DOH: Not enough evidence yet on ‘long-lasting’ effects of COVID-19 to survivors

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has yet to find enough evidence regarding the “long-lasting” effects of COVID-19 to patients who have already recovered from the disease.

“We still do not have evidence. Maraming articles na lumalabas internationally na nagpakita talaga na sinasabi na ‘yon daw may mga nagka-COVID may mga long-lasting sila symptoms na ang tagal mawala,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters in an online media forum on Friday.

(We still do not have evidence. There are a lot of international articles circulating which have said that those who recovered from COVID-19 would have long-lasting symptoms.)

Vergeire noted that some articles featured patients who have said that they were still experiencing frequent headaches or they easily get tired.

“Yung iba they were saying they’re still having these frequent headaches, yung iba parang feeling of easy fatigability, yung laging parang pagod na pagod, yung kanilang strength hindi bumalik. Pero wala pa hong sapat na ebidensya lahat yang sinanasabi na yan,” she added.

(Some are saying they’re still having these frequent headaches, some have this feeling of easy fatigability, it’s like they’re always tired, they have yet to regain their fill strength. But there is not enough evidence yet.)

According to Vergeire, the DOH is still studying the long-term effects of COVID-19 to survivors.

She, nevertheless, assured that the DOH is constantly monitoring the condition of recovered patients.

“The DOH is monitoring our post COVID-19 patients, those who have recovered for this kind of circumstances,” she said.

“Para maitatala din natin yan at pagaaralan natin ng maayos,” she added.

(So that we can also keep a record of it and we will study it thoroughly.)

CFC