Lifting COVID Restrictions Makes Me Nervous

In 2022, everyone is extremely sick of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trust me, so am I. I’m just not so eager to completely get back to normal, and here’s why.

I’m extremely nervous

I live in Ontario, Canada, and we are going to be lifting the mask mandates any time now. We already got rid of our vaccine passports - something that was put in place because of the Omicron variant. We didn’t have them for very long, and knowing that going out to eat was one step safer made me feel a lot better. Now that they’re gone, I’m not so sure I want to go to a restaurant any time soon.

As an immunocompromised person, the lifting of COVID restrictions makes me nervous. I get anxious just thinking about it. I’ve had to stay inside so much more than people who aren’t immunocompromised during this pandemic. Sure, I’ve had 4 doses of the COVID vaccine (the 2 initial ones and 2 boosters), but I still don’t feel 100% safe against COVID, and I sure don’t want to get it.

The thought of long COVID as an already chronically ill person is terrifying. I don’t want or need any more chronic symptoms.

Lifting mask mandates terrifies me

The pandemic is still not over. I understand that everyone is tired of this pandemic now 2 years into it, but it’s not over. Sure, the cases have gotten lighter, but people are still dying every single day to COVID, and I don’t take that lightly.

Ontario is planning to lift the mask mandates by the end of this month (March). We haven’t had the best management in terms of the pandemic, but having the mask mandate has always made me feel at least a little bit safer. Knowing that everyone had to wear a mask no matter what indoors gave me that extra feeling of safety when I actually did go out in public.

I don’t really understand why we are getting rid of the mandate so early, but do we ever know why the government does things? Very often as a sick and disabled person, I notice that the voices of disabled folks are ignored. Everyone hears able-bodied people and wants to please them, and disabled people are left behind. This pandemic is no different.

I don’t want to leave my house

As I mentioned, the vaccine passports here are gone. I no longer feel comfortable going to places like restaurants. Sure, some are still going to be asking for them, but not all. I don’t want to be in a place without my mask on with people who aren’t vaccinated. I don’t feel safe doing so. Stores are different, seeing as people still have no wear masks no matter what (but not for much longer).

As soon as the mandate is lifted for indoor spaces, I’m not sure what I’ll do. Of course, leaving my house is nice. Going to the store feels nice every once in a while. I’m not sure I’ll be able to do that for much longer and feel comfortable.

It’s not fair to those who are sick

For those of us who are immunocompromised, it now feels like we have to stay home even more than we already had to. The wants of able-bodied people are being put above the needs of disabled people. It’s extremely unfortunate.