Long Covid

Available for over a year

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest figures suggest that nearly 7 million people have died due to covid - although the true figure is likely to be much higher. While many more contracted the disease and avoided being seriously ill, one estimate suggests 65 million people have not fully recovered. These are the people with long covid, whose symptoms have persisted for more than six months after being infected. This month, the WHO said Covid-19 is no longer a “global health emergency”, though it still poses a danger. Host James Reynolds hears from those who feel forgotten and misunderstood. Our guests join us from India, the UK and the United States, as they discuss what it’s like to live with the disease - especially the persistent fatigue. “It’s not the same as if you take a nap you’ll be recharged after,” says Tracea Berger-Brown in the US. “It’s like a battery that only charges to about 60% when it says 100% and then it drains very fast and you don’t know how long it will take to recharge each time.” We also hear from family members about how it affects them to see their loved ones unable to resume a normal life. And three doctors, who work in South Africa and the UK, discuss the challenges of finding a treatment. One of them says he hasn’t been able to return to work since contracting the disease himself. (Photo: Nayyar and his son Abdus in Delhi, India)