For over a year, Americans have dreamed about the end of the coronavirus pandemic. But even when the country finally contains the spread of the disease, many will be left dealing with lingering side effects. In a White House event on Monday, President Biden said that “long COVID” might qualify as a disability under federal law, shedding light on how the government will respond to people’s continued needs post-pandemic.
The exact number of people with long COVID, where symptoms continue after an initial bout of the virus, is unknown. In February, Stephanie LaVergne, a researcher at Colorado State University, wrote that 1 in 3 people with the coronavirus have symptoms that last longer than the usual two weeks. Earlier this month, a study of nearly 3,800 people from 56 countries found that long COVID can have over 200 symptoms. The long-term illness includes common symptoms like fatigue and brain fog, but some people have reported experiencing visual hallucinations, tremors, itchy skin, and even memory loss. NPR reported that doctors are worried memory problems associated with the coronavirus may leave people vulnerable to Alzheimer’s.
