The delayed response to long COVID is concerning.
People with long COVID report difficulty breathing, brain fog, heart palpitations, and dizziness—among other symptoms. This impacts their ability to work and care for themselves and others. Gaps in our understanding of long COVID should not be used as a rationale for a delayed response to meet the needs of those with the condition. This is especially true as inaction is likely to further contribute to the inequities we’ve seen throughout the pandemic.
Attention to the following four areas is needed to provide supports to people with disability caused by the coronavirus:
1. Access to healthcare services
2. Workplace accommodations and conditions
3. Income supports
4. Community-based care and supports
This paper draws from a scan of research and literature on long COVID to outline these key areas for health and social policy decision-making. For each area, a brief summary of the research and corresponding pathways forward is discussed. The analysis then highlights the importance of prioritizing equity and considers how inequities may be exacerbated or remediated by policy responses.
Long COVID can impact anyone. Having adequate policies in place to protect people’s health, access to services, and their financial well-being is vital.