More than 336,000 people in Ireland may be living with Long-Covid, according to new research.
Independent TD Denis Naughten has claimed that 336,450 people are likely to be suffering from lasting effects of the virus.
He said the figure was obtained by combining a recent HPSC study which indicates that 69 per cent of people in Ireland have been infected by Covid, with a new The Lancet report that suggested as many as one in eight people who catch Covid could develop Long-Covid symptoms.
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Since the beginning of the pandemic, people have reported lasting symptoms of Covid, which have affected their day-to-day lives, including extreme tiredness.
These symptoms typically include:
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- shortness of breath
- loss of smell
- muscle aches
However, there are lots of symptoms you can have after a Covid-19 infection, including:
- problems with your memory and concentration ("brain fog")
- chest pain or tightness
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- pins and needles
- joint pain
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus, earaches
- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
- rashes
Speaking about the estimated figures, Mr Naughten said urgent action needs to be taken to treat patients with Long-Covid.
He said: "We cannot just sleepwalk into a crisis of chronic illness, which will push people waiting on treatments since before the pandemic even further down already horrendous waiting lists."
Appearing on Newstalk's Breakfast Briefing, Mr Naughten warned that Ireland is simply not prepared for the thousands of people who are suffering from Long Covid symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog.
He said Long Covid patients have "very complex needs", and GPs are currently adding to HSE waiting lists by "referring them piecemeal to different specialist consultants."
He added that the HSE is already under severe pressure as it works its way through the enormous appointment backlog left by lockdown and prepares for a winter surge in the virus.
"All of that combined is going to leave our health service on its knees unless we have a clear strategy from Government," said Deputy Naughten.
"Government has promised for the last 12 months that they would put specific long COVID clinics in place. They have not been delivered as yet.
"Our health service is already at breaking point. It cannot deal with this type of additional pressure and there is an urgency now to put specific clinics in place to deal with the issues of long COVID, work with those people and ensure they can return to employment and productive lives as quickly as possible."
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