Senate Convenes Hearing on Long-COVID Conditions and Response

On Wednesday, the Senate Health Committee and Special Committee on Pandemic Response convened a joint informational hearing entitled, “The Long Haul: Preparing for the Impacts of Long COVID.” The hearing featured four panels of medical and public health experts, patients, and consumers to discuss the overview of long COVID, the experience of living with long COVID, statewide planning and preparation, and long-term impacts of the condition.

Representatives from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the Mayo Clinic to discuss the condition of long COVID infection and symptoms, impacts on the health care delivery system, and potential health-related needs as the result of long COVID.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), as well as Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky from the Riverside County Department of Public Health, discussed various local, state, and federal efforts in responding to long COVID, addressing disparities in long COVID conditions, promoting awareness, and delivering various supports to individuals impacted by long COVID.

The hearing agenda is available here. A background paper from the hearing is available here. Other presentation materials can be accessed here. A video recording of the hearing is available here.