This op-ed was originally published in Stat News.
Across the United States, there’s a universal longing for the day when children no longer need to follow Covid-19 precautions, when they can go to school without wearing masks or social distancing or isolating — in short, when they can return to normal. And though this day hasn’t yet come for all children, a small group of physicians is gaining widespread media attention by declaring otherwise and promoting a vision of normalcy that disregards equity in health care for all children.
The Urgency of Normal “advocacy toolkit” has made quite a splash, its ideas having seeped into the national discourse about the pandemic. But it fails to address an important truth: although Covid-19 affects everyone, it does not affect everyone equally. Children from minoritized groups are disproportionally suffering from the physical and emotional impacts of the pandemic.
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