COVID victims still suffering two months on

One in 20 people with COVI D -1 9 a re s t i l l suf fe r i n g symptoms eight weeks later, according to a new study.

The research from King's College London, also found one in 50 coronavirus victims are still struggling with health problems after three months.

Symptoms of ‘long Covid’ include ongoing fatigue, ongoing loss of taste or smell, respiratory and cardiovascular problems and mental health issues.

The new study used data from 4,182 Covid Symptom Study app users who tested positive for COVID-19 and who have been logging their health on an ongoing basis.

The team found that older people, women and those with a greater number of different symptoms in the first week of their illness were more likely to develop long COVID.

People with asthma were also more likely to develop the condition.

The study comes as other data from Public Health England suggested around 10% of people with COVID-19 who were not admitted to hospital, have since reported symptoms lasting more than four weeks.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens: "It's a real thing. It looks as if perhaps 10% ofpeoplewhohavehadcoronavirus have lingering symptoms foruptothreemonths.Asmaller minority have symptoms that persist for three months and beyond."

H ea l th S e c reta r y M att Hancock said: "These findings should be a sharp reminder to the public – including to young people – that COVID-19 is indiscriminate and can have long-term and potentially devastating effects.

"The more people take risks by meeting up in large groups or not social distancing, the more the wider population will suffer, and the more cases of long COVID we will see."