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Coronavirus Stats

As of May 2022, cases and hospitalizations continued to rise as the United States marked one million deaths from COVID-19. While about 54% of the US population is experiencing low COVID-19 Community Levels, many areas have moved into medium and high levels. COVID-19 Community Levels can help communities and individuals make decisions based on their local context and their unique needs.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best option to lower your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death if you get infected. Many people have started vaccination, but most have not stayed up to date. About 78% of people in the United States have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 66.5% are fully vaccinated. Of those who are fully vaccinated, 46.4% have received a booster and are considered up to date. Everyone ages 5 years and older is eligible to receive one booster after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine primary series. Some people are eligible to receive a second booster.

People who are up to date on vaccines have much lower risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 compared with people who are unvaccinated. CDC’s COVID Data Tracker shows that in March 2022, adults ages 18 years and older who were unvaccinated were about 5 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who were up to date. In the same month, people ages 12 years and older and unvaccinated were 17 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than those who were up to date.

COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and even dying—especially people who are boosted. As with other diseases, you are protected best from COVID-19 when you stay up to date with recommended vaccines. Find a vaccine provider near you.

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Coronavirus Situation

"COVID-19 is not just the flu. Since December 2019, COVID-19 has killed more people in the US than influenza has in the last five years combined."

-Johns Hopkins, Bloomberg School of Public Health

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention is responding to a pandemic of respiratory disease spreading from person-to-person caused by a novel (new, no cure) coronavirus. The disease has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”). This situation poses a serious public health risk. The federal government is working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this situation. COVID-19 can cause mild to severe illness.

as of August 2020, CDC updated its isolation guidance based on the latest science about COVID-19 showing that people can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after diagnosis and not be infectious to others. Contrary to media reporting today, this science does not imply a person is immune to re-infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the 3 months following infection. The latest data simply suggests that retesting someone in the 3 months following initial infection is not necessary unless that person is exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 and the symptoms cannot be associated with another illness.

People with COVID-19 should be isolated for at least 10 days after symptom onset and until 24 hours after their fever subsides without the use of fever-reducing medications.

There have been more than 15 international and US-based studies recently published looking at length of infection, duration of viral shed, asymptomatic spread and risk of spread among various patient groups. Researchers have found that the amount of live virus in the nose and throat drops significantly soon after COVID-19 symptoms develop. Additionally, the duration of infectiousness in most people with COVID-19 is no longer than 10 days after symptoms begin and no longer than 20 days in people with severe illness or those who are severely immunocompromised.

CDC will continue to closely monitor the evolving science for information that would warrant reconsideration of these recommendations.

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Vaccination Information

If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic. Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic. If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

--You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
--You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
--If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
--You need to pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before traveling outside the United States.
--You do NOT need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.
--You still need to show a negative test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding an international flight to the United States.
--You should still get tested 3-5 days after international travel.
--You do NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.

If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms. However, if you live or work in a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.

For now, if you’ve been fully vaccinated:

You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace and local businesses. If you travel, you should still take steps to protect yourself and others. You will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in the United States are still required to get tested within 3 days of their flight (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and should still get tested 3-5 days after their trip. You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others. People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken the immune system, should talk to their healthcare provider to discuss their activities. They may need to keep taking all precautions to prevent COVID-19.

What We Know: COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death. COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of people spreading COVID-19.

What We’re Still Learning: How effective the vaccines are against variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Early data show the vaccines may work against some variants but could be less effective against others. How well the vaccines protect people with weakened immune systems, including people who take immunosuppressive medications. How long COVID-19 vaccines can protect people. As we know more, CDC will continue to update our recommendations for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

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"I love being told that I have an irrational fear of a deadly virus by people who...

freak out about immigrants, Muslims, LGBTQ people, brown people, black people,

working women, vaccines, sex education, universal healthcare, science, and face masks."

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"I don't know how to explain to you that you should care for other people."
-Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases

"We are pointing out that the best way you can protect yourself, but particularly to protect our most vulnerable and slow the spread, is too avoid closed spaces, crowded places, and close contact settings."

-Texas Public Health Officials

"Now is the time to care selflessly about one another."

-Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director

"We can think of transmission risk with a simple phrase: time, space, people, place."

-Dr. William Miller, Epidemiologist, Ohio State University

"In the end, it will be impossible to know if we over-reacted or did too much. But it will be quite apparent if we under-react or do too little."
-Dr. Douglass Massengill, School Superintendent

"Always choose outdoors over indoor, always choose masking over not masking, and always choose more space for fewer people over a smaller space."

-Dr. Emily Landon, Epidemiologist, Infectious Diseases Specialist, University of Chicago Medicine

"I wouldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams that people who object to things that are pure public health principles are so set against it ... that they actually threaten you. I mean, that to me is just strange."

-Dr. Anthony Fauci

"Can you imagine a world without high-fives? Without hugs?"

-Susan Spencer, CBS Sunday Morning

"Be safe. Be respectful. Wear your mask. Lead with love."
-Dolly Parton, Country Music Icon

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Dr. Joseph Costa: Hero of the Pandemic

The chief of critical care at a Baltimore hospital who helped treat the "sickest" patients, including during the pandemic, died in July 2020 of the coronavirus. Dr. Joseph Costa, 56, was the intensive care unit chief at Mercy Medical Center in downtown Baltimore.

“He dedicated his life and career to caring for the sickest patients,” Sister Helen Amos, chair of the hospital’s board of trustees, and David Maine, president and CEO, said in a joint statement. “When the global pandemic came down upon us, Joe selflessly continued his work on the front lines — deeply committed to serving our patients and our city during this time of great need.”

“His memory will live on as an example to us all,” the hospital said. Costa had worked for Mercy for 23 years, becoming chief of critical care in 2005. He is survived by his husband of 28 years, David Hart.

His tragic death should serve as a reminder of the seriousness of the pandemic. "This is real. This was a 56-year-old healthy man. He knew how to be careful. He knew how to take good care of himself, and he still passed away from this disease,” said one of his colleagues. “This could happen to anybody.” Costa is among over 850 health care workers in the US who have died of COVID-19.

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Kious Kelly, an assistant nurse manager at Manhattan’s Mount Sinai West, was only 48 when he passed. he had asthma but was otherwise healthy. A lack of personal protective equipment, like masks and gowns, may have contributed to Kelly’s COVID-19 infection. Kelly grew up in Lansing, Mich. He moved to New York City over 20 years ago with the dream of becoming a dancer before turning to a career in health. Kelly is one of countless LGBTQ workers who have put their lives on the line to save others.

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Summer Partiers Making Things Worse

By the end of June 2020, daily new infections had begun to dip for the first time, but experts fear that summer celebrations (July 4th weekend) will act like rocket fuel for the nation's surging coronavirus outbreak.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, Americans' desire to attend large public events and engage in social activities have challenged the fight to contain the virus. Spring Break, Memorial Day, Pride Celebrations, BLM Protests, July 4th Celebrations, and family summer vacations have all contributed to a further spread of new infections.

The collective consequences of the actions Americans take at the moment are even more momentous. If we fail to flatten the curve, if the coronavirus continues to spread at such great speed that the number of patients requiring medical care overwhelms the capacity of our health-care systems, the important work of doctors and nurses will be rendered difficult if not impossible.

And yet, a lot of people around the countries are simply refusing to change their behavior. They go to get a haircut, head to the beach, or organize house parties. In some cases, this irresponsibility amounts to bold and intentional violation of explicit orders.

Despite guidelines to maintain social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19, vacationers are observed at crowded beaches, lakes and bars, and hundreds of people are seen standing close to each other, not wearing face masks.

Americans participating in various summer celebrations are admitting they know about the social distancing guidelines. "You only live once,”" said one partier, posing for a photo with a group in a crowded pool.

But now, with the US death toll from COVID-19 soaring, it seems irrational to see such a high number of people at various vacation spots that are clearly flouting every regulation or strong suggestion.

"This reckless behavior endangers countless people and risks, setting us back substantially from the progress we have made in slowing the spread of COVID-19," said one official. "One of the things that terrifies me now, as the virus spreads across the US, is that there’s this sense of invulnerability among millennials," observes another official.

One Hollywood celebrity called out fellow Californians who disobeyed social distancing mandates and partied during the Fourth of July weekend amid the coronavirus pandemic. "California is in bad shape, and, while it is a challenge, we really need to be smart about how we enjoy our summer activities, or things are going to get worse. It really seems like Americans just don’t care about each other. Somehow this pandemic has turned into a political stance between parties. And I'm perplexed about the raw defiance."

California is currently among multiple states, including Arizona, Texas, and Florida that have become hotspots for new coronavirus cases. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has issued a warning to Americans that the numbers could get much higher if the coronavirus continues to spread at this rate. “I would not be surprised if we go up to 100,000 a day if this does not turn around,” Fauci said while testifying at Senate hearings about COVID-19 in June. “And so I am very concerned.”

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“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.

Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

-Marie Curie

Coronavirus Blues

With the onset of COVID-19, Americans are finding themselves in the midst of a public health and economic crisis. For many this kind of global emergency is unfamiliar territory and the resultant feelings of anxiety, stress, and fear are unprecedented.

In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, people all over the world are encountering very challenging circumstances, not least of which are the spreading of illness due to the infections and incidents of deaths. Along with that grim situation are the devastating consequences of job loss, shuttered businesses, and an economy beset with instability.

People are learning the necessary steps to avoid getting sick. More than is normal, they're washing their hands, covering their mouths, and maintaining social distance. Many are staying home (and working from home) to limit contact with others.

The outbreak has caused many to navigate the realities of restricted activities, unavailable services, and the shortages of goods in stores. People are certainly being called upon to be adaptable and resilient in the face of great instability.

Regarding how we respond to crises and how we solve problems, perhaps this is the best time to begin changing our perspective, to be innovative and creative, and to think outside the box.

With the spread of the virus, and the necessary precautionary measures, many people are, for the first time, coping with the challenges of social distancing and self quarantine and trying to find something to do to occupy their time and keep their minds active. Trying to stay safe and sane has been the task of the last several months and will be for the months ahead.

"When we are no longer able to change a situation,

we are challenged to change ourselves."

-Viktor Frankl

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You and 10 friends are in your apartment getting ready for the Pride Parade.

One has glitter. How many will end up with glitter on them?

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New Workplace Rules During the Pandemic

When employees start trickling back into the office, after having worked from home for the past several months, things will not be entirely back to normal. Employees will find new rules as they return to the workplace, including mandatory face masks, social distancing, and hand washing. Sanitary wipes by the coffee pot. No more than one person on an elevator at the same time. Same rule for the restroom.

Hand sanitizer is everywhere, chairs are spaced out, and certain desks are blocked off to promote social distancing while working. Conference rooms are often off limits, as are dining areas. There are signs on nearly every wall, door and TV screen reminding workers about the new rules. Steps that once might have felt invasive, like daily temperature checks and health assessments, are often required before employees can walk through the front door. None of these health and safety measures feels normal. The lack of normalcy is, in fact, the new normal at work.

Some companies have drawn circles on the floors, marking where people should stand — as far apart as possible. In break rooms, most companies have cordoned off dining areas and rendered shared refrigerators off-limits. What once was a place where co-workers chatted, socialized, and interacted will likely will be empty.

Strict measures will be in place in every setting where co-workers interact with each other and in every setting where employees interact with customers. Rules will be in place to ensure safety. When it comes to the new pandemic-related policies, what the boss says goes. Employers have a right to require workers to wear masks in the office. And when an employee refuses, employers can implement their own policy and process, including disciplinary actions.

Some companies are asking employees who plan to head into the office to take their temperature at home and stay there if it’s above 100.4 degrees. Many companies say they do not plan to force their employees to get tested, but will require notification if they test positive for COVID-19.

The transition back into the office, and the paradigm shift that comes with it, will take some getting used to. The limited office space, the social distancing, the mask-wearing — all that is the easy stuff. The hard stuff is the conversation around health and how the nature of work has actually changed. Mental health issues are also a big concern, because the level of stress under these pandemic conditions is unlike anything any of us have ever had to deal with.

[Source: Ally Marotti, Lauren Zumbach, Abdel Jimenez, Chicago Tribune, July 2020]

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When Life is Good Again

When life is good again, I’ll be a better friend, A bigger person when, Life is good again.
More thoughtful than I’ve been, I’ll be so different then, More in the moment when, Life is good again.
I’ll open up my heart, And let the whole world in, I’ll try to make amends, When life is good again.
We’ve been brought to our knees, We’ve been so ill at ease, There are no guarantees, But you know life goes on.
This too shall pass away, Bring new and different days, We need to change our ways, And right our wrongs.
Let’s open up our hearts, And let the whole world in, Let’s try to make amends, When life is good again.
I’ll open up my doors again, And hear the message in the wind, Repent of all my sins, When life is good again.
I’ll try to be someone, On which you can depend, A helping hand to lend.

Let’s open up our eyes, And see what’s going on, If we’re to move along, From where we’ve been.
If you want rainbows, you get rain, We’ll all be forever changed.
I’ll sail my boat and fly my kite, Walk in the park, go out at night.
And hold my loved ones extra tight, When everything is on the mend.

I’ll have a drink with my old friends, Sing and play my mandolin.
We’ll make it through this long dark night, Darkness fades when faced with light.
And everything’s gonna be alright, When life is good again.

[Dolly Parton, May 2020]

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Coronavirus Situation: Summer Update

It has been around two months of quarantine for many of us. The urge to get out and enjoy the summer is real. But what's safe? We asked a panel of infectious disease and public health experts to rate the risk of summer activities, from backyard gatherings to a day at the pool to sharing a vacation house with another household. From camping to dining out.

Your personal risk depends on your age and health, the prevalence of the virus in your area and the precautions you take during any of these activities. Also, many areas continue to restrict the activities described here, so check your local laws. And there's no such thing as a zero-risk outing right now. As states begin allowing businesses and public areas to reopen, decisions about what's safe will be up to individuals. It can help to think through the risks the way the experts do. Here's his rule of thumb: The more time you spend and the closer in space you are to any infected people, the higher your risk. Interacting with more people raises your risk, and indoor places are riskier than outdoors.

--A BYOB backyard gathering with one other household: low to medium risk
--Eating indoors at a restaurant: medium to high risk
--Attending a religious service indoors: high risk
--Spending the day at a popular beach or pool: low risk
--An outdoor celebration such as a wedding with more than 10 guests: medium to high risk
--Using a public restroom: low to medium risk
--Letting a friend use your bathroom: low risk
--Going to a vacation house with another family: low risk
--Staying at a hotel: low to medium risk
--Getting a haircut: medium to high risk
--Going shopping at a mall: risk varies
--Going to a nightclub: high risk
--Going camping: low risk
--Exercising outdoors: low risk

[Source: National Public Radio, May 2020]

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Dan Levy: Masks as an Act of Kindness

"Schitt’s Creek" star and co-creator Dan Levy came up with a beautiful way to get people to wear protective masks. The actor urged people to see wearing a mask amid the coronavirus pandemic as an act of kindness instead of an infringement on their freedom. Dan Levy is seeking to defuse tensions surrounding the wearing of face masks.

Levy called on people who are “actively not wearing masks because they perceive it to be an infringement of their freedom” to recontextualize it as “the simplest, easiest act of kindness that you can do in a day.” Levy acknowledged “the frustration of being told what to do” but said reframing may save the lives of people with autoimmune issues who could suffer “devastating repercussions” if they contracted the coronavirus.

“See it not as anyone or anything infringing on your freedom, but rather, if you have the freedom to leave your house, if you have the good health to leave your house, why not put on a mask?” Levy asked. “Make it your good deed for the day and do something nice for yourself and other people.”

[Source: Lee Moran, HuffPost, May 2020]

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Right now, a whole dedicated bunch of them wear scrubs."

Heroes of the Pandemic

During this challenging time, as the US becomes the number one nation in the world reporting COVID-19 infection cases, people are dealing with quarantine, lost jobs, shuttered businesses, illness, and death. And, during this difficult period, the best and worst of people have been revealed. On the positive side, many celebrities and entertainers have stepped up to offer words of encouragement and acts of kindness.

On the negative side, many conservative government officials and preachers have used this crisis as an opportunity to express ignorance and sow hatred. They're playing the blame game and targeting the Asian and LGBTQ communities. The moronic remarks and vitriol have included xenophobic attacks, proclamations about divine retribution, suspicions and denials of the science of the pandemic, and paranoid expressions of partisan politics.

Meanwhile, doctors, nurses, and other first responders and health care professionals are focusing on the important priorities of keeping people safe.

Who are the real heroes during this pandemic? The politicians? The entertainers? The doctors and nurses? The grocery store operators? Who will we remember when we look back at this time? Dr. Anthony Fauci? Joe Exotic? President Donald Trump? Leslie Jordan? Governor Andrew Cuomo? Jimmy Fallon?

Two gay people who have been prominent during the COVID-19 crisis are the notorious Joe Exotic and the delightful Leslie Jordan. Joe Exotic will be remembered in a not-so-favorable light for his outlandish antics and questionable behavior in the absurd carnival-like empire of the Tiger King. On the other hand, on a more positive note, Leslie Jordan provided comic relief at a time when we needed it most. Leslie Jordan, of Will & Grace fame, offered humor, personal insights, encouragement, and the real-life craziness of a person in quarantine just trying to cope. He made us laugh and forget about our current troubles.

We love those heroes who can step up and be positive during trying times. They encourage us and lift our spirits. They spread optimism and make us smile.

Heroes: Acts of Humanity, Kindness, Courage

Here's How You Can Support the LGBTQ Community

Thank You Frontline Workers

LGBTQ Heroes: Out on the Frontline

Thoughts to Ponder: Quarantine Reflection

Tribute to COVID-19 Heroes: God Only Knows Where We'd Be Without You

CDC: How to Protect Yourself and Others

World Health Organization: Advice for the Public on COVID-19

When Life is Good Again: Song by Dolly Parton

LGBTQ People Working to Save Lives on the Frontline

Bill Gates: What I Hope We Learn From Coronavirus

Together We Will Rise Up

Advocate: COVID-19 Crisis Affecting Work of LGBTQ Organizations

Anthony Fauci: Now is the Time to Care Selflessly About One Another

Dr. Anthony Fauci: Inequities and Disparities in Healthcare

Coronavirus Rhapsody

Mary Poppins Quarantine Parody

Restaurant Offers "Dragside" Pick Up During Quarantine

Lean On Me: Straight No Chaser (Quarantine Session)

Anthony Fauci Praises Courage and Dignity of LGBTQ People

Queer Elders and Lessons Learned: AIDS Crisis and Coronavirus

Cute Lesbian Couple: Daily Life in Quarantine

Leslie Jordan: Just Trying to Get Through the Quarantine (Part 2)

"Often when you think you're at the end of something,
you're at the beginning of something else."
-Fred Rogers

Truly Brave: San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Virtual Performance

My Favorite Things: COVID-19 Version

Dancers Unite: Coronavirus Virtual Flash Mob

Gay USA: Mourning Losses in the LGBTQ Community

What the World Looks Like When Everyone Stays Home

Day in the Life: Quarantined Couple

"We have the freedom to choose our attitude in any given set of circumstances."

-Viktor Frankl

Dr. Anthony Fauci: Inequities and Disparities in Healthcare

How Can I Protect Myself

New Jersey Doctor Dies of COVID-19 in His Husband's Arms

Riot Jazz Brass Band: Mardi Gras in Quarantine

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

World Health Organization: Advice for the Public on COVID-19

Italians Coping Under COVD-19: Making Music From Their Balconies

Universal Masking is Crucial

Going Viral: Coronavirus Memes

Love in Lockdown

Lockdown Waltz: 75 People, 11 Countries, 3 Continents
Leslie Jordan: Just Trying to Get Through the Quarantine (Part3)

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
-Dolly Parton

Overview of the Situation

This is the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.

--Gas prices drop.
--Schools cancelled.
--Self-distancing measures in place.
--Tape on the floors at grocery stores (and other stores) to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
--Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
--Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
--Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
--Entire sports seasons cancelled.
--Concerts, tours, festivals, and entertainment events cancelled.
--Weddings, family celebrations, and holiday gatherings cancelled.
--No church services, churches are closed.
--No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 5 or more.
--Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
--Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
--We are to distance ourselves from each other.
--Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
--Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.

--Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no bleach, no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
--Shelves in grocery stores are bare.
--Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
--Fines are established for breaking the rules.
--Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
--Field hospitals set up in hotels, civic centers, and public parks.

--Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
--Government mandates to stay home.
--Barely anyone on the roads.
--People wearing masks and gloves outside.
--Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
--Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

"Now is the time to care selflessly about one another."

-Dr. Anthony Fauci

What World Needs Now

Do Re Mi: COVID-19 Version

Love and Compassion: Recognizing LGBTQ Nurses Fighting Coronavirus

Lean On Me: Straight No Chaser (Quarantine Session)

Couples Quarantine Self Care: LGBTQ Relationship Series

LGBTQ People May Have Higher Risk of Coronavirus

Bohemian Virus Rhapsody

Queer Elders and Lessons Learned: AIDS Crisis and Coronavirus

Lesbian Couple: At Home During Quarantine

World Health Organization: Advice for the Public on COVID-19

COVID-19: Come On Eileen

Riot Jazz Brass Band: Mardi Gras in Quarantine

Thoughts to Ponder: Quarantine Reflection

Leslie Jordan: Just Trying to Get Through the Quarantine (Part 4)

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning how to dance in the rain."

-Vivien Greene

Ode to Joy

Heroes: Acts of Humanity, Kindness, Courage

Thoughts to Ponder: Quarantine Reflection

Iylana Vanzant: COVID 19 is Here to Teach Us
Bill Gates: What I Hope We Learn From Coronavirus

Dan Levy: Seeking to Defuse Tensions Over Wearing Masks

Anthony Fauci: Now is the Time to Care Selflessly About One Another

Malcolm Gladwell: Adapting to Radical Disruption

Dolly Parton: When Life is Good Again

Inspiration and Introspection

This time of the coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity to think bigger, to see beyond yourself, and to take a world view. As we are globally counting people and watching statistics rising, as new numbers are released hourly of those infected by the coronavirus, we begin to realize how interconnected we all are. It is not a time right now to be thinking just how this pandemic is affecting me and my life, it is a time to be thinking bigger than ourselves, about how we fit into society and our role within humanity.

Here are some tips and daily practices to get you through this crisis:

--Meditate daily to focus your mind and raise your consciousness.
--Work with fears as they arise but don’t let them overwhelm you.

--Try to sleep at least eight hours every night.
--Get regular exercise, outdoors if possible, but if you are in quarantine the stairs will have to do. Stay active!
--Eat a balanced and healthy diet, including fruit and vegetables and drink plenty of water.
--Keep remembering to wash hands and follow the guidelines from the health authorities.
--Look for the opportunities of what can be done at home.
--Learn something new. Keep stimulated!
--Gardening is a tranquil activity and connecting to the earth is grounding. If you can be outside, walk barefoot on the grass, or even better the beach.

--Try and stay away from victim mentality, which has negative effects on our health. Instead, focus on opportunities, not end of the world scenarios: Ask yourself, “How can this situation cause positive changes that we and the world might need anyway?”

--Think how you can be a positive example and support to others, today with access to the internet we have a choice of thousands of inspirational platforms to join. When we feel inspired we will have a ripple effect on those we are spending time with. Think of small acts of kindness you can do for others out there. Be creative!

--Take time in retreat if your commitments allow. I like to think of this as a ‘spiritual quarantine.’ A time where we can introspect about conscious living, about stuff and our actual ‘boundaries’. When we spend time within contemplating, it can help us to emerge more peaceful and clear about our purpose not just in our own lives but our role within humanity and inhabitants of our beautiful planet as well.

--Have deeper, longer conversations with people you love. We are forced to be in our homes, so let’s use the opportunity as a time for rebuilding relationships and not as a confinement. It’s all about our attitude. Be positive!

Out of struggle and tragedy something new can be born. What will your role in this rebirth be? Lets look at this coronavirus pandemic as a wake-up call as we unite to better serve each other and our planet. My daughter has a poster on her wall which says, “I never knew how strong I was until being strong was my only option.” Now is our time to be strong and to actualize that which is hidden within us and bring it to its potential.

[Source: Devorah Kur]

Hello From the Inside

Anthony Fauci: Now is the Time to Care Selflessly About One Another

Meet the Transgender Doctor Who is Leading the Fight Against COVID-19

Riot Jazz Brass Band: Mardi Gras in Quarantine

Daily Life of Gay Couple Who Never Leaves the House

How Can I Protect Myself

Beautiful Gay Wedding: Love During the Pandemic

I Am Resilient
When the World Goes Back to Normal

"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."

-John Lennon

Tribute to COVID-19 Heroes: God Only Knows Where We'd Be Without You

My Favorite Things: COVID-19 Version

Queer Elders and Lessons Learned: AIDS Crisis and Coronavirus

What the World Looks Like When Everyone Stays Home

New Jersey Doctor Dies of COVID-19 in His Husband's Arms

Lesbian Couple Holds Pandemic Wedding at Drive-In Movie Theatre

Advocate: COVID-19 Crisis Affecting Work of LGBTQ Organizations

Couples Quarantine Self Care: LGBTQ Relationship Series

"Don't worry about a thing, because every little thing is gonna be alright."

-Bob Marley

Anthony Fauci: Now is the Time to Care Selflessly About One Another

Queer Elders and Lessons Learned: AIDS Crisis and Coronavirus

Beautiful Gay Wedding: Love During the Pandemic

Taking Care of Your Mental Health During This Crisis

Do Re Mi: COVID-19 Version

Coronavirus Rhapsody

World Health Organization: Advice for the Public on COVID-19

Allie and Sam: Sheltering in Place

Lean On Me: Straight No Chaser (Quarantine Session)

Leslie Jordan: Just Trying to Get Through the Quarantine (Part 5)

Lesbian Couple Holds Pandemic Wedding at Drive-In Movie Theatre

CNN: Sheltering in Place

LGBTQ People May Have Higher Risk of Coronavirus

Bohemian Virus Rhapsody

Gay Couple: At Home During Quarantine

COVID-19: Come On Eileen

Love and Compassion: Recognizing LGBTQ Nurses Fighting Coronavirus

Handling Your Stress During This Pandemic

As more cases of COVID-19 are announced across the country daily, experts say anxiety and fear will continue to spread as well.

According to psychologists, the unfortunate thing about fear is it also is contagious and when we see other people responding with fear and anxiety, we tend to respond the same way. Most mental health experts agree that anxiety and fear occur when society is faced with uncertainties and threats, including situations such as COVID-19.

Staying strong, remaining positive, and maintaining good mental health while isolated at home can be a real challenge. It can be helpful to engage in a variety of worthwhile activities, instead of binging for hours on a solitary activity that eventually numbs your mind and makes you feel lethargic and lazy. A good mix of activities is advisable: reading books, watching movies, talking on the phone, doing yoga, playing board games, building or repairing something, watching television, putting a puzzle together, playing video games, cleaning the house, playing cards, listening to music, scanning social media.

Here is some sage advice for those feeling their anxiety increase as the virus continues to spread:

--Utilize reliable, empirical, scientific, research-based (non-ideological) sources of information
--Trust decision makers and the tactics and strategies they're advising us to follow
--Practice social distancing and other measures to protect yourself from infection

--Stay healthy by getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and exercising
--Keep in touch with friends, family, and colleagues by telephone, e-mail, text messaging, and social media

--Look for opportunities to help, assist, and support others

--Find projects to occupy your time and make you feel productive

--Do not over-indulge in mindless time-wasting activities

--Keep your mind active by engaging in a variety of creative and intellectually stimulating activities

--Don't get too overwhelmed with news reports

One psychologist observed that it is important for all of us to stay informed about COVID19 and to tune into the daily news updates, but we also need to take a break from that.

Couples Quarantine Self Care: LGBTQ Relationship Series

How Can I Protect Myself

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

Lean On Me: Straight No Chaser (Quarantine Session)

World Health Organization: Advice for the Public on COVID-19

Here are some additional insights for those who have difficulty slowing down:

--Even in the chaos of things, you are free to slow down and just be.
--There are a lot of questions concerning the pressure to feel productive during COVID19. This is a gentle reminder that this is not a productivity challenge, it’s a pandemic. Give yourself permission to take it slow and find moments to be still during these uncertain times.
--It's okay is you felt hopeful last week, but feel afraid this week. Neither emotion invalidates the other, and neither makes you weak or foolish.
--It's okay to fall apart sometimes. Tacos fall apart and we still love them.
--For the first time in history we can save the human race by lying in front of the tv and doing nothing. Let's not screw this up.

I Am Resilient

Anthony Fauci: Now is the Time to Care Selflessly About One Another

Italians Coping Under COVD-19: Making Music From Their Balconies

Jessica: How to Isolate and Not Lose Your Darn Mind