I worry that antibodies and immunities tests will divide those who are allowed to reenter society, and those who are shut out. Like everyone else, I live in fear of Covid-19. I worry that I, or someone I love, will contract it and possibly not pull through.
I’m apprehensive about the long-term effects on our economy. But, unlike most of the population, I am petrified of the aftermath. I have a dysfunctional immune system, making me especially susceptible to the virus. I can’t help but wonder, how will society view those like me once we completely emerge from our cocoons? Will I be shunned and segregated? Or will I be forced to isolate myself to “protect” my physical health? What will be the cost to my mental health?
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the systemic disease that has chosen to take up residence in my body. This disease can affect any organ or any joint at will — often launching its assault in multiple areas simultaneously. My immune system is hyperactive. It goes to 11 and beyond when triggered, wreaking havoc in the process. People with RA are more susceptible to catching a virus, developing infections, and experiencing cardiorespiratory complications. In other words, I’m poised to hit the Covid trifecta.
So, what’s a gal like me supposed to do when restrictions are lifted? Proponents of herd immunity want everyone out and about so we can all catch it, recover, and develop antibodies. That is all well and good unless you’re one of the individuals most likely to not survive such a grand Darwinian roulette.
I realize I am not in the majority. We need to reopen our economy, get kids back in school, and restart society again as soon as possible for it to recover. It would be unrealistic (and selfish) of me to expect anything less. I just wonder if it will be safe for me to go out and play. Will I even be permitted? Is becoming a recluse my mandated future? Human contact reduced to the afterglow of a digital screen.
Currently, I am unemployed. My chosen field, travel and events, has not only been shut down by the pandemic — it has been decimated. In all likelihood, it will be one of the last industries to recover. I am but a single droplet in a sea of millions that will be seeking new employment once our first crisis wave is over. It is illegal for an employer to inquire about a job candidate’s medical history, but how long will that protection last? Italy and Germany are considering issuing Covid immunity certificates. Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN the idea “has some merit” and is “being discussed.” All things being equal, it seems possible that employers would be tempted to hire the candidate most likely to weather an outbreak. I can envision a world where my economic future is regulated by my health condition.
Even if I can find employment, will it be safe for me? Restrictions are being lifted across the country, but the guidelines for those of us with autoimmune disorders remain in place. Online sources advise avoiding travel (that’s a boost to my career), staying home as much as possible, and forgoing physical contact as much as possible with anyone outside your home. “Healthy” agoraphobia will be in control of my social life for the foreseeable future. Left behind while the general public moves on.
Apple and Google are ready to roll out their Covid tracker app. Health agencies and the like will be able to use it to verify an individual’s Covid status. If you encounter someone who has tested positive within the last 14 days, you will receive an alert on your phone. Privacy issues aside for the moment (as of now, it will be up to the user to enter their Covid status), the tech companies have yet to minimize the number of false positives to an acceptable level. That’s reassuring. Can you imagine a chorus of viral emergency alerts blaring as you are walking down the street? People could be dodged like Covid zombies — their uncleanliness determined by Bluetooth.
The coronavirus has also recharged the call for a Unique Patient Identifier (UPI) system. All citizens would be issued a code, similar to a Social Security number, that provides access to their personal health database. Your entire medical record available within a few keystrokes. Proponents of UPI say it will make it easier for doctors to make diagnoses and provide proper treatment to patients. Opponents are wary of the security implications of having such records under the control of the federal government.
Will classifications based on antibodies and immunities ultimately determine our employment, housing, or recreation options?
When HIPAA was passed in 1996, it mandated that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) create a UPI system. Two years later, Congress prohibited funding such a project due to privacy concerns. The subject has been debated every year since and in June 2019, the House voted to lift the ban. In September, however, the Senate appropriators left it in place and so it still stands — for the time being.
As a patient that has been under the care of multiple types of physicians due to my condition, I can see the convenience of such a system. No more lugging charts from office to office or trying to remember all your past surgery dates and previous medications when filling out forms. The worry lies in how all that collective data will be analyzed. Will preexisting conditions predetermine the quality of care? Will classifications based on antibodies and immunities ultimately determine our employment, housing, or recreation options?
I’ve read my fair share of dystopian novels. Set my eyes upon hours upon hours of post-apocalyptic tales. Perhaps they’ve altered my worldview — sowed a bit of paranoia into my fertile imagination, or prompted me to foresee an ominous hierarchy at every turn.
There is no doubt I am overthinking. It’s been my stress reflex even before we were forced to steep in our own thoughts for months on end. I would like to think of my musings as a fine Earl Grey: bold and rich, with a touch of aromatic citrus. More likely, they are like the gooey remnants remaining in a teacup forgotten on a desk for at least a week.
In reality, it’s the uncertainty of it all that sends my fears into a category five tailspin — whirling around me like the Tasmanian devil. Oh, how I long to be Tweety bird — projecting wide-eyed innocence, while always having the upper hand. Being ready for every contingency is what has always provided me peace of mind. Having some sense of control — even if imagined — is what settles me. The uneasiness resides in getting prepared for uncharted territory. Society’s next blueprint has yet to be drafted. Will I be deemed suitable for inclusion or cast off? There is nothing to do but sit back and wait.