Rep. Schrier Participates in Oversight and Investigations Hearing On Kids and COVID-19

WASHINGTON, DC – Today Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), a pediatrician, participated in an Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing called "Putting Kids First: Addressing COVID-19's Impacts on Children." Rep. Schrier spoke about how long COVID affects children, rapid testing, and what steps we need to take to keep schools open. Rep. Schrier's remarks can be found here.

"When COVID first hit, data from abroad and here in the U.S. suggested that children were only minimally affected by COVID. The primary reason for closing schools then was children's role in spreading disease to others," said Rep. Schrier. "But with the Delta variant, some Children's hospital ICUs are full of COVID patients."

Rep. Schrier questioned Dr. Lee Beers, the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, with many questions relating to children and how they are affected by COVID-19. Dr. Beers explained what symptoms children are experiencing with long COVID and how it may affect them long-term. Dr. Beers also laid out what happens when a child tests positive and how rapid testing could allow children to remain in school, even if they have been exposed to a COVID-positive classmate.