long COVID

noun

variants or less commonly long COVID-19 or long-haul COVID or long-haul COVID-19

: a condition that is marked by the presence of symptoms (such as fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or brain fog) which persist for an extended period of time (such as weeks or months) following a person's initial recovery from COVID-19 infection : post-covid syndrome

The sickest COVID-19 patients are not the only ones to suffer from long COVID. Patients who had a milder initial case that didn't result in hospitalization can also have persistent symptoms.

—Stephanie LaVergne

Because of the growing number of long COVID patients, more hospitals are creating outpatient clinics with multiple specialists or expanding centers that initially focused only on patients leaving intensive care units.

—Meredith Cohn

Ceresa is one of a growing number of COVID-19 survivors with serious symptoms that last far beyond the acute infection with the virus. Some of these patients, often referred to as 'long-haulers' or people with long COVID-19 … are receiving treatment at … clinics like the one at Mount Sinai.

—Kevin Loria

… long-haul COVID-19 refers to the ongoing adverse health effects of coronavirus infection, which can last for weeks, and even months, after the initial phase of their illness has passed.

—Eve Glazier and Elizabeth Ko

Examples of long COVID in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If started less than four days from symptom onset, metformin reduced the odds of severe COVID-19 by 55% and of long COVID by 65%. —Judy Stone, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024

What are 2024 long COVID symptoms? More than 200 long COVID symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue and post-exertional malaise (PEM) have been identified, according to the CDC. —Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 8 Aug. 2024

And another woman, Martha Rodriguez, talked about her experience with long COVID after a heart attack and homelessness as a result. —Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024

In adults, the most common long COVID symptoms include fatigue and brain fog, but for children the condition can look different. —Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 27 Sep. 2024

All participants had experienced long COVID symptoms for at least 12 weeks and were asked to add information about their symptoms and their severity. —Sarah Garone, Health, 6 Sep. 2024

Anyone who has had the SARS-CoV-2 infection − including children − can suffer from long COVID. —Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Aug. 2024

Also, some individuals do go on to experience long-term health problems—what's known as long COVID or post-COVID-19 conditions. —Renee Nilan, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

The guitar tech also wonders aloud why Farrell went after Navarro, who has famously fought back from long COVID and other health issues, rather than the other two members. —Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2020, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

long COVID

noun

variants also long COVID-19

: a condition that is marked by the presence of symptoms which persist for an extended period of time following a person's initial recovery from COVID-19 infection

Medical Definition

long COVID

noun

variants also long COVID-19 or long-haul COVID or long-haul COVID-19

: a condition that is marked by the presence of symptoms (such as fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or brain fog) which persist for an extended period of time (such as weeks or months) following a person's initial recovery from COVID-19 infection : post-covid syndrome

… there's no clear way to diagnose long COVID and no standard treatment protocol. Some long haulers feel better after a couple of weeks following the initial infection, but then fall ill to old or even new disease-related symptoms that may affect multiple organs and systems weeks or months later. For others … their symptoms never fully abate after the initial infection; they just linger.

—Melba Newsome, Charlotte (North Carolina) Observer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is set to release interim guidance for physicians treating patients with long COVID-19 …

—Congressional Quarterly News

… long-haul COVID-19 refers to the ongoing adverse health effects of coronavirus infection, which can last for weeks, and even months, after the initial phase of their illness has passed.

—Eve Glazier and Elizabeth Ko, Chicago Daily Herald

Long-haul COVID patients tend to exhibit the kinds of symptoms about which disability case reviewers have historically been skeptical, if not downright hostile. These include chronic fatigue, nonspecific body and nerve pain, headaches and persistent confusion known as "brain fog."

—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times