Here are some frequently asked questions on long COVID
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What is long COVID?
Long COVID is caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and is a chronic health condition that lasts at least 3 months in duration. It is a new and complex illness that patients and healthcare professionals are beginning to better understand. long COVID can impact many organs of the body and affects everyone differently. For some people it may cause symptoms such as breathlessness, cough, hoarse voice and fatigue whereas other people may experience memory or thinking problems (often referred to as “brain fog”).
Regardless of specific symptoms, long COVID often affects a person’s ability to perform their usual activities day to day and live their life as they normally would. Symptoms may be mild, moderate, or so severe that the person is unable to work or study.
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How do I know if I have long COVID?
There are no currently available tests to easily diagnose long COVID. Confirming whether your symptoms are due to long COVID will involve a series of questions and tests that help your healthcare professional understand how your body has changed since having COVID-19 and what management strategies are likely to be of most benefit. See getting help for long COVID for more information.
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If I have long COVID am I still infectious?
No. Long COVID is a post-viral illness and you cannot pass it on to family or friends. Typically people are only infectious for up to 10 days after developing COVID-19 symptoms.
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Does everyone with long COVID have the same symptoms?
Everyone’s experience of long COVID is different. In fact, the World Health Organization has recorded over 200 different long COVID symptoms. Everyone’s individual circumstances will vary and you should work with your healthcare professional to develop a tailored management plan to help your recovery.
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How should I manage my long COVID symptoms?
The best way to manage long COVID is to work with a healthcare professional to help your recovery. See getting help for long COVID for more information. If you are waiting for an appointment, see Symptoms and management tips for some self-management strategies you may like to try.
It can be good to consider whether there are any services you could use to assist with getting your essential activities completed each week. A good example of this is a food or grocery delivery service.
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I have long COVID, how can I make my family and friends understand my condition?
long COVID symptoms can be quite confusing, and the impacts may be hard for your family and friends to understand. It may be exhausting initially, but it is important to take time to communicate with your loved ones about how you feel and explain how your symptoms are affecting you. Have a think about how you want to be supported and explain this clearly. The support you need is individual and may range from help with tasks of daily living, to just having a supportive listener. There is no right or wrong way to go about this, but to be able to get the help you need you will have to communicate effectively. Consider sharing long COVID resources, such as this one, with your loved one so they can better understand your condition.
It may also be beneficial to link in with a peer support network.
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How can I help my friend or family member who has long COVID?
Long COVID symptoms can be quite confusing, and the impacts may be hard for you to understand. The most important thing to do is take the time to listen to the person with long COVID and learn how it is affecting them. Remember that even though your friend or family member with long COVID may look the same, many symptoms of long COVID are “invisible.”
To help, you may want to suggest having your catch ups in a comfortable location where they feel at ease or offering practical assistance such as cooking them a meal or talking their dog for a walk.