We’ve still got a long way to go
Fears over a tsunami of long Covid
Scotland is at risk of a “tsunami of long Covid cases” due to government inaction, Scottish Labour claims.
The number of people in hospital with coronavirus reached record levels last week, with about 2300 patients recorded on five consecutive days.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released separate f igures which showed the proportion of people with the virus had increased in Scotland in the week ending March 20.
It estimated 473,800 were infected then – about one in 11 people.
As of end of January, 119,000 people in Scotland have reportedly claimed to have long Covid.
The Sunday Mail has highlighted the cases of long Covid suf ferers – including Toby Ross, three, who wa s l e f t wi th s ymptoms including insomnia and fatigue after catching the disease the year before. Scot tish Labour said government modelling suggests that as many as 2.9 per cent of people with Cov id in Scotland are projected to get long Covid for 12 weeks or more after their first suspected infection.
The party’s health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “With Covid cases still very high in Scotland, the potential for a tsunami of long Covid cases is a very worrying prospect.”
She said the Scottish
Government has “entirely failed” to allocate funding from its £10million Long Covid Support Fund announced back in September 2021.
Bai l lie warned that with 90 long Covid clinics in England and “clearly defined” clinical support in Wales, Scots are being “lef t behind.” She added: “The threat that long Covid
poses to our public health and the functioning of our economy can’t be overstated.
“That the SNP is not aware of the threat posed by a t sunami of long Covid cases is shocking. Humza Yousaf must wake up to the problem and act to keep people safe.”