Covid levels are rising again in many areas, including California, Nevada, and Texas, as fall conventions approach. You may not be hearing about it. This may explain part of why:

Mike Hoerger, PhD, MSCR, MBA@michael-hoerger.bsky.social · last wk.

🚨BREAKING 🦠 On Friday, the US CDC arbitrarily shifted higher COVlD levels into lower categories depicted with cooler colors. Much of what was Very High is now "High." What was High is now "Moderate" or "Low." Low is "Very Low." 1/

Think: "Good data, bad use of data." At PMC, we told you that if there was any funny business at the CDC, we would warn you right away. We diagnosed the issue immediately and will still report accurate COVlD information.

The good news is that the individual wastewater monitoring site data are still valid. The bad news is that the CDC maps and level descriptions will now mislead the casual user.

but 90% of those with a 1-week reporting delay (18 of 20) have High/Very High levels, leading the state to get classified as "Low" when really High. These issues snowball and can easily push a state down 1-2 categories when experiencing significant COVlD outbreaks.

These issues are aggravated by delayed reporting at High/Very High monitoring sites. Sites with 1-week reporting delays get excluded when the CDC calculates current levels. For example, only 16% of the sites online in Texas (3 of 19) report High/Very High levels,...

The questionable change was made in the middle of rising transmission across most of the country; 15 states already have COVlD outbreaks, and others may soon join the ranks. These are serious ethics concerns that warrant investigative journalism.

Normally, when the CDC makes a methodology change, they flag it prominently on each of their COVlD monitoring pages. This time, there was no alert and no explanation. Major changes were confined to COVlD, not Influenza A, and not RSV.

During intense surges, states will rarely get classified as Very High anymore. Presently, transmission is rising across the US, with a 75% chance of a wave, but states will be depicted in blue (Very Low) much longer, making communities less prepared. #Bluewashing

🔹2 states/territories artificially shifted from High to Moderate (MS, GU) 🔹5 shifted from Moderate to Low (CA, TX, AK, WA, NV) 🔹4 shifted from Low to Very Low (AZ, AR, LA, NC)

🚨BREAKING 🦠 On Friday, the US CDC arbitrarily shifted higher COVlD levels into lower categories depicted with cooler colors. Much of what was Very High is now "High." What was High is now "Moderate" or "Low." Low is "Very Low." 1/

KN95 masks are available at the following NY public library branches : - Brooklyn Public Library - Queens Public Library Locations - St. George Library Center (Staten Island) - Bronx Library Center - Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library - NYPL’s main branch (Manhattan) source : NYC Emergency Mgmt

GOJII@gojiimusic.bsky.social · last mo.

NY air quality is so bad right now i took my mask off for 2 seconds last night and my sinuses were on fire the rest of the night. stay safe out there

How to REALLY Not Get Con Crud! Time: Fri 1:00 PM–2:30 PM Location: Schoolhouse (Floor 3, Columbia 4) Host: @yatchi.bsky.social @covidsafefurs.org Desert Bugs Time: Fri 3:00 PM–4:00 PM Location: Theatre (Floor 2, Willamette 8) Host: MorbidArachnid

Hey #FWA2026! We'll have N95 masks and rapid tests for you to access at any time at Accessibility!

How to REALLY Not Get Con Crud! Fri, Apr 3 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Alexis Park - Apollo 3 Hosted by @yatchi.bsky.social web.venvi.app#/gE3Acp1VRg9... #FurriesInSTEM #STEMFurs #STEM LVFC

Attending @gsfurcon.com ? How to REALLY Not Get Con Crud! Friday 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Panel 3 Hosts: @yatchi.bsky.social gsfurcon.org/schedule/#1090

Schedule | Golden State Fur Con

Plan your weekend at GSFC with our online convention schedule!

gsfurcon.org

First post #FC2026 tests are negative! Be sure to test right after con, and then 4 days to be in the clear, or sooner if you experience symptoms! @covidsafefurs.org

#FC2026 totals given out Tests: 244 Masks: 280 Huge shoutout and big thank you to @covidsafefurs.org folks for helping us keep folks attending #FurtherConfusion2026 safe! 👏🥰

Last day!! Come see us at table 72 in Dealer's Den West! Last chance to grab beautiful art from my dear @crunchydomfam.bsky.social and free masks/tests provided by us and @covidsafefurs.org ! ❤️✨️ #FC2026 ##FurtherConfusion2026

This Creature Can Eating Every Corona Virus

All set up in the Den! Come see us at table 72 in Dealer's Den West for @crunchydomfam.bsky.social! We have plenty of free tests and masks provided by us and @covidsafefurs.org so come stock up! ❤️✨️ #FC2026 #FurtherConfusion2026

Heading to #FC2026 or #ANE2026? We're looking for some help getting masks and tests into people's hands at both cons. If you're a vendor with table space to spare, or you'll just have some walking-around time, join our Telegram chat and help us out! covidsafefurs.org/telegram

I'll be helping distribute them at table 72! Come by and get your supplies 👏❤️

Covid Safe Furs 🔜 ASC, BLFC@covidsafefurs.org · 7mo ago

For FC folks, @crunchydomfam.bsky.social (table 72) and @jonathanvair.bsky.social (table 39-40) will have you covered with FREE masks and tests at their tables in the dealer's den! #FC2026

Why masking in 2026? Beyond COVID it's still cold and flu season, dealers can't opt out of their own sales room, and most don't get any kind of sick pay. I have also heard some mention how art is their profession in part because of chronic illness or disability, so the stakes differ vs the public.

Further Confusion "FC Land"@furcon.bsky.social · 7mo ago

For the safety and comfort of all our dealers, masks will be mandatory in both the Dealers Den and Adult Dealers Den at #FurCon2026. Please ensure you have a mask ready before entering these areas. Thank you for helping us create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone!

A lot of us artists are higher-risk; we do this for a living partly because we are disabled and unable to work a standard 9-to-5. I appreciate FC sticking to their guns about this, and I know being the badge/mask checker can't be a fun volunteer position.

Further Confusion "FC Land"@furcon.bsky.social · 7mo ago

For the safety and comfort of all our dealers, masks will be mandatory in both the Dealers Den and Adult Dealers Den at #FurCon2026. Please ensure you have a mask ready before entering these areas. Thank you for helping us create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone!

every year FC gets flack for being one of the only major furry cons that require masks in dealer's. i still remember the FC RIGHT before covid where literally almost everyone I knew that was there for sick -- me included! but since then? not so much! masks work! protect yourself & others 😷

Further Confusion "FC Land"@furcon.bsky.social · 7mo ago

For the safety and comfort of all our dealers, masks will be mandatory in both the Dealers Den and Adult Dealers Den at #FurCon2026. Please ensure you have a mask ready before entering these areas. Thank you for helping us create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone!

For the safety and comfort of all our dealers, masks will be mandatory in both the Dealers Den and Adult Dealers Den at #FurCon2026. Please ensure you have a mask ready before entering these areas. Thank you for helping us create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone!

a lot of the independent furry artists i know have a hard time getting decent health insurance, like even before the healthcare marketplace subsidies got ripped out from under everyone this year. you may not care about con crud but a lot of people are forced to by their health & financial situations

can the people criticizing this policy please try to imagine what it's like to go to cons for work, sometimes a lot of them very close together, sitting in the highest traffic area of the entire convention for 8+ hours a day, and trying your hardest not to get sick, so you can keep paying your bills

immense respect for @ane.boston and @furcon.bsky.social continuing to mandate masks in dealer's den. our community depends on artists, the least we can do to support them back is protect them from a major occupational hazard!! flu A is extremely popping off rn according to all available data sources

For FC folks, @crunchydomfam.bsky.social (table 72) and @jonathanvair.bsky.social (table 39-40) will have you covered with FREE masks and tests at their tables in the dealer's den! #FC2026