The Covid Underground
Before a subculture is noticed by popular culture, it grows organically underground
This post is dedicated to Chi Bornfree, a brilliant organizer who has built a network of over twenty Covid Zero families in the Hudson Valley. Our family is fortunate to be a part of the Covid Zero counter-culture that Chi has been instrumental in bringing together.
Every generation or so, a distinctive counter-culture arises which, despite being the minority, overwhelmingly defines the historical moment.
Hippies, for example, were a mere .2% of the American population in 1968. And yet, it is practically impossible to imagine the art, culture and politics of the ‘60s without the Hippie ethos.
Long before a subculture is noticed by popular culture, it grows organically underground: passed from person to person through shared interpretations of reality, visions of the future and techniques for standing apart from the mainstream.
Catalyzed by Covid-19, there is now a counter-culture spreading invisibly across America. Known by various names—such as, Covid Zero or Novid—this subculture is united by the desire to never catch Covid.
There has not been an accurate census of the Covid Zero population but most polls indicate that between 10% to 30% of the American population continues to avoid Covid and take the contagious disease seriously. That might sounds high to you, but most Covid Zeros live below the radar: you won’t find us indoors or at your parties. Of course, not everyone who avoids Covid is a Covid Zero. Still, if Covid Zeros are only 1% of the population, that would be 5 times the size of the Hippies!
Here are three common characteristics of Covid Zeros:
They embrace scientifically proven methods for decreasing Covid risk. Covid Zeros have pioneered virtually silent HEPA filters and ultra-effective masks. They use nasal sprays and mouth washes known to kill Covid. They meet outdoors.
They often unschool or homeschool their children because schools are a major source of infection. Their kids may attend an outdoor and masked program if one exists locally.
They have their own set of influencers who keep the culture updated on the latest Covid avoidance practices. For example, on Twitter, they might follow Yaneer Bar-Yam, Eric Feigl-Ding, and Joey Fox. On Facebook they are found in Still Coviding communities. Or they look for local allies on CovidMeetups.com
Lately a big shift has started accelerating in the Covid Zero subculture.
In the first three years of the pandemic, Covid Zeros lived amongst others. They just tried to be more careful than their neighbors. However, many Covid Zeros now feel mainstream’s societies non-approach to Covid puts them at risk. They have begun to see that their longterm health requires them to building Covid Zero communities.
Efforts are now underway to form a Covid Zero community in Vermont. Others are targeting the Mid-Atlantic. More locations are being proposed each day. There are rumors that some communities already exist but choose not to publicize their existence.
For now, it is good that mainstream society is largely ignorant of the spread of Covid Zeros. However, I believe from the perspective of the future, Covid Zeros will have a significant cultural influence—in large part because they are developing the lifestyle techniques that allow them to prosper amidst a pandemic that is unlikely to end anytime soon.