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Newsletter for November 13, 2026

Julie Lam of Mask Together America and Dr. Robi Tamargo, Long COVID reps of #MaskTogetherAmerica debut their abstract: “A Grassroots Digital Communication Model for Long COVlD Public Health & Prevention” at the Long COVID International Conference in Nice, France.

 

 

Greetings, public health PHANs! We hope you're having a healthy and safe November. 

 

News and highlights this week:

 

Upcoming Zoom Discussions in Nov & Dec

Zoom discussion on death and Long COVID with guest speaker Miles Griffis

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On Thursday, November 19, we'll have a thoughtful discussion about death and Long COVID with Miles Griffis, co-founder of The Sick Times. We'll remember those we've lost to Long COVID and talk about how we can honor them. Register in advance.

 

On Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., we'll host a Thanksgiving Day Hangout with PHAN from noon to 5pm ET, a casual Zoom chat for anyone who wants to spend time with COVID-aware folks. Bring your songs, poetry, stories, jokes, artwork, or anything else you want to share. We'll have some fun games and songs to share as well. Register in advance.

 

On Sunday, December 13, we'll host a discussion with guests Amy Stewart and Dr. Michael Hoerger about being COVID-safe around families and holiday gatherings. Register in advance.

 

On Friday, December 25, Christmas Day, we'll host another holiday hangout with PHAN for anyone who wants to spend time with COVID-aware folks. Bring your songs and art to share. Register in advance.

Recording for Zoom Discussion on Nov 12: 

IAQ and Preventing Illness with Kids in School

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The recording for our Zoom Discussion on November 12 about indoor air quality (IAQ) and keeping kids safe in school is now available. Mary Jo Nabuurs with Ontario School Safety and Ruth Brooker from Clean Air for Kids UK talked about the work their organizations are doing with schools and districts in their areas, what kinds of success they've had as well as obstacles they've encountered while trying to improve air in schools, and some strategies for pushing the issue forward that advocates can adopt.

 

You can follow our guest speakers on social media and check out their websites:
 

Ruth Brooker/Clean Air for Kids UK:

Mary Jo Nabuurs/Ontario School Safety:

Mary Jo's independent work:

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If you haven't visited our website lately, we invite you to check out the resources there. Our AirAware widget, available on every page, shows your local outdoor air quality data as well as your local RSV, COVID, and influenza wastewater surveillance data. We have explainers on various aspects of COVID and Long COVID, available protections, clean air concepts and technologies, as well as our blog, events list, and newsletters. Email us at info@phan.global with your feedback and suggestions.

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The 2026 formulation for the COVID vaccine is now available throughout the U.S. The vaccine takes about two weeks to reach full effect, so public health experts are recommending you get the vaccine now if you have not already gotten it, in order to protect yourself throughout the winter holidays. Unfortunately the CDC's vaccine-finder website, vaccines.gov, is still not working, but you can find pharmacies with these vaccines in stock via the links below, or check with your local pharmacist or clinic:

December 3: Webinar on Airborne Aerosols, 

Hosted by Mask Together America

On December 3, Mask Together America will host a webinar on airborne aerosols with special guests:

We encourage all PHAN supporters to attend this webinar and to learn more about airborne pathogens and aerosol science with Mask Together America's explainer. Register in advance.

NEW: International Clean Indoor Air Policy Tracker 

from World Health Network

The World Health Network has developed a terrific resource in their new International Clean Indoor Air Policy Tracker. This webpage tracks recent and upcoming clean air events, news, and policy changes, allowing you to filter items by geographic area. We applaud this project and think it can help make policy easier to understand and track.

The Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative (PMC) creates a weekly COVID-19 “heatmap” based on CDC wastewater data and levels (U.S.). The PMC is led by Michael Hoerger, PhD, MSCR, MBA.

 

November 9, 2026: From the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative: “COVlD Surge: As least 49 US states and territories have COVlD outbreaks, an increase from last week."
 

Top news stories from the past week:

 

November 5, 2026: From Boston ABC News affiliate WCVB: Philanthropist, former Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca backs $15M long COVID research effort.

 

November 6, 2026: Measles cases have surged to their highest levels since 1991, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with a former Food and Drug Administration chief warning the case count is likely much higher than what is being reported.

 

November 9, 2026: From Fox News affiliate Fox13 Memphis: Clarksdale Municipal School District in Clarksdale, Mississippi is requiring masks to be worn inside school buildings and transportation due to an increase in respiratory illnesses.

 

November 10, 2026: From From Fox News affiliate KBSI23: Missouri: Zalma R-V School District closes for three days due to widespread illness. 

 

November 10, 2026: From United Farm Workers: “There is an active outbreak of avian flu (H5 influenza) in dairy herds in Washington State, particularly the Yakima Valley. A number of dairy workers have been infected, with at least one death. Speaking with workers, we believe the official case numbers are a vast undercount.” 

 

November 11, 2026: From the BBC: “'Five years of Long Covid and my symptoms are worse'”: Eighteen-year-old Molly Foden describes what it's been like to live with Long COVID for the past five years.

 

November 12, 2026: From The Independent: Your air purifier could stop you getting diabetes, study finds. The findings could have major implications for the 115 million Americans living with prediabetes, most of whom don’t know they have the condition.

 

November 12, 2026: From Mask Together America: A Grassroots Digital Communication Model for Long COVlD Public Health & Prevention, presented at the Long COVID International Conference in Nice, France. The model details five core strategies including scientific annotations, expert-patient forums, inclusive representation, storytelling, and mobilization.

 

 

 

COVID-Cautious “Get Ready for the Holidays” Party in Chicago on November 15 - masks and pre-event testing required

 

Every week theater journalist Charles Lewis III publishes a comprehensive list of COVID-safe events and performances in the San Francisco Bay Area on his Patreon.

 

San Francisco Transgender Film Fest, November 12-14. Attendance will be both online and in-person, with the latter audiences required to be masked with KN95 (masks provided by staff).

 

Last Saturday of every month in the SF Bay Area: Masked Hangout. Once a month, airborne-aware folks in the South Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area meet at 15980 Blossom Hill Rd in Los Gatos for games, puzzles, coloring, and socializing. Email SouthBayMaskedEvents@gmail.com for details and to be added to the mailing list.

 

Monthly in San Francisco: Infinite Wrench. SF Neo-Futurists hosts Infinite Wrench mask-required performances on the first Saturday of each month. Infinite Wrench is a set of 30 plays in 60 minutes, new plays every week. While audience members will be required to stay masked throughout the show, performers may invite select audience members to unmask for plays that involve audience participation. All performers test weekly for COVID-19 and extra masks will be available for those who need them. Upcoming 2026 Masked Shows: Nov 7, Dec 5.

 

Streaming online through November 28, 2026: Hystericalfest: women+ ACT out.

A series of short comedies on Women+ & Invisible Disabilities. Tickets available with a suggested donation of $10. With ASL and closed captioning options. Produced by Violet Surprise Theatre, Terri Lynne Hudson (consulting), & Hysterical Productions/Paula Kamen. This is a recording of a live performance that ran Friday, August 28, 2026.

 

Weekly online open-mic events with Nina Wildflower: Ben Collins, who performs as Nina Wildflower, hosts a weekly online open mic for COVID-informed performers, via the Facebook group "Still Coviding - Virtual Meetups" (private group, apply for membership). Sign up for weekly emails at ninawildflower@yahoo.com.

 

COVID Safe Art Collective meets online every Sunday for pro-mask adults who want to make art together.

The World Health Network hosts COVID-aware community meetings every day. Community care starts with conversation! Their Welcome page explains how to connect with their meeting groups.

 

Every Monday & Sunday: Rising Hope meetings on Zoom

Rising Hope is a community of COVID-conscious supporters that meet Monday evenings, plus Sunday mornings for church services. Contact them via Reddit.

 

WHN hosts weekly Zoom “Kids' Connect Zone” meetings on Tuesdays and Sundays for kids, teens, and families who want to connect through COVID-conscious activities, games, and discussions. Find out more at the WHN website.
 

Join Celebrate845 on Zoom for COVID Creative Coalition community meetings on Saturdays at 11AM ET. No artistic experience required. More info at Celebrate845.com/COVIDCreativeCoalition. 

 

Every Saturday: Pandemic Pals meetings on Zoom

Every Saturday at 5 pm PT/8 pm ET, the Pandemic Collaborative hosts a Zoom call with several breakout rooms based on age groups, life situations, and special interests. Check their Google Document the day of the call for that week's Zoom link.

 

The organizers at The Little Zoom Writers Room host a weekly co-writing space open to all COVID realists. Check their welcome page for more info or their account on Instagram.

 

The COVID-Safe Art Collective holds an online gathering every Sunday at 2:30pm PT / 4:30pm CT / 5:30pm ET until 4pm PT / 6pm CT / 8pm ET for COVID-safe adults to create art or just chat and be with other aware people. Check their Linktree for the current Zoom link.

 

Molly was a professional actor and clown for 30 years in Chicago, and has had fellowships as well as guest lecture and teaching artist positions all over the country. She hosts an in-person and remote class once a month about how to create theatrical performances in a respirator. Sign up for her mailing list to get the remote link.

on the lighter side…

Credit: The Vertlartnic

Volunteering with PHAN!

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If you match any of those needs, or you have other skills or experience that you think might help our work, we'll find a way for you to help! Fill out our contact form on our website and one of us will get back to you as soon as we can.

 

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