Note: I live in the United States so that is where this information is based on.
The pandemic has not ended
We are still in a pandemic. COVID has not ended. These are facts that must be understood before moving into how to keep ourselves, our clients, and our communities safer. If you already are aware of this, feel free to skip this section.
I’m not blaming you if you think that the pandemic is over; most people do. If you’re not paying enough attention, that is the message being put out. Some have called this an intentional disinformation campaign. On May 5, 2023 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an official end of the public global health emergency. On May 11th, 2023, in the United States, the national emergency response to the pandemic ended.
The widespread perception is that the pandemic is over and COVID is not really a big deal. Media coverage has constantly been lacking and most people have stopped taking precautions. Biden has said countless times that the pandemic is over.
However, January 2024 was the second biggest COVID surge in the US, with over 2 million million cases daily, according to estimates based on wastewater data. This came after the federal and statewide pandemic response ended. To put that number into perspective, it meant that 1 in 23 people were infectious at any given time.
As I am writing this in late August 2024, based on wastewater data, we are experiencing an estimated 1.2 million daily cases. That means 1 in 38 people are currently infectious. Over one million people have died from COVID-19 in the US alone. Between 5% to 20% of people infected develop long COVID. Taking the best case scenario, in August 2024 alone, it is likely 1.8 million people in the US developed long COVID. If you think COVID just impacts people who are already sick, the unfortunate reality is that COVID is likely to make you one of those people.
In the last 28 days (as of August 26th, 2024), the US reported 2,800 COVID deaths to the WHO. A cumulative 7 million people globally have died from COVID.
Staying Safer
As workers, particularly workers engaging in what is often a criminalized trade, we have little protection against illness. We don’t have paid sick leave or employer-provided health insurance, but we still have to make money to survive.
So how do we stay safer, both at work and outside of work? How do we keep those around us safer? I follow the “Swiss Cheese Model” of protection, which is the idea that every intervention we can take is imperfect, but when layered together, they will provide more success mitigating COVID. Let’s get into all the methods you can implement to reduce COVID risks for yourself and those around you.
Masks
In order to try and prevent spreading or contracting COVID, limiting the amount of unsafe contact you have is important. The best way to do that is through wearing high quality masks in any indoor space where other people are. My end goal with masking is that though it may be imperfect at times, any lessened exposure is safer. Wear a high quality mask in any instance that you can, such as at the grocery store, while spending time with friends, at your day job, at a concert, in an uber, etc.
Wearing a mask allows you to do plenty of activities with less risk! I personally avoid indoor gatherings that I cannot mask at, such as going to restaurants.
Many people also are not aware that N95s are the most effective masks.
Surgical masks (the baggy blue ones) were recommended before it was understood that COVID is airborne, and they only really provide protection against droplets due to their lack of tight fit and poor filtration ability. Droplets are larger particles and are easier to contain than airborne viruses.
I am aware that masking during bookings while still getting bookings and making money is unrealistic. However, definitely offer masks during bookings if you feel comfortable doing so. I absolutely understand that there is an amount of privilege in being able to decline bookings with clients who don’t take COVID precautions. I have only had about three clients ever agree to mask while with me, so I’m going to get into the other precautions you can take.
Clean indoor air
Since COVID-19 is airborne, using portable air cleaners with HEPA filters is an effective protection measure to take. You can use one or multiple air purifiers in an incall space, or bring a portable one with you to outcalls.
The goal with air filtering is to lessen the amount of virus particles in the air, which will lessen the chance of inhalation. In addition to stand-alone air purifiers, you can improve your home’s ventilation. If your house has an HVAC system, use MERV13 or better filters. Here is a very detailed guide to improving COVID safety within your home. This guide is less detailed but easy to follow and understand.
Other mitigation strategies
Following the Swiss Cheese Model, there are other mitigation strategies that many people aren't aware of. I want to be clear that these strategies alone are not going to prevent COVID, but when layered with other methods, can greatly reduce the risk of transmission.
CPC mouthwash is very affordable and has been shown to reduce COVID’s infectivity. Many common mouthwashes contain it. I use CPC mouthwash every time I return home.
Iota-carrageenan nasal sprays have been shown to reduce the risk of COVID infection by up to 80% when exposed. There are other nasal sprays that are effective as well. Here’s a breakdown with more information.
Nasal irrigation is easy to do at home, affordable, and shown to reduce risk of COVID infection after exposure and reduce severity of symptoms if you do get COVID. Here’s a guide with more information about the benefits and simple to follow instructions.
While not proven to be useful at preventing COVID, oral probiotics have been shown to reduce mortality and severity of symptoms in people who have COVID.
Testing
At this point, at-home rapid tests don't actually provide much information about whether someone is actually negative for COVID. This may lead people to think testing is no longer accessible or an option.
Luckily, there are a few different molecular at-home COVID tests that have similar accuracy to PCR and give results in about 30 minutes. I've built the cost of these tests into my pricing so I can test before any unmasked interaction and ask the client I’m seeing to test. They are also small and easy to transport so you can offer tests to clients or other people in your community.
I initially purchased the Metrix reader and test kit. Tests are $25 USD after the initial purchase of the reader. This is generally the most affordable in the US. However, I’ve found that tests often are out of stock during surges.
I've now switched to the PurLife reader and testing kits, which ships from the EU. The initial reader presents a more significant upfront investment but is made up for by the fact tests cost around $10 USD. I tend to purchase many tests at a time since the shipping takes many weeks. This test is also the most sensitive at-home molecular COVID test.
Here's a post that breaks down different at-home test option accuracy.
Communication
We are at a point where most people no longer communicate if they’re experiencing COVID-like symptoms, or even if they test positive. I urge you to help break that cycle so we can all make more informed decisions. The starting point is to model the communication you’d like to see. Let clients know when you last tested and the precautions that you take and urge them to share the same information. Sharing information helps others to make more informed decisions.
If you know anyone who you want to talk to about COVID precautions, this is a great resource.
Final thoughts
I want to be honest that there is a part of me that sometimes feels bitter about working to not spread COVID to clients or other people who don’t take precautions. That feeling is something I counter with two facts. The first is that if I am working to prevent clients from contracting COVID, it is also helping to keep other sex workers safer, as well as anyone else who may interact with them. The second is acknowledging that we have been conditioned to accept this massively dangerous disease as an inevitability, and I am not without compassion for those who have believed that.
If you have dropped precautions and this article has convinced you to start again, thank you. I know it’s overwhelming and can sometimes feel hopeless. I, myself, occasionally feel overwhelmed by how difficult taking precautions can be when almost no one else is. The thing that I remember is that keeping ourselves and each other safer in an economic system that does not value our lives is a revolutionary act. When contracting COVID feels inevitable, I remind myself that even then, having a lessened viral load will be less harmful to my body and the fewer infections, the better.
It can feel incredibly isolating to take COVID precautions as most people around you pretend that things are normal. Seek out like minded people. Look for COVID safer events in your area. Find a local Mask Bloc.
Resources:
COVID Tips: How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About COVID
Clean Air Club's COVID Positive Guide
SWOP Brooklyn's COVID Resources, including mutual aid
Emergency Funds for Sex Workers Impacted by COVID
The information in this article/on this website is for general information only. It should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the website owner - Tryst. Tryst does not provide medical advice and the information on this site is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please seek the advice of a qualified medical professional provider regarding any medical questions or concerns you have. Tryst is not liable for any issues caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by use of this website or article.
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