I’m a COVID-19 Long-Hauler, HIV Activist, and Artist. Here’s How I Navigated 2020
As Told to Terri Wilder, M.S.W.
Pato Hebert
At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, both government and medical sources reported that recovery for people with mild symptoms would take around two weeks, and for people presenting with more severe symptoms, three to six weeks. Over the past several months, there has been a growing concern about those of us who are remaining ill past the predicted recovery period, now known as COVID-19 long-haulers.
In this article, we share the story of one such COVID-19 long-hauler, longtime HIV activist and artist Pato Hebert. An associate arts professor at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, Hebert’s work explores the aesthetics, ethics, and poetry of interconnectedness. He also allies with social movements and community organizations to develop innovative approaches to HIV mobilization, programs, advocacy, and justice.