COVID

2024 COVID INFO; sorry so few resources exist!!
purple dates indicate last update or last confirmed;
let me know what i'm missing!
related = mutual aid page i haven't updated since '23!

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PREVENT: MASKS, TESTS, SHOTS
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• come forever (insta; williamsburg, bklyn) // free masks & rapid tests next to property is theft // ACCESS: 😷🅰️♿️ + MAP (still here 4 us!! dec '24)

• free tests by mail:
–– COVIDtests.gov: request yours & offer to do the same for friends & neighbors; if we don't take these, they may stop giving them out even sooner!!! last batch dropped sept '24

• free in-person tests:
–– if uninsured: ICATT / quest locations thru dec 31, 2024 (tho i'd call to confirm!)
–– city's down to ONE express testing spot, in crown heights (dec '24)

• current vaccine (out sept '24)
–– vaccines.gov finally has a vaccine locator! (sept '24)
–– if insured / medicaid: call yr bb neighborhood pharmacy, but as of sept '24 i went w/ cvs, indie pharm couldn't stock it.
–– if uninsured: cvs: ...but MAKE SURE it's no charge! still covered thru bridge program (reddit conf july '24)
–– worth a try: ICATT, tho you'll wanna call & check; doesn't indicate which spots provide tests &/or vaccines (aug '24)

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PREVENT: AIR PURIFIERS
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• @a.i.r.nyc air purifier lending library: FAQ here, read before filling out request form! (dec '24)

• buy: to help the air in yr diy space, my vote = coway airmega (i've had the AP-1512HH & 200M since 2021; ~$200 new, ~$100 ebay or CL); for smaller rooms, the clorox medium's now ~$70 new & blueair 511's $60, both tiny/cute af. worth checking wirecutter reviews; a trash device won't protect yr pals! (dec '24)

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TREAT: PAXLOVID
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• uninsured / medicaid / medicare:
–– go to expresscare.nyc (click "talk to a provider now") or call 631-397-2273; supposedly the "paxcess" program will cover us all thru 2024, these should be the same thing (confirmed phone feb '24)

• insured w/out easily-accessible doc:
–– call 212-268-4319 & get to the *nurse* line (feb '24)

• big rec: find local doc

nyc medicaid hope story: summer '22 i was having hella heart problems & an apologetic ER doc scrawled "zocdoc" on a gauze pad lmao anyway i used that exactly once to ditch my big medical complex & found a small provider w/ openings in the neighborhood; they can't always handle stuff in-house, but a place in walking distance where humans answer the phone can be life-changing!!! a Real Doc will prescribe paxlovid by phone & send it to yr pharmacy!!

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TREAT: HEALTH INSURANCE
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first, this sh*t's confusing; you may wanna just call the hotline! 855-355-5777
–– if you're "broke": you want either medicaid (very worth it but peak wtf; specific hotline's 800-541-2831, but the 5777 should get you to the same folks if you qualify) or essential plan (income cap's $37,650); both are FREE ($0 monthly + deductible) & cover prescriptions & most exams, appts, hospital stuff.
–– making >$37,650: you still may be eligible for FREE insurance!!! hit the marketplace & enter your zip code, then make sure you click "estimate financial help" & enter income to see financial assistance estimates (otherwise everything will look psycho expensive). idk exact cutoff, but looks like there are free options w/ full coverage for ppl w/ income up to ~$43,500, & very cheap options after that. (dec '24)

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TREAT: LONG COVID
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• nyc aftercare:
–– i think this is the route if interested in the covid community health centers in bushwick (bed-stuy border), jackson heights (elmhurst / woodside border), or tremont in the west bronx, which, according to this june '24 article, "[treat] anyone with COVID-19 & long COVID, regardless of their ability to pay"; aftercare site says "call 212-268-4319 & press 4." (active aug '24)

• nyc.gov: sadly not much more info than this page :/ (dec '24)

• see health insurance section

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NAH
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not currently active

• ❌ ppl sometimes share the CDC's local health center tool for masks; i've called a number of the nyc #s & none are providing grr (~feb '24)
• ❌ insta @maskblocnyc has been "pausing distribution" for months (at least feb-aug '24); they have a case-by-case request form, but it's been labeled "NOT IN USE" since april '24. it seems likely they still do distro for orgs / groups / bigger events??? but their page is asking for donations, not arranging to provide individual ppl with masks.
• ❌ twitter @COVIDAdvocacyNY had no masks as of feb/march '24; they directed me to people's ppe, which does not operate in nyc.
• ❌ usps test request; limit 4 per apartment per round, but find a pal/address that didn't get them before & you can back-request (ended march '24)
• ❌ test2treat.org sends 2 tests; eyeroll, but they're molecular tests good for pooled testing (where 4-5 ppl add samples & individually re-test if batch is +) (ended april '24)
• ❌ free city test pickup: as of aug '24, can't find any free city test pickups, including at libraries :/
•❌ express testing if you happen to live near one of the city's 4 (????) spots in crown heights, jamaica, riverside, morrisania
• ❌ HRSA: called 3 locations & none offer testing (...lol this is the same as the first link in this list that disappointed me last winter!) (aug '24)
• ❌ city hotlines 1-844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692) & 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319): for testing, these are useless (e.g., 1st just tells you to call 2nd, which gives outdated info...), but the latter is the # for long covid / aftercare given above (press 4). (aug '24)
• ❌ fast lab tech: no longer accepting medicaid tho their site says otherwise; after viewing their bbb profile, skeptical they're still providing any free tests at all grr (aug '24)