A Letter to My Loved Ones About COVID-19: You’ve Moved On, But I’m Still Here

In “A Letter to My Loved Ones About COVID-19: You’ve Moved On, But I’m Still Here,” reporter Jeanie Santucci grapples with the frustration of being a high-risk individual with Type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Framed as a personal letter, the piece draws on the epistolary form to convey both intimacy and urgency, highlighting the emotional labor required of those still navigating pandemic risk. Three years after the beginning of the pandemic when many have transitioned to a post-COVID-19 life, Santucci remains constrained by her health conditions. Spending most of her time at home, she continues to wear an N95 mask and carry a portable air purifier when leaving her home. She also limits herself to meeting friends who tested negative for COVID-19, and in outdoor settings only.

The letter format allows Santucci to directly address readers as if they were intimates, collapsing public commentary into private appeal.Disappointed by the loosening of restrictions, with unmasked people participating in large gatherings, Santucci continues to vociferously advocate for maintaining measures that reduce the risk of COVID-19, including wearing respirators and improving ventilation. Santucci was also critical of US President Joe Biden’s decision to end the public health emergency, seeing it as a premature victory and highlighting that the health of vulnerable groups continues to be at risk. Ultimately, she urges the public to take high-risk people into consideration when making decisions on masking and socializing, demonstrating the need for inclusivity in public health decision-making.