WHO Regional Director Dr Hans Kluge has said COVID has long been an additional cause of concern among the pandemic. He said, “It is important that patients who report long-term symptoms of COVID are included as part of the COVID-19 response to mitigate some of the long-term health effects of pandemic. ”. Long COVID has not been analyzed, however, the available data show that about a quarter of people suffer from symptoms four to five weeks after a positive test for the coronavirus. Also, about one in 10 will still experience symptoms after 12 weeks.
The latest policy guidance clarifies areas for action, including through the development of “new care pathways”. It also discusses creating appropriate services, and addressing key outcomes, including employment rights, sick pay policies and access to disability benefits. Dr Selina Rajan, lead author of the policy message, said, “Long COVID has highlighted the importance of patient involvement in research. However, much remains to be understood about the long-term, multisystemic effects of COVID-19 infections in children and adults, and the interventions needed to treat them ”.
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‘It shouldn’t fall through the cracks’
Earlier in February, the WHO noted that research on COVID-19 is not only ‘still enough’ but also said, “Long Covid should not fall through the cracks”. The United Nations (UN) health body held the first series of planned conferences aimed at broadening understanding of post-Covid conditions involving scientists, doctors, victims themselves and a leader WHO as speakers. The WHO also called for recognition and redress for Long Covid as it calls experts to share views on the situation that experts do not yet understand.
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WHO chief executive Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in the online seminar, with the world’s attention turning to major vaccine campaigns, “Long Covid should not fall through the cracks”. He also said in the online seminar that the impact of ‘Long Covid’ Society and the economy should not start to become clearer and for these reasons people start listening ”Outside the community of medical professionals. The WHO chief said research into the disease was growing but “not yet enough”.
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