The Workers Who Make America Work

April 3, 2020

A poultry-plant worker. A U.S.P.S. rural mail carrier. A food deliveryman. A homeless-outreach worker. A funeral director. A grocer. They are the people who hold jobs that are critical to the functioning of our society, and they cannot work from home. Day by day, workers in America are confronting the stark new realities of life in a pandemic and adapting as best they can.

These are their stories, in their own words.

OUR COVER STORY

‘We Are the Silent First Responders’: The Workers Who Make America Work

Exposed and afraid but determined, workers who have no choice but to confront the pandemic describe their changed world in their own words.

A Note from Our Deputy Editor

“Three weeks since my husband first felt sick, he is on the road to recovery. This is no ordinary illness, and the recovery has been slow. But slow and steady is much, much better than where we were a week ago. We’re so thankful to all who have responded with such care and concern, and hope our story might help others stay safe.”

— Jessica Lustig

Photo illustration by Delcan & Co.

What I Learned When My Husband Got Sick With Coronavirus

Our world became one of isolation, round-the-clock care, panic and uncertainty — even as society carried on around us with all too few changes.

By Jessica Lustig

Continue reading the main story

THIS WEEK’S MAGAZINE

Features, longreads and interviews

Illustration by Erik Carter

Feature

Cannabis Scientists Are Chasing the Perfect High

Chemists at some of the biggest legal-weed companies are after an elusive prize: a predictable, reliable product.

By Gary Greenberg

Christopher Anderson/Magnum, for The New York Times

Feature

‘I Always Write With a Sense of Shame’

How Édouard Louis, a working-class gay man from the provinces, became France’s latest literary sensation — and its political conscience.

By Elisabeth Zerofsky

Mamadi Doumbouya for The New York Times

Talk

David Chang Isn’t Sure the Restaurant Industry Will Survive Covid-19

‘I’m not being hyperbolic in any way: Without government intervention, there will be no service industry whatsoever.’

By David Marchese

This Broccoli-Dill Pasta Has a Hippie Twist. Your Kids Will Love It.

A quick purée, seasoned with lemon and garlic, is a kind of delicious all-purpose dip, sauce and spread.

By Tejal Rao

diagnosis

The Doctor’s Symptoms Weren’t Typical. Was She Sick Enough to Stay Home?

On her run, she finished a six-mile loop with no trouble, but she felt a little off: a bit of chest tightness, a headache. Was this coronavirus?

By Lisa Sanders, M.D.

the ethicist

What Are My Obligations if I’m a Doctor Who Is High Risk?

The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on how a physician should balance treating patients against protecting himself during the coronavirus pandemic — and more.

By Kwame Anthony Appiah

screenland

Trump and His Allies Played Down the Virus. Then the Dow Got Infected.

Declaring victory over the virus’s economic symptoms couldn’t stop the downturn.

By Mattathias Schwartz

letter of recommendation

Letter of Recommendation: Mudlarking

Sifting through river muck for treasure — and the lessons of human history.

By Sophie Dahl

tip

How to Donate N95 Masks

Even a single one is worth offering for donation. But call a health department or look online for drop-off specifics — don’t bring them to a hospital.

By Malia Wollan