‘Since having Covid my life’s completely changed’

A Dorset teenager told a Covid-19 inquiry that her current symptoms often make her feel “left out”.

The investigation hopes to understand ongoing impact of the pandemic and is expected to last four weeks.

Some witnesses said they had to stay home and miss school because they lived with vulnerable family members.

Others, like 16-year-old Molly from Weymouth, said they were still experiencing symptoms of Long Covid, where symptoms of the infection last more than 12 weeks.

Before she was diagnosed, Molly said she was “very active and athletic.”

“I now live with ongoing symptoms that prevent me from doing things that most teenagers can do,” she said.

Molly spent a long time in hospital and said she had to miss most of her secondary education.

“I often feel left out because my friends are gone and I can’t keep up.”

Molly said she believed it was “very important” that children and young people give evidence at the inquiry.

“Too often, children like me have felt abandoned and failed, and our struggles have been downplayed and ignored,” she said.

“I want people to understand how much of an impact this has had on young people too… and kids like me won't be ignored in the future.”

Sammy McFarland, from Weymouth, is the CEO and co-founder of Long Covid Kids, which represents more than 11,000 families in the UK.

She said she hoped to see “decisive action” from the government, as well as a “formal apology to the children and young people who have been completely ignored”.

The government said it intends to learn lessons from the investigation.

Lana was 14 years old when the pandemic hit and had to shield for two years because her mother was and is high-risk.

She told an inquest in London this week that she missed her studies and education, as well as being able to spend time with friends.

Sarah Stephen, a member of Clinically Vulnerable Families, shared Lana's story on BBC Radio Solent.

She said: “The impact on these children and these families continues to this day and at the moment there appears to be no end in sight.

“We really need an investigation to get to the bottom of these issues.”

The session, focusing on the impact on children and young people, is expected to last four weeks.