Who believes we are paying enough attention to long COVID? Many scientists agree we are not doing enough to address a “silent” COVID crisis that seems to be spiraling out of control. Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC or long COVID), is now a leading cause of concern. 

More people are surviving COVID and staying out of the hospital, but more people are also living with long-term symptoms of COVID, including: fatigue, heart problems, stomach problems, lung problems and confusion / brain fog. These symptoms can last for months or even more than one year after the infection clears.

According to the CDC, estimates of the proportion of people who had COVID-19 that go on to experience post-COVID conditions can vary:

• 13.3% at one month or longer after infection.
• 2.5% at three months or longer (based on self-reporting).
• More than 30% at six months among patients who were hospitalized.

A new study from City University of New York reports as many as 21% of Americans who caught the SARS-CoV-2 virus this summer ended up suffering from long COVID at one month after infection.

According to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation's calculations, more than 28 million Americans were already experiencing PASC / long COVID, as of this week. I encourage all to check out their PASC dashboard, which reports rolling totals by state. Long COVID may be the next and most long-lasting phase of the pandemic.