Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard is of the opinion that we should do away with the ‘Long COVID’ terminology altogether, and he has evidence to back it up.
He was the lead author of some new research that found that the long-term symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to that of other viral infections.
He said, “I believe it is time to stop using the term Long COVID.
Using this term Long COVID implies that this virus has some unique, exceptional, and sinister property that differentiates it from other viruses and makes it far worse.
We know that long-term symptoms after viral infections do occur, no matter what that infection is.
That is something that is well described.
This terminology can cause unnecessary fear, and in some cases, hypervigilance to longer symptoms that can impede recovery.
Our evidence suggests that there isn't, that it is not dissimilar to other viruses.
That does not mean that you can't get these persistent symptoms following COVID-19, but you're no more likely to get it after COVID than with other respiratory viruses.”
