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Senate designates March 15, 2025, as Long COVID Awareness Day
Summary
The California State Senate adopted SR 23 to recognize Californians living with long COVID and to call for better recognition, treatment access and workplace protections, the measure's author said.
The California State Senate on Thursday adopted Senate Resolution 23, designating March 15, 2025, as Long COVID Awareness Day, the resolution's author, Senator Rubio, said.
Senator Rubio told colleagues that while many Californians have moved on from the acute phase of the pandemic, “for far too many Californians, COVID‑19 is still with them every single day,” and that an estimated 17,000,000 adults in the United States are living with long COVID. She said many patients report persistent fatigue, cognitive problems and shortness of breath that can last months or years.
Rubio said the condition can follow even mild initial infections and that too many patients are being dismissed or misdiagnosed. She cited a 2023 Beaumont Foundation survey that found only 7% of physicians felt very confident diagnosing long COVID and 4% felt confident treating it, and said the state must improve recognition, access to care and workplace protections. “Long COVID doesn’t just linger. It takes everything out of you,” Rubio said during floor remarks.
The resolution, which is symbolic rather than regulatory, also recognized volunteers from the nonprofit Marked by COVID who were present in the gallery. The roll call on the resolution recorded 28 ayes and no votes against; the resolution was adopted on the floor.
No statutory changes or specific funding actions were included in SR 23; the resolution expresses recognition and calls attention to the needs of Californians living with long COVID.
Speakers recorded on this item were limited to Senator Rubio as the floor presenter and the senate secretary for the roll call.
