Long Covid clinic wait times blow out to five months as Australia’s health experts call for national approach

One medical expert has advocated for a national registry of people experiencing long Covid symptoms 28 days after their initial infection. Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Waiting lists at long Covid rehabilitation clinics have blown out to more than five months, as experts call for a nationally coordinated approach to managing the condition.

An estimated 5% to 12% of people infected with Covid go on to develop long Covid symptoms – which in Australia could amount to more than 1 million people. Hospital clinics are bracing for an increase in demand from people still experiencing symptoms more than 12 weeks after an initial diagnosis.