Tulsa Standard

Kevin Hern, a U.S. Congressman representing Oklahoma's 1st district since 2018, shared his perspectives on the lasting impacts of COVID-19 through a series of tweets dated March 13, 2025. Born in Belton, Missouri in 1961 and currently residing in Tulsa, Hern has been an active voice in Congress following his predecessor Jim Bridenstine. He holds degrees from Arkansas Tech University and the University of Arkansas.

In his first tweet "The world is different today because of COVID-19. But the world is also different because of the knee-jerk, fear-based reaction meant to concentrate power in the bureaucracy and strip power from the individual and families." Hern commented on how both COVID-19 itself and the responses to it have altered societal dynamics.

Hern further noted "5 years later, we are still uncovering the true repercussions of these decisions." This statement reflects on ongoing evaluations concerning policy decisions made during the pandemic.

He elaborated on specific consequences in another post "An entire generation grew up without socialization outside their home or their screens. Businesses who were long-established in their communities shuttered forever. Many Americans lost their jobs. Supply chains overwhelmingly shifted overseas and we have not been able to claw…" Here, Hern highlights challenges such as disrupted social development among youth, business closures, job losses, and persistent supply chain issues.