Many Are Thrilled California Has Reopened. How Do COVID Survivors Really feel?

With the barrage of social media posts and messages about the reopening and going on trips, Vitelli said she also wants to do more for those who have lost their lives, be it a national holiday or something similar.

She said it was important to acknowledge what was lost.

“It’s difficult to see people who are not affected by COVID just laugh and travel back and forth,” Vitelli said. “It’s just really difficult.”

“Everyone is starting to forget”

Some COVID-19 survivors are demanding direct financial assistance and more medical leave to help those injured by the virus.

Rachel Maurice, who lives in Southern California, would have benefited from paid family vacation last year when her 15-year-old daughter tested positive for COVID-19.

Maurice, 36, left work to take care of her daughter and was then quarantined for a total of three weeks, which she said resulted in her losing her job. Her daughter still has weak lungs due to COVID and has had to be hospitalized twice more because of the long-term effects of the disease.

“I just wish there were some laws and safeguards in place that allow survivors to take their time,” said Maurice.

She also worries that a lot of people are already forgetting.

“I think we only have short-term memories,” said Maurice of feeling that many Americans are mentally out of the pandemic. “All the struggles we’ve been through as a nation – everyone’s starting to forget.”