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LCDC
The first LCDC (Long COVID Washington D.C.) grassroots led demonstration took place on March 15, 2024 and the Long COVID Foundation was there to partake. It was an amazing event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. designed to bring attention to and make demands for those with Long COVID. Below is Devin Russell's speech at the event:
LCDC's Mission Statement
Tens of millions of people in the US are suffering from Long COVID, and our numbers continue to swell. We are languishing without any effective treatments or therapeutics. Many are disabled and out of work, without access to healthcare, financial support or shelter.
Those with Long COVID suffer organ and tissue damage leaving patients at increased risk of a host of life-changing, life-threatening, cardiovascular, immunological, and neurological conditions. Reinfections are particularly dangerous for Long COVID patients, and our damaged immune systems are vulnerable to a range of opportunistic infections. Without universal masking in healthcare facilities, we cannot safely access our care teams or clinical trials.
March 15, 2024, is International Long COVID Awareness Day. Let's show up in Washington, DC in person or online to ask our government to acknowledge us! Together, we will bring attention to the urgent need for sufficient, targeted funding to accelerate the research, development, and deployment of effective treatments for Long COVID and secure the social services we need! This needs to be acknowledged as a national emergency by the government to expedite services to the tens of millions of people whom are affected and to protect so many others from developing this illness.
LCDC's Goals:
1. Declare Long COVID a National Emergency.
2. Implement Emergency Use Authorization for drug repurposing and trials.
3. Establish annual funding for Long COVID programs and research to find a cure. $28 Billion minimum annually.
4. Ensure racial and gender health equity in research, access to clinical trials, antiviral drug repurposing, preventative measures, educational campaigns, and social services.
5. Enact Clean Indoor Air Laws to prevent SARS-CoV-2 forward transmission in public spaces and forced-congregant settings.
6. Implement respirator use and clean air protections in healthcare facilities. Additionally, devise strategies to ensure immunocompromised patients or those with Long COVID are given reasonable accommodations and are not penalized. Enforce protected class status for people with Long COVID as disabled.
7. Fast-track compassionate allowance and sufficient social support for people with Long COVID in addition to increased funding for Home and Community Based Services.
8. Develop guidelines for physicians on Long COVID and continuing education on breaking research.
9. Acknowledge that Long COVID affects children and implement specialized care immediately.
10. Public tracking of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at Publicly Owned Treatment Works and provide affordable PCR testing nationwide.
11. Establish regular White House press communication regarding progress toward stated goals and real time data for COVID transmission awareness.