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When Larry Kramer, AIDS Warrior, Took on Another Plague When Larry Kramer, AIDS Warrior, Took on Another Plague
(3 days later)
In one of the last interviews before his death, Larry Kramer, the AIDS activist who became that epidemic’s wrathful prophet, said he was writing a play for the age of Covid-19. It was, he said, a work he might not live to finish.In one of the last interviews before his death, Larry Kramer, the AIDS activist who became that epidemic’s wrathful prophet, said he was writing a play for the age of Covid-19. It was, he said, a work he might not live to finish.
“It’s about gay people having to live through three plagues,” he said from his apartment in Greenwich Village. It was March 24, two days into the governor’s order to stay in place. Already Mr. Kramer was becoming increasingly isolated.“It’s about gay people having to live through three plagues,” he said from his apartment in Greenwich Village. It was March 24, two days into the governor’s order to stay in place. Already Mr. Kramer was becoming increasingly isolated.
Two months later, Mr. Kramer, who had cheated death several times in the past, died on May 27. His play, like his legacy, remained a work in progress. The cause was pneumonia.Two months later, Mr. Kramer, who had cheated death several times in the past, died on May 27. His play, like his legacy, remained a work in progress. The cause was pneumonia.
The three plagues are H.I.V./AIDS, Covid-19 and the decline of the human body — specifically, a broken leg that Mr. Kramer, 84, suffered last April, when he fell in his apartment and lay on the floor until his home attendant arrived hours later.The three plagues are H.I.V./AIDS, Covid-19 and the decline of the human body — specifically, a broken leg that Mr. Kramer, 84, suffered last April, when he fell in his apartment and lay on the floor until his home attendant arrived hours later.
For Mr. Kramer, who had several brushes with death since receiving an H.I.V. diagnosis in 1988, the days had haunting echoes of the AIDS epidemic, which he felt never ended.For Mr. Kramer, who had several brushes with death since receiving an H.I.V. diagnosis in 1988, the days had haunting echoes of the AIDS epidemic, which he felt never ended.
“The government has been awful in both cases,” he said, his voice softer than the old days but his anger undiminished. “They were terrible with AIDS and they’re terrible with this thing. One wonders what will become of us.”“The government has been awful in both cases,” he said, his voice softer than the old days but his anger undiminished. “They were terrible with AIDS and they’re terrible with this thing. One wonders what will become of us.”
As in the AIDS epidemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was a fixture on the nightly news. The two men had a complicated history. In the 1980s, Mr. Kramer blamed Dr. Fauci for the federal government’s slow response to AIDS, calling him a murderer and an “incompetent idiot.”As in the AIDS epidemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was a fixture on the nightly news. The two men had a complicated history. In the 1980s, Mr. Kramer blamed Dr. Fauci for the federal government’s slow response to AIDS, calling him a murderer and an “incompetent idiot.”
But the adversaries developed a grudging friendship, and Dr. Fauci helped get Mr. Kramer into a lifesaving experimental drug trial after Mr. Kramer had a liver transplant.But the adversaries developed a grudging friendship, and Dr. Fauci helped get Mr. Kramer into a lifesaving experimental drug trial after Mr. Kramer had a liver transplant.
“We are friends again,” Mr. Kramer said in an email. “I’m feeling sorry for how he’s being treated. I emailed him this, but his one line answer was, ‘Hunker down.’”“We are friends again,” Mr. Kramer said in an email. “I’m feeling sorry for how he’s being treated. I emailed him this, but his one line answer was, ‘Hunker down.’”
Also as with AIDS, people’s casual encounters from the past have taken on potentially lethal significance, and the news brought a steady drip of death or diagnosis: the playwright Terrence McNally, whom Mr. Kramer called a close friend and neighbor, dead at 81; the AIDS researcher Dr. Michael Saag, diagnosed at 64 on his way home from organizing a medical conference on retroviruses and opportunistic infections, ill but not critical.Also as with AIDS, people’s casual encounters from the past have taken on potentially lethal significance, and the news brought a steady drip of death or diagnosis: the playwright Terrence McNally, whom Mr. Kramer called a close friend and neighbor, dead at 81; the AIDS researcher Dr. Michael Saag, diagnosed at 64 on his way home from organizing a medical conference on retroviruses and opportunistic infections, ill but not critical.
“It’s been so long that I have been losing friends that it becomes surreal,” Mr. Kramer said.“It’s been so long that I have been losing friends that it becomes surreal,” Mr. Kramer said.
He did not find that his experience during the AIDS crisis gave him perspective on the coronavirus pandemic, he said. Rather, the two eras merged into each other.He did not find that his experience during the AIDS crisis gave him perspective on the coronavirus pandemic, he said. Rather, the two eras merged into each other.
“We certainly had our experience,” he said of his generation of AIDS activists. “But I find it very hard to stay in touch with the outside world, because of the hardships we are all having to go through. You can read about everybody else’s experiences on Facebook, but it gets depressing after a while.”“We certainly had our experience,” he said of his generation of AIDS activists. “But I find it very hard to stay in touch with the outside world, because of the hardships we are all having to go through. You can read about everybody else’s experiences on Facebook, but it gets depressing after a while.”
He said he hoped the antiretroviral drugs that he and many friends were taking for H.I.V. would bolster their immune systems against the coronavirus. It was a slender hope.He said he hoped the antiretroviral drugs that he and many friends were taking for H.I.V. would bolster their immune systems against the coronavirus. It was a slender hope.
For Mr. Kramer, who was by then largely homebound, a challenge of the pandemic was isolation. His husband, David Webster, whom he married in 2013 in the intensive care unit of NYU Langone Medical Center, was away on a work project, wary of bringing potential exposure into the home. Some of Mr. Kramer’s home attendants, also, had to stop coming because of exposure to the disease.For Mr. Kramer, who was by then largely homebound, a challenge of the pandemic was isolation. His husband, David Webster, whom he married in 2013 in the intensive care unit of NYU Langone Medical Center, was away on a work project, wary of bringing potential exposure into the home. Some of Mr. Kramer’s home attendants, also, had to stop coming because of exposure to the disease.
Updated June 5, 2020Updated June 5, 2020
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
So he tried to lose himself in the new play, “An Army of Lovers Must Not Die,” which he had to change almost daily as the news changed. “I wonder if it will ever be done now,” he said of the play.So he tried to lose himself in the new play, “An Army of Lovers Must Not Die,” which he had to change almost daily as the news changed. “I wonder if it will ever be done now,” he said of the play.
But Mr. Kramer, for all his doom-saying, repeatedly beat the odds, surviving to finish his two-part epic novel, “The American People,” the second volume of which, at 880 pages, landed earlier this year.But Mr. Kramer, for all his doom-saying, repeatedly beat the odds, surviving to finish his two-part epic novel, “The American People,” the second volume of which, at 880 pages, landed earlier this year.
“It’s a great book to read when you’re stuck for hours and hours,” he said.“It’s a great book to read when you’re stuck for hours and hours,” he said.
Mr. Kramer was a maddening, titanic figure during the AIDS crisis, and at moments seemed still to see himself in that thundering role.Mr. Kramer was a maddening, titanic figure during the AIDS crisis, and at moments seemed still to see himself in that thundering role.
“Show me a plague,” he wrote in volume one of his epic, “and I’ll show you the world!”“Show me a plague,” he wrote in volume one of his epic, “and I’ll show you the world!”
The current plague, he said, called for its own Larry Kramer to bring the rage — against disease, against governmental failure, against the unfairness of death. It just would not be him. “I wish I could be,” he said. “I don’t know how. I would like to have a big movement,” he added. “But I’m not quite sure how to do that.”The current plague, he said, called for its own Larry Kramer to bring the rage — against disease, against governmental failure, against the unfairness of death. It just would not be him. “I wish I could be,” he said. “I don’t know how. I would like to have a big movement,” he added. “But I’m not quite sure how to do that.”