My COVID-19 Diary

In “My COVID-19 Diary,” Michelle Munyikwa, an American anthropologist and medical doctor-in-training, reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic in a diary written in weekly installments from 1 March to 11 April 2020. She covers themes like the silence surrounding COVID-19, time compression, and pandemic fatigue. Munyikwa analyzes the onset of COVID in Philadelphia, emphasizing the flaws in public health, particularly in a city where around 24.5 percent of residents live below the federal poverty line (Munyikwa 16). She questions the pandemic timeline and asserts that profit-oriented leadership in the US weakened social safety nets. Munyikwa highlights the challenges in accessing masks in her hospital and the scarcity of personal protective equipment. She acknowledges the role of Donald Trump’s response but also holds the public accountable for years of complacency. As a black woman in America, she is acutely aware of the racial disparities within public infrastructure, with many working-class and racialized Philadelphians left to navigate the pandemic on their own. The diary underscores the importance of understanding and addressing structural flaws, even without complete clarity, to enable proactive intervention against future disasters.