Impact of ‘Long Covid’ yet to be felt, expert says

“LONG Covid”, with its symptoms of brain fog, fatigue and shortness of breath lasting for six months or more, is set to become the biggest health challenge facing business and the health-care system beyond the immediate crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the focus on workplace mental health in Corporate Wellness Week from July 5 to 9, Professor Renata Schoeman, the head of the Health Care Leadership MBA programme at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, said the likely long-term impact of Long Covid on productivity and employee retention would call on employers to be flexible and adaptable to accommodate employees on the long road to recovery.

“Individual studies indicate that between 10% and 30% of patients who recover from acute Covid-19 become ‘long haulers’, still experiencing symptoms six months later.

“In one study, of 3 762 patients who had confirmed or suspected Covid-19, most of whom had symptoms lasting longer than 90 days, 45% needed a reduced work schedule compared to before they became ill and 22% were not working due to their health conditions.

“This illustrates the scale of the likely impact on employers, employees, and the health-care system that will need to accommodate these patients,” Schoeman said.

While organisations have focused on primary prevention of Covid-19 infection – measures such as masks, sanitising, physical distancing and working from home, Schoeman said employers also needed to turn their attention to employees returning to work after recovering from Covid-19 and to what was needed to accommodate those suffering with Long Covid.

Although definitions and diagnostic criteria have not been settled, Long Covid is generally seen as symptoms that last for more than 28 days after an initial infection or diagnosis of Covid-19.

Brain fog is an umbrella term referring to symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, muddled thinking, poor concentration, and generally feeling mentally sluggish. Up to 25% of people infected with Covid-19 experience this and other neurological symptoms.

“Organisations are facing a potential increase in employees needing workplace accommodations for ill health or disability, on long-term sick leave or even medically incapacitated and no longer able to perform their current job, Schoeman said.

“Employers need to review their occupational health services, employee assistance and wellness programmes, policies on sick leave and reasonable accommodation, post-illness returnto-work plans, and ensure they are not discriminating on grounds of mental health or disability.”

For anyone experiencing symptoms of brain fog, Schoeman recommended tried-and-tested self-care and good mental hygiene – getting enough sleep, regular exercise (gradually phased-in if experiencing fatigue and post-exertion relapse), eating healthily and taking time out from digital devices.