“Not just a virus that kills people”—WHO spotlights long-term COVID-19 - Ars Technica

A significant number of people infected with the pandemic coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, are experiencing long-term symptoms and taking many weeks or months to fully recover, the World Health Organization emphasized in a press conference today.

“I have heard first hand from people who face mid- to long-term effects of COVID-19 infection,” WHO Director-General Dr.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

It’s still unclear what proportion of infected people go on to have mid- to long-term health problems, Tedros noted.

But, it's clear that "this is not just a virus that kills people." And with more than 45 million cases globally—and counting—even a small percentage will mean a large number of people will have long-term disability.

It's also clear that long-term symptoms and complications strike a wide range of COVID-19 patients.

Long-term effects have shown up in people with mild disease as well as severe disease.

In today's press conference, Tedros invited three guests to share their experiences with long-term COVID-19.

Garner said that for four months he suffered dreadful fatigue, sweats, headaches, and mood swings.

As an epidemiologist, he noted that long-term COVID seems to present with a huge array of symptoms.

This threat “really reinforces what a dangerous virus COVID-19 is,” Tedros added.

Not only would it lead to millions more unnecessary deaths, it would also lead to a significant number of people facing a long road to full recovery.”