65+ or Immunocompromised)
To volunteer, send a masked-selfie with a note to MaskTogetherAmerica@gmail.com. Let’s normalize prevention, not infection.
Please take action with us: When you sign the petition, please leave a comment for a book we are making. We will share everyone’s signatures and comments with elected officials.
Health advocacy group travels to Washington, DC to plead with Government officials to help prevent another upsurge of COVID-19 and support the marginalized high-risk community.
Washington, DC – Members from MaskTogetherAmerica, a public health advocacy group, traveled April 27, to speak on behalf of countless Americans, about the rippling effects about to happen due to the ending of the COVID-19 emergency declarations.
The MaskTogetherAmerica team, led by founder Julie Lam, initiated meetings with government officials to propose a “Sickness Prevention” education campaign, similar to the very successful Tips From Former Smokers campaign launched in 2012. MaskTogetherAmerica’s mission is to educate the public to understand how to prevent another surge so there will be no need for mandates and lockdowns.
Senator Tammy Duckworth, Senator Ed Markey and Senator Chris Van Hollen’s offices met with members and advisors of the group to listen to the “Sickness Prevention” proposal, a multi-language campaign that would help normalize a layered approach to mitigations. The campaign would help the public visualize the debilitating symptoms of Long Covid and explain why mask wearing, isolating the sick, using purifiers to help reduce the viral load in the air, and promote testing and reporting cases is so vital.
“Public health experts have warned that Long Covid is a mass disabling event. If proper precautions are not taken, our country’s workforce could be affected by mass disability for the next 10 to 20 years,” Lam explained to the health policy fellows of each of the Senators’ offices.
The trip to Washington, DC and the genesis of the “Sickness Prevention” education campaign was spurred on by a petition launched on MaskTogetherAmerica’s social media platforms on February 4, 2023. The petition, co-sponsored by a Marked by COVID, a nonprofit grassroots organization leading the national movement for pandemic justice and remembrance, has garnered over 5,400 signatures and a flood of impassioned comments.
“A Covid infection, mild or not, increases the severity of diabetes, vascular and cardiac diseases, autoimmune diseases and other infectious diseases, including bacterial, viral and fungal. We have to do more,” Lam said. “An effective ‘Sickness Prevention’ campaign would be the catalyst to bringing an end to passing sickness to colleagues, friends and family.”
Nearly 200 million adults in the U.S. have one or more comorbidities that put them at high risk of severe sickness or developing long term health issues from an infection of SARS-CoV-2.
“It’s heartbreaking to see our public health agencies ignoring the health threat,” Lam said. “We can make a difference if we work together. I urge everyone to write to your Senators and Representatives asking them to support the “Sickness Prevention” education campaign. When we come together, they can’t ignore us.”
Please take action with us: When you sign the petition, please leave a comment for a book we are making. We will share everyone’s signatures and comments with elected officials.
Watch April 12, 2023 MaskTogetherAmerica Expert Forum II to Discuss Outcomes of Ending C19 Emergency Declarations - Q&A - featuring Dr. Dhavel Desai, MD Dr. Jonathan Levy Dr. Camille Clare, MD, MPH Dr. Angelique Corthals Introduction by Julie Lam, Founder of MaskTogetherAmerica. Moderated by Sarah Cahill, Coordinator of MaskTogetherAmerica.
The lively discussion shows that we need to track the virus, follow science, use all the mitigation tools, continue to find better solutions, raise awareness and prepare our country for surges in the future because the virus is not done with us. Ending Emergency Declarations prematurely will break the entire pandemic safety net. If people must pay for tests and treatments, many simply won't. People at high risk will be greatly endangered. We cannot tolerate cutting funding for research, virus surveillance, preventive measures and treatment in a country where healthcare isn't free for all.
Please take action with us: When you sign the petition, please leave a comment for a book we are making. We will share everyone’s signatures and comments with elected officials.
Concerned about Ending the COVID-19 Emergencies? You are not alone. MaskTogetherAmerica stands with United States residents who are marginalized in this pandemic. No one gets left behind. We cannot tolerate cutting funding for research, virus surveillance, preventive measures and treatment in a country where healthcare isn't free for all.
Join our Expert Forum II
April 12, 7:00pm EST
Featuring
Discussion Topics:
Outcomes of removing the emergencies
Actions we can take for both activism & personal safety
How we can help end this global health crisis
If you haven’t done it, please sign and share our petition to save the Emergency Declarations.
Thank you to all who attended our Expert Forum event on March 10, 2023.
Our first Mask Together America Expert Foruma was a success watch the replay HERE!
We discussed some predictable outcomes of ending COVID-19 Emergency Declarations—featuring Dr. Helen Pesola, Dr. Robi R. Tamargo, PsyD, Dr. Angelique Corthals, moderated by Sarah Cahill.
Our experts’ presentations made clear that we need to track the virus, follow science, use all the mitigation tools, continue to find better solutions, raise awareness and prepare our country for surges in the future because the virus is not done with our planet. We wish it was.
We heard from Dr. Helen Pesola on how ending the emergency will mean uninsured Americans who have had access to free COVID testing and treatments since 2020 will soon have to pay for those, and the insured may have co-pays. We also heard how prevalent and lasting Long COVID symptoms can be.
We heard from Dr. Robi Tamargo about her firsthand account of what Long COVID can do to someone previously active and fit with no underlying conditions. She described mental health symptoms nobody talks about like psychosis and significant memory loss.
We heard from Dr. Angelique Corthals on how ending the emergency would mean vital funding for research into vaccines and treatments will end.
We CAN'T allow this to happen without speaking out!
Don't forget to sign and share our petition to Oppose Ending the National and Public Health Emergency Declarations.
The pandemic is not over in the U.S. We are still losing thousands of lives every week. The population of people suffering from #LongCovid is growing and exploding. May 11 is too early to terminate the national and public health emergency declarations that guarantee access to tests, shots and treatments for all.
Join MTA Expert Forum, Friday, March 10, 7:00 P.M. EST
Come chat with our speakers —
Dr. Helen Pesola Nurse Practitioner affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs Manhattan Campus
Dr. Angelique Corthals Associate Professor at John Jay College, affiliated with Doctors Without Borders MSF
Dr. Robi Tamargo Clinical Psychologist, specializes in trauma, consultant to the Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Florida
Discussion Topics:
Outcomes of removing the emergencies
Actions we can take for both activism & personal safety
How we can help end this global health crisis
Email us your questions and concerns.
Ending C19 emergencies, a.k.a. ending universal free access to tests, shots and treatments, endangers millions of Americans. CBS Chicago recognizes the immunocompromised community’s alarm, consulting UIC epidemiologist Dr. Katrine Wallace and MaskTogetherAmerica founder Julie Lam.
We’re grateful to Producer Mikayla Rose and Chris Tye, host of this news show for the shout-out. CBS’s recognition of our joint petition with Marked By Covid is a boost to our 3-year-long fight – please sign and share!
Please watch How ending COVID emergency declarations will impact Americans.
Many thousands of people STILL become disabled every week from Long COVID. At least 15,000 Americans died from COVID during January 2023 alone. Clearly, this pandemic is still an emergency.
Sign our petition urging President Biden to extend the 2 pandemic emergency declarations and to promote comprehensive prevention. That will ensure continued access to COVID-19 tests, shots & treatment for everyone – and especially the most vulnerable people.
Artist and public health activist Julie Lam returns to the How Now? Podcast to share her COVID experience and to talk about her continued efforts to promote mask awareness as new variants of COVID continue to emerge. How Now? Podcast with Kim Martin-Raymond features guests from all walks of life to express their emotions and experience during the pandemic. It’s a wonderful platform that promotes learning, understanding and empowerment during this troubling time.
Julie invites you to read her personal COVID story published in New York Voice on Medium: Abandoning Masks Puts >100 million Americans at Risk of Severe Illness or Death. Me included.
“I suck at this. When I get nervous, I can’t speak. But this is not the time to hold back. We are universally sick and tired of our broken healthcare system in the U.S. You can’t get sick if you are unemployed, uninsured or underinsured. You can’t stay home without paid sick leaves. Our public policies do not care about people who are immunocompromised due to fighting chronic illnesses. It’s up to us now. Protect the marginalized community that is vulnerable to severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection and reinfection and Long COVID. Share your mask selfies and stories with #masktogetheramerica. Please join us.”
Julie Lam founded MaskTogetherAmerica.org. The social media campaign was launched in May, 2020, with Julie taking masked portraits and sharing her street photography, as part of an advocacy community that has been tirelessly supporting the frontline.
We invite you to sign this Joint Petition Urgently Requesting Indoor Mask Requirement to Protect the Most Vulnerable Among Us
Please co-sign a letter we wrote for policymakers.
COVID-19 has been among the top three causes of death in the United States for most of the last two years. If rushing to normalcy means killing and sickening millions of people, that's not normal at all. Destigmatize and normalize mask-use will save millions of lives. We need to minimize the threat of serious adverse outcomes for a huge group of people. Abandoning masks literally means putting 100 million people at risk of severe illness or death. Please co-sign a letter we wrote for policymakers.
Here is a link to facts on COVID-19 death.
“We need to upgrade our masks for OMICRON!” said Pediatrician Dr. Clara Lee.
Dr. Lee has taken care of many children and families affected by the COVID pandemic. A mother herself, with 2 kids, 5 years old and 2 years old, Dr. Lee is also a covid survivor. She had COVID in November, 2020. Her two young children never had COVID because they are really good at wearing masks.
Dr. Lee recommends KF94 masks for adults and children. They are made in Korea of four layers of material that filter up to .4 microns. When purchasing KF94 masks, be sure to look for the KFDA and FDA clearance on the website. The masks should also display the DuPont logo.
Led by researchers from The ABC Science Collaborative at Duke Clinical Research Institute, a study published in PEDIATRICS finds Universal Masking contributed to a 72% reduction of secondary transmission of COVID, compared with optional masking.
1,112,899 students and 157,069 staff attending 61 K–12 school districts in North Carolina, Wisconsin, Missouri, California, Washington, Georgia, Tennessee, Kansas, and Texas participated in this national study.
In a peer-reviewed paper, authored by Virginia Tech Engineering Professor Linsey Marr and UCSF Infectious Disease Physician Dr. Monica Gandhi, we learn how masks, made out of multiple layers of nonwoven or tightly woven fabrics, filter out viruses that are carried in aerosols, with the amount varies depending on the fit, seal, design and the materials used.
A viral particle doesn't travel alone. It’s usually contained in larger particles of saliva, salt, and proteins, spreads from an infected person when this person exhales, sneezes or coughs. Particles less than 0.3 microns move in “Brownian motion” — a zigzag way, which explains why they are trappable by charged fibers. Not all masks provide the same level of protection. Some masks can filter smaller particles. It's important to measure the risk and choose the right masks, and we need to do this together to stop the spread. With Omicron BA.2 rising in cases, it's important to mask up in indoor environments to prevent another wave in the U.S.
The following are brands recommended by Dr. Lee:
Additionally, Dr. Lee also recommends Nanofiber-Based masks from Happy Masks
Beware of Counterfeit Respirators! The CDC has a page on their website which helps you identify counterfeit respirators. 60% of the KN95 masks in the market are counterfeit. A KN95 that meets an international standard, through validation by 47 authorized labs in China would be stamped with “GB2626-2019”, an accreditation scope code.
Real N95s have been inspected by NIOSH. The exterior markings should have the NIOSH logo, a TC-Approval number, including N95, the filter efficiency level.
KF94, Korean made masks, are seriously regulated, therefore, reliable. Real KF94 masks are individually wrapped inside the package that says “Made in Korea”.
Check before making your online purchase. Best to get your high quality masks from a trusted organization like Project N95 or order directly from the manufacturers including 3M, Honeywell and Demetech. You will find lots of Made-in-America masks and respirators from members of AMMA (American Mask Manufacturer's Association).
We will continue to investigate and provide more information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let us know.
Yes! But it must be done safely. Dr. Kaitlin Sundling recommends air drying your N95 or KN95 masks for 5 days and you can reuse them again.
Dr. Sundling rotates between 5-7 masks. She keeps her high filtration masks in separate brown paper bags after each use. Potential virus contamination dies off in over 5 days. Rotate your masks so that you have one available for each day.
Replace your masks if the straps break, the fit is poor, they look dirty or smell bad. In non-healthcare settings, you can safely reuse your mask for at least 40 hours of wear time.
Here is what NOT to do: Don't spray your N95 or KN95 with anything, including alcohol. Don’t wash it. Don’t bake it. Don’t do anything that will degrade the respirator filter which can capture over 95% of the particles from the air that passes through it.
Clinical Psychologist Dr. Robi Tamargo is a long hauler who had COVID 4 times. She tells everyone to mask up because she is proof that immunity is not reliable.
A resident of Florida, Dr. Tamargo first contracted COVID on May, 7, 2020 from her patient. Then she got Delta in New York during her one-year-long participation in Long Covid studies - to seek Post Covid treatment. When she returned to Florida, she was infected with Delta a second time by her mother. After having Delta twice, she was infected with Omicron on February 1, 2022.
During her relapse over Christmas, 2021, Dr. Tamargo was diagnosed with an acute neurological disorder, Guillain Barré Syndrome, and lost her mobility. Today, she still cannot lift her body up, after 40 days of hospital care, even though she is severely underweight. With over a month of testing and treatment, the team of doctors have yet to figure out how to treat her blood clots or protect her from the next episodes of attacks since her white blood cell count remains dangerously low.
In an effort to unveil the truth about COVID-19, Dr. Tamargo has been sharing her prolonged suffering. Upon returning home from Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, she was interviewed by Kate Amara from WBAL TV and Will Stone from NPR.
Aired on February 17, 2022, the WBALTV interview gave Dr. Tamargo a stage to talk about her COVID-induced sleeping disorder. With Insomnia and Malignant Wakefulness, Dr. Tamargo requires four medications, just so she can sleep with oxygen, a CPAP and a sleep apnea oral appliance for 6 hours each night. Her experience helps validate a study that shows COVID survivors 46% more likely to be diagnosed with mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, substance misuse, cognitive impairment, PTSD, insomnia and suicidal thoughts. Dr. Tamargo strongly supports experts’ call to make mental health care resources accessible to Covid-19 survivors.
Aired on February 23, 2022, the NPR interview allowed Dr. Tamargo to retell her battle starting with a blood clot in her brain, which soon developed into a serious heart condition called atrial fibrillation. Whenever her heart acted up, the cardiac monitor stuck to her chest would ask her to get to the hospital.
Besides inflicting damage to her heart and brain, COVID has also ruined Dr. Tamargo’s immune system, gut, kidneys, voice and now her mobility. Once an athlete, healthy and active, she is now home-bound, relying on her caretakers and a cabinet of medicine to survive.
Dr. Tamargo’s doctors ask her to wear a surgical mask over an N95 even at home. Anyone around her is required to wear a mask. Dr. Tamargo is grateful to mask wearers because their action provides a wall of protection for people like her.
Children can get COVID-19 and infect others. They are also susceptible to long term health issues due to Long Covid.
Hospitalizations have risen sharply for children, especially newborns. It’s not just because the little ones can’t receive the vaccines. “The omicron variant attacks the airways more than the lungs, and younger children have smaller airways,” Dr. Andrew Pavia, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist with Primary Children’s Hospital explained. “Children develop a croup-like cough. Children under 2 cannot wear masks or get a COVID-19 vaccine. We need to mask up around infants and young children to protect them.”
As of Feb. 17, 2022, over 12.5 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. Reported by American Academy of Pediatrics, COVID-19 cases among children have spiked dramatically in 2022 during the Omicron variant surge; over 4.6 million child cases have been reported since the beginning of January.
In the State-Level Data Report on AAP.ORG, a message urges medical providers to collect more age-specific data to assess the severity of illness related to new variants as well as potential longer-term effects. We need to identify and address the immediate effects on children’s health and the long-lasting impacts on their physical, mental, and social well-being.
Additionally, parents should be aware of MIS-C. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children is a COVID complication that occurs two to eight weeks after an infection or exposure to SAR-CoV-2. In addition to ongoing fever, dizziness, bloodshot eyes, stomachache, rash, diarrhea, vomiting are key symptoms. Children showing these signs should be medically evaluated. Early treatments will prevent hospitalizations and deaths
MIS-C is serious. Since mid-May, 2020, the CDC has been tracking MIS-C cases. As of January 31, 2022, the CDC reported 6,851 cases and 59 children have succumbed to this illness. 98% had tested positive for COVID-19. Over 40% of the cases were in the age group 5-11.
A CDC study found that two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had a 91% effectiveness rate against MIS-C. To protect children from MIS-C, it’s critical to stop the spread. Face masks and respirators have been proven to lower the risk of infection. A CDC study shows respirators superior to cloth masks in filtering virus-sized particles. Children 2 and up are recommended to wear a mask indoors in public.
To get young children respirators, your choice is between KF94s and KN95s. NIOSH-approved N95s do not have child size. KF94s are made in Korea. There are also domestic and international KN95s for kids. Surgical masks also come in child size. In the U.S., KN95s fall under FDA jurisdiction. See CDC's guidance for children. Additionally, you can also look into children masks made with Nanofibers.
Dr. Clara Lee, a pediatrician from New Jersey, recommends “Happy Mask”, a nanofiber-based mask and KF94s that are made in Korea. When buying respirators, beware of counterfeits. It’s less confusing and safer to buy your masks from a trusted source like Project N95 or directly from manufacturers in the U.S.
For elastomeric respirators, MTA’s mask expert Nicolas Smit recommends Flo Mask, which is designed to fit kids 4-12 years old, reusable, washable and offers high filtration efficiency. The soft rubber gasket provides an excellent seal. The filters have been Nelson Labs tested to block over 99.8% of viruses
Our hearts go out to parents who are stressing about protecting their children and dealing with this health crisis.
Hosts are Dr. Robi Tamargo and Lindsay Schwarz
MaskTogetherAmerica’s first podcast episode will take you to see the world through the eyes of two Covid Warriors. Dr. Robi Tamargo from Florida has been fighting Long Covid for over 600 days. Lindsay Schwarz from Georgia, a covid survivor, lost her father Dr. Eugene Schwarz. Dr. Robi Tamargo and Lindsay Schwarz are passionate about helping people learn the truth about Covid-19 through their firsthand experience.
We are done with isolation. Let’s reconnect by listening to each other. Our truth will help us put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. Maybe putting our differences aside isn’t entirely impossible. Join us for our weekly story time. Everyone has a story to tell, especially in this COVID pandemic.
Producer/Editor: Julie Lam
Listen to the podcast on Anchor and Spotify.
Our presentation at the World Health Network Summit
MaskTogetherAmerica initiated a joint session at the Global Summit - To End Pandemics, organized by The World Health Network and New England Complex System Institute. How to Light Up on Social Media was presented by MaskTogetherAmerica and Teens for Vaccines on November 3, 2021. Moderated by MTA Coordinator Lindsay Schwarz, the session featured MTA Founder Julie Lam, Teens for Vaccines Founder Arin Parsa, Advocates Becky Ancira Roberts and Ayaan Moledina.
This educational session examined how to spark a grassroots public health movement, run completely by volunteers, using the internet. Our presentation addressed how to leverage community support to train the general public to become powerful advocates, by identifying and tackling issues that arise. Our goal is to empower those unfamiliar with social media to get their message out and reach the maximum number of people on multiple platforms.
Please click on this link to watch a video of our presentation.
MaskTogetherAmerica On How Now? Podcast with Kim Martin-Raymond
How Now? is a podcast that focuses on HOW we live in the NOW. Kim Martin-Raymond, a minister from Atlanta, Georgia, invites people from all walks of life to express how they are living in the now, despite the pandemic and its effects. Minister Kim wants her audience to learn about how people navigate through this trying time, how we can take action and find peace for ourselves and those around us. Our community is a good example of how ordinary people can come together to support public health. We are proof that we can make our voices heard by connecting with each other and sending a message together.
The first episode featuring Founder Julie Lam was aired on Jun 1, 2021. The second episode featured 9 members of our team, Julie Lam, Lindsay Schwarz, Rachel Laiserin, Mary Conde, Becky Ancira Robertson, Dr. Marjorie Roberts, Dr. Robi Tamargo, Dr. Helen Pesola, Katie Marsh and Scott Cooper, was aired on August 4, 2021.
Please click on this link to watch a video of our presentation.
