Long COVID

“There is no such thing as a SARS-CoV-2 infection that does NOT have prolonged consequences.”

• Dr. David Putrino, Mt. Sinai COVID Specialist^{Footnote 40}

Repeated COVID-19 infections are linked to increased risks of other serious illness (e.g., heart attacks,^{Footnote 42} strokes,^{Footnote 43} dementia,^{Footnote 44} auto-immune diseases^{Footnote 45}) and can lead to long-term disability.^{Footnote 46} New research demonstrates COVID-19 may cause changes in people’s immune systems, painting the resurgence of many illnesses since 2020 in a troubling light.^{Footnote 47} By 2023, at least 1 in 9 Canadians had developed long-term health issues after a COVID infection, referred to as “Long COVID.”^{Footnote 48} Global Long COVID estimates at the end of 2023 totalled 400 million people.^{Footnote 49}

While Long COVID is relatively new, many other infectious illnesses have long been known to cause long-term health effects.^{Footnote 50} This can result in a loss of ability to work and labour shortages impacting the economy.^{Footnote 51} One study finds that 46% of people with Long COVID cannot work,^{Footnote 52} while US data shows 140,000 more health-related absences per month since the start of the pandemic.^{Footnote 53} Over the next decade, Long COVID is projected to cost member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) $135 billion US per year in economic losses, not including medical costs.^{Footnote 54}

The odds of developing Long COVID rise with each infection, affecting 37.9% of people by their third infection.^{Footnote 55} Canada's Office of the Chief Science Advisor has described Long COVID as a potential mass-disabling event,^{Footnote 56} emphasizing “gaps in public messaging,” the need to support people with Long COVID, and the importance of preventing COVID and thus Long COVID through protective measures (masks, clean air, isolating when sick) with support from institutions and employers.^{Footnote 57}