The Sick Times

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for March 10, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is “medium” (represented with a dark yellow color) and slightly decreasing (represented with a diagonal down arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is “low*” (dark yellow) and slightly decreasing; and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and slightly decreasing. Text below these metrics reads: “*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions.”

This winter’s COVID-19 wave may have peaked at a lower point than we’ve seen in prior years, but it’s been a long one. And, months of moderate-to-high viral spread add up in causing severe disease and new Long COVID cases. This week's COVID-19 trends report: bit.ly/4cFvB6c

Where Have All the Long COVID Clinics Gone? A nationwide survey reveals the uncertain state of specialized care for Americans living with the chronic condition

In 2022, I counted more than 400 healthcare centers in the U.S. offering Long COVID care. @delfimarchese.bsky.social followed up three years later, and found many of them have closed... or at least failed to respond to our inquiries.

Her investigation for @thesicktimes.org: clinics.thesicktimes.org

The Greatest Feeling in the World Seven months with an electric bike.

I see the "e-bikers are lazy and ruining cycling" discourse has arrived with the warm weather, and so let me just share this thing I wrote about how getting an e-bike after I got #LongCOVID gave me back one of the most joyful parts of my life that I thought was lost to me forever. bit.ly/48ohIH5

March is #LongCOVIDAwareness month, a perfect time to read two new #childrensbooks with your kids about life with #LongCOVID. @longcovidfam.bsky.social @longcovidkids.bsky.social @batemanhornecenter.bsky.social @longcovidsupport.bsky.social @longcovidjustice.org #KidLit @solveme.bsky.social

As a parent in another generationally disabled family, this piece resonates so much. I've managed to find community with other previously disabled folks who developed LC, but I struggle with the ableism toward families like mine in spaces where Covid is people's first exposure to disability issues.

Beautifully written and heartbreaking.

"If we are to move together as a community, we must commit to unlearning ableist tropes and intellectual supremacy and create antiableist spaces that celebrate all body-minds."

Despair (1894), Edvard Munch: A person is standing looking down, they appear sad. They have brown hair, and are wearing a brown sweater. They are leaning on a fence and appear to be on a bridge walkway. There is a group of people in the distance. In the background is a sunset with orange, yellow, and blue colors that is set over dark blue water, with a green hillside lining the waterway. The text reads, “The Sick Times. My child and I both have Long COVID. Even in COVID-aware spaces, we are excluded because of their pre-existing disability. By eZme Fern, aka MadMaskedMxma.”

Medical facilities have handled Long COVID the same way they have the ongoing pandemic: ignore it and hope it goes away. - My child and I both have Long COVID. Even in COVID-aware spaces, we are excluded because of their pre-existing disability.

eZme Fern and their ten-year-old both have #LongCOVID, but they’ve discovered that even in COVID-aware spaces, they're excluded because of their child’s pre-existing disability. They argue that COVID-aware communities must provide safe spaces for generationally disabled families. bit.ly/4sAkobN

A 3D medical animation shows the secretion of cytokines, small pink particles floating near purple and blue cells. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Long COVID research updates. Researchers identified high levels of cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-γ) as a potential biomarker for Long COVID. Two new studies compare SARS-CoV-2’s long-term risks to those of the flu. A small phase 1 clinical trial will test the safety of the cancer monoclonal antibody Pembrolizumab (Keytruda).”

Researchers identified high levels of cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-γ) as a potential biomarker for Long COVID. The small study, published in Science Advances, found that symptoms improved when production of IFN-γ (a molecule that plays an important role in immune response) decreased. The researchers followed the people with Long COVID for 31 months, and tested their blood with a highly sensitive procedure. “It’s unlikely that all the different Long COVID symptoms are caused by the same thing,” one of the authors said in a press release, stating the need for treatments for different presentations of the disease.

Two new studies compare SARS-CoV-2’s long-term risks to those of the flu. A recent study in Frontiers in Immunology found that both COVID-19 and flu can impact lungs post-infection, but that only COVID-19 caused a significant impact on the brain. The study used a mouse model to compare the long-term effects of flu and COVID-19, finding that COVID-19 led to brain inflammation, sensory processing issues, and other types of brain injury. Still, the study did not mention myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or dysautonomia, which can both impact the brain and be triggered by influenza. A separate study in Communications Medicine also found that there is a higher risk of kidney disease after SARS-CoV-2 infection than after influenza.

A small phase 1 clinical trial will test the safety of the cancer monoclonal antibody Pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Sponsored by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the trial will enroll 15 participants with neurological symptoms of Long COVID in Bethesda, Maryland. Ketytruda is an infusion drug that is used to treat various cancers, including advanced melanoma and Hodgkin lymphoma. The trial adds to other cancer drugs like Anktiva and rapamycin being tested for Long COVID. The study is not yet recruiting. Study contact: Ladifatou N. Fouanta, ladifatou.fouanta@nih.gov.

🔬 Researchers identified high levels of cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-γ) as a potential biomarker for Long COVID

🦠 Two new studies compare SARS-CoV-2’s long-term risks to those of the flu

💊 A small phase 1 clinical trial will test the safety of Pembrolizumab

#LongCOVID research: bit.ly/4rV8DNf

Honored to have contributed this resource with @longcovidjustice.org and @thesicktimes.org

So excited to join this stellar team!!

Let me know what you wanna hear on season 2 of Still Here, and more importantly, WHO you want to hear from in the Long COVID community👀👀

Melanie, a white woman with long brown hair, stands in front of the river in New York City, smiling.

Drop a heart for our new podcast producer, Melanie Marich!

And stay tuned for season two of Still Here, coming soon to your favorite podcast app! bit.ly/3PhvDr0

💜

I just ordered "Long COVID Transformed My Mommy" for my 5 yo grand daughter. I don't get to see her often because I have long COVID and can't risk her giving it to me again. I worry that she'll think I don't love her. Maybe this will help her understand. (I'll substitute Granny for Mommy.)

"there is no cure for long Covid"

Also no supports while you recover - financial, physical, mental health

Thank you!!

Might have to print this out and drop copies off at different Little Free Library’s near me. 👏🏻

Recommended

Ordered! Long Covid has transformed millions of families around the globe. Millions and millions.

An illustration from Long COVID Transformed My Mommy shows two kids in bed with their mother. She wraps them both up in a hug.

An illustration from Long COVID Transformed My Sister Into a Turtle shows a turtle wearing sunglasses and headphones. The text reads, "My mommy is like a turtle that doesn't want to come out of her shell. She avoids loud noises and bright lights. She prefers cozy, quiet places."

We haven’t seen many narratives about — or for — kids whose family members have #LongCOVID. Author and educator Sara Robitaille seeks to change that with her two new children’s books, Long COVID Transformed My Mommy and Long COVID Transformed My Sister into a Turtle. bit.ly/4csWXfE

For a story in @thesicktimes.org, seeking organizers in any left movement work who’ve taken a break or fully stepped away from organizing sometime since 2020 due to Long COVID. They can be anonymous in the piece and may reach out directly at longdefeat.08 on Signal #LongCOVID #NEISvoid

Journalist Sara Murphy is working on a story about the impact of climate disasters on people with #LongCOVID, focusing on the American South. She would love to connect with people who had to manage the recent ice storms and extreme cold, or even previous disasters. Contact: hello@saramurphyphd.com.

Wastewater data from the CDC, WastewaterSCAN, and Biobot Analytics all report declines at the national level and for most regions through late February. However, as I noted in past updates, these declines are happening much more slowly than we’ve seen in prior winters, suggesting that moderate-to-high disease levels will continue for a few more weeks in many places. The Midwest has reported higher levels than other regions throughout this winter wave.

The wastewater data also suggest that COVID-19 is still going up in some parts of the country, though the surveillance sources disagree about where — likely due to differences in their testing sites and reporting mechanisms. The CDC reports a potential increase in the Northeast. Meanwhile, WWSCAN reports multiple weeks of increases in the South; these potential increases also show up in the CDC’s regional test positivity data and emergency department visits. In better news, the CDC's forecasting center estimates that cases are “declining or likely declining” in 27 states.

There is still a lot of flu circulating in the U.S., too, driven by the influenza B strain. Adding to the airborne virus risks, rates of RSV have been increasing in February. RSV poses the most danger to infants and older adults; public health agencies recommend that pregnant people and those over age 60 get vaccinated for RSV, and preventative monoclonal antibodies are available for infants.

😷 Sign up for our newsletter and get weekly COVID-19 trends, Long COVID research updates, and more delivered directly to your inbox every Tuesday. thesicktimes.org/newsletter/

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for March 3, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is “high” (represented with an orange color) and stable (represented with a side to side arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is “moderate*” (orange) and slightly decreasing (represented with a diagonal down arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and slightly decreasing. Text below these metrics reads: “*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions.”

The COVID-19 picture in the U.S. hasn’t changed much over the last month: national disease levels are declining, but very slowly, as some parts of the country remain disease hotspots even as we head into the spring. Flu is similarly still at high levels. bit.ly/4sktidd

The first comic slide of “reasons to wear a mask 2026” depicts a person wearing a white mask who says “Hell yea!” Around them are bright pastel colors and cute but ominous looking SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Text reading “a lil manifesto about taking care of yourself and others- with over 50 citations! By Gillian Levine.”

This comic slide from “why you should wear a mask 2026” by Gillian Levine extends playful the Long COVID fest concept and depicts a hand holding a sheet from a music festival with facts about Long COVID facts and prevention, stating that everyone is vulnerable and that there is no cure, among other facts.

This comic slide from “why you should wear a mask 2026” by Gillian Levine shows ways to prevent COVID-19 and Long COVID, focusing on the importance of masking.

This comic slide from “why you should wear a mask 2026” by Gillian Levine playfully gives reasons of why to wear a mask using a Monopoly board. Each square represents a different reason to mask, from protecting yourself and others to protecting yourself from other airborne virus. Dice and game board pieces are scattered around.

Artist Gillian Levine recently wrote and illustrated a comic sharing reasons to continue masking in 2026. She kindly gave us permission to republish it.

😷 Read the full comic at The Sick Times: bit.ly/4rVqQdp

Write for us - The Sick Times The Sick Times is accepting pitches for reported news features and essays/commentary pieces. We take pitches only; do not send full drafts on spec. We prioritize pitches from people with Long COVID an...

😷 We're always accepting op-ed pitches. We take pitches only; do not send full drafts on spec. We prioritize pitches from people with Long COVID and related diseases.

🚫🤖 We will not review pitches that were drafted with AI.

To pitch us, email editors@thesicktimes.org.

More: bit.ly/4l1AKaD

Funmi Okunola, physician and co-founder of Long COVID The Answers When working with editors, you may go through multiple rounds of feedback. It is important to give yourself time for not only writing your first draft, but for addressing and working with editors to strengthen the article. Try to understand why people minimize Long COVID so you can build rock-solid arguments and better educate people who may not be as aware of the disease. “We need to help [people] recognize that they probably have someone in their friend group or in their family or a loved one that is suffering from Long COVID,” she said, “but also that they themselves are being affected by repeated infections of a virus that is entering every organ of their body.”

Madeline Miller described the process behind her influential Washington Post op-ed and offered suggestions for other writers with Long COVID: “Give yourself way more time” than you think you need to write a draft, she said. Her process for that op-ed included different rounds of writing, feeling strong emotions such as anger or grief, resting, and then returning to the piece. Make a list of points that are nonnegotiable, or that you want to ensure remain included in the final piece. For Miller, mentioning myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) was nonnegotiable. While editors might ask for more detail or examples from your experiences, remember that “you don’t have to disclose anything you don’t want to disclose.” Consider asking a friend or loved one to read a draft and share feedback before you submit it. Friends can also help read and filter a resulting comment section, so that you don’t see comments from trolls. “I don’t think you can write to armor yourself against trolls,” Miller said. “And I don’t think you should, because the trolls are going to find their way in.”

Torie Bosch, the First Opinion editor at STAT, gave these tips: Great op-eds are often structured around a new idea that “animates the audience.” She stated she looks for articles that make her think, “I haven’t thought of it that way before.” STAT’s audience includes people who “care deeply about health and medicine.” For a local publication, the audience might include people who live in a particular city or region. For Bosch, op-eds often respond to recent news or events. Emphasizing a timely connection is helpful in a pitch or submission. STAT also publishes op-eds relatively soon after submission (often in the same week); every publication has a different schedule and process for editing. Bosch noted that she turns down many great pieces due to limited capacity and seeking to publish on a wide range of topics. “If I turn down a submission, please do submit again,” she said. STAT First Opinion’s submission guidelines are available here.

Some expert tips to stick in your pocket! ✍️

screenshot of a Zoom chat between Miles, betsy, Torie, Funmi, and Madeline. Their names are emphasized in starburst shapes. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Watch now! Expert tips on pitching and writing Long COVID op-eds.”

Help break the stigma around #LongCOVID: share your story by writing an op-ed! To help demystify the process of writing and pitching, we hosted a free webinar with expert guests Torie Bosch, Funmi Okunola, and Madeline Miller.

Watch now, or share with a writer friend! bit.ly/4s1qJxb

Comic: Reasons to wear a mask in 2026 - The Sick Times Artist Gillian Levine recently wrote and illustrated a comic sharing reasons to continue masking in 2026.

"Ignoring the problem doesn't make it go away...if you truly care about other people, you'll put [a mask] on."

We republished illustrator Gillian Levine's comic, "Reasons to mask in 2026" in @thesicktimes.org. Check it out 👀😷

thesicktimes.org/2026/02/27/c...