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CNN’s editor-at-large Chris Cillizza has recently discovered that, for some, there is a stigma attached to catching COVID-19. The shame is so much that he reveals the people he comes in contact with won’t even admit they’ve had it.
He detailed his recent findings in a Twitter thread where he notes that the significantly more contagious variant of the virus, Omicron, is changing the way people in his bubble talk about their past infections.
“For months and months, no one I came into contact with admitted they had Covid. Not neighbors. Not co-workers. Not friends. Not acquaintances. No one,” Cillizza noted. “Except that, with Omicron surging and lots and lots of people now getting it, I’ve found some of these same people telling me they had it last fall or at the start of the pandemic or whenever.”
“Which is fascinating to me. Because it suggests that they were embarrassed or scared to say they (or their family) had it before,” he continued. “Why? Probably not one reason for everyone, honestly. But I do think societally we unknowingly turned having Covid into some sort of judgment on your character.”
“Like, getting Covid was a sign you weren’t being responsible or careful enough. Not being a good member of society,” Cillizza lamented. “The ubiquity — thanks to its contagiousness — of Omicron has changed that dynamic. Some of the stigma of getting Covid has worn off, and made people more comfortable acknowledging that they’ve had it before.”
I’ve noticed something amid this Omicron surge that’s made me reconsider the first 20 months of this pandemic.
🧵 1/
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) January 5, 2022
Except that, with Omicron surging and lots and lots of people now getting it, I've found some of these same people telling me they had it last fall or at the start of the pandemic or whenever.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) January 5, 2022
Why? Probably not one reason for everyone, honestly. But I do think societally we unknowingly turned having Covid into some sort of judgment on your character.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) January 5, 2022
The ubiquity — thanks to its contagiousness — of Omicron has changed that dynamic. Some of the stigma of getting Covid has worn off, and made people more comfortable acknowledging that they've had it before.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) January 5, 2022
Anyway, just an observation. Stay safe and stay healthy.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) January 5, 2022
Some on Twitter were utterly shocked that Cillizza was just discovering this behavior. Others suggested that media coverage had a lot to do with how people perceived those who were infected:
I can’t believe you just figured this out
— sigh… (@cardinals150) January 5, 2022
Gee, think CNN’s coverage contributed to that?
— BillHobson (@BillHobson1) January 5, 2022
Because covid was politicized. Only “MAGA white supremacists” and anti vaxxers were the ones to get it
— Flyover Country (@USFlyoverState) January 5, 2022
You have no self-awareness, do you? You, personally, fomented this!
— PartyMember (@PartyMember3) January 5, 2022
“A pandemic of the un-vaccinated” HAHAHA! Now that we are getting it, lets not stigmatize it. HAHAHA!
— Kapow Robot (@KapowRobot) January 5, 2022
To come to this now, must mean, you are truly out of touch.
— William Blake (@Dunkej01) January 5, 2022
Every time I read one of your pieces, I’m always flabbergasted that somebody pays you to write about your new discoveries when non-journalists have been aware of these basic facts for months by the time you published it as some groundbreaking info.
— Mike Cortese (@drebin25) January 5, 2022
Your network did a great job of convincing everyone that getting Covid was moral failing. Now you’re surprised that people were embarrassed to admit they had Covid?
— goski (@Uintafly) January 5, 2022
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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