‘Long COVID’ possible in 10- 15% of infected  persons — DOH

This photo taken on April 6, 2021 shows a relative wearing personal protective equipment attending to a family member with COVID-19 at a makeshift ward in a hospital in Manila.  (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Ten to 15 percent of COVID-19 patients may possibly have “long COVID,” Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega shared on Thursday.

Vega said that if a person who recovered from COVID-19 still experiences health issues after 30 days, he/she has “long COVID.”

“Alam mo, itong long COVID nakita nila ‘to sa mga COVID patients, 10 to 15 percent ng mga ito, since last year,” he said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(“Long COVID” has been observed in 10 to 15 percent of COVID patients since last year.)

“After 30 days, post-COVID kung mayroon ka [health problems], ito na ‘yung sinasabing long COVID,” he said.

(After 30 days, post-COVID, you still have health problems, this is what they call “long COVID.”)

According to Vega, some COVID-19 survivors still experience the following for a longer time: shortness of breath, heart inflammation, kidney problems, and mental fogginess.

Vega said ther is no cure for long COVID, but it could be managed through rehabilitation.

“’Pag tinamaan ka nito talaga ay kailangan ng ano lang—walang gamot ito kundi rehabilitation and hoping na mag-improve uli ‘yung paghinga mo, ‘yung muscles mo, mawawala na ‘yung fatigue, at saka ‘yung ano niyo, ‘yung heart,” he explained.

(When this hits you, there is no cure for it, only rehabilitation and the hope that that your breathing, muscle fatigue, and heart issues would improve.)

As of January 12, the Philippines recorded a total of 3,058,634 COVID-19 infections, of which, 208,164 are active.

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