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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Sophie Gallagher and Sarah Young

What is long Covid and why are people having symptoms for months?

Getty Images/iStockphoto

At the beginning of the pandemic, the government believed the long-term impact of the virus was similar to known respiratory illnesses, like the flu. But it soon became clear that coronavirus operates differently, which is why they adopted a flu pandemic model.

In the latest figures, the Office for National Statistics released data showing that long Covid is limiting the ability of 1.2 million people in the UK to undertake day-to-day activities.

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