How a Fourth Case of Covid Changed My Perspective on the Pandemic

In her personal essay “How a Fourth Case of Covid Changed My Perspective on the Pandemic,” Vogue Senior Editor Chloe Schama reflects on COVID-19 from the perspective of a mother of four, describing how contracting the virus four times shaped her understanding of the pandemic. She opens with: “Here we go again, I thought as the telltale line rapidly materialized. It was my fourth time getting COVID, a statement that usually elicits disbelief from friends and some quick caveats on my end.” With several young children, Schama and her family faced a heightened risk of exposure, experiencing regular bouts of the virus throughout much of 2022. At one point, they endured six consecutive weeks of overlapping cases. Just as her children began to recover, Schama contracted the virus again and isolated herself to prevent further spread within the household. Focusing on family life, personal health, and shifting societal attitudes toward the pandemic, the author uses a first-person perspective to explore their evolving relationship with illness and recovery. The narrative reflects the transition from acute crisis to a more normalized coexistence with the virus, conveying ambivalence as the author grapples with the disease’s severity while navigating a somewhat privileged space for recovery.