What is Long COVID?
Guidance describes long COVID as ongoing symptoms following a COVID-19 infection that continue for more than 12 weeks.
These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can't be explained by another cause.
It is sometimes called “post-COVID-19 syndrome” or "long COVID".
There are various symptoms linked to long COVID, these may include:
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- shortness of breath
- chest pain or tightness
- problems with memory and concentration ("brain fog")
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- pins and needles
- joint pain
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus, earaches
- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
- rashes
What to do if you think you may have long COVID?
If you're worried about symptoms 4 weeks or more after having COVID-19, please contact your GP surgery to make an appointment. Your doctor will talk to you about the care and support you might need and give you advise on the next steps.
Please visit Your COVID Recovery website for more information to support your recovery from long COVID.
Recovering from COVID
- COVID rehabilitation guide a comprehensive guide from Surrey-based First Community Health and Care.
- NHS guide to COVID recovery with information on managing effects, your well-being, and your road to recovery.
- NHS written guide to Long COVID
Online Long COVID support is available from Headway, Surrey, for COVID 19 survivors and families. These are one-hour sessions, via Zoom, run by a member of the Cognitive Rehabilitation team. Sessions will be ongoing, offer peer support, and will be free of charge. Sessions will share ideas for strategies and skills on how to manage fatigue, memory issues, information processing and other executive skills. Peer support and discussions can help survivors feel less alone and help recovery. Enquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 01483 454433
Research into Long COVID
The NIHR (National Institute of Health Research) and UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) are spending £18.5 million funding four research studies to better understand and address the longer term effects of COVID-19 on physical and mental health.
- NIHR reports research news on 18/02/2021
- Short video from UKRI on research and one patient’s experiences