ERISA LAW BLOG

A recent large study has revealed that 1 in 3 Covid-19 survivors have suffered symptoms 3 to 6 months after being infected.  Symptoms include breathing problems, abdominal symptoms such as abdominal pain, change of bowel habit and diarrhea, fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression.  The study, completed by the University of Oxford, the National Institute for Health Research, and the Oxford Health Biomedical Research Center studied symptoms in more than 270,000 people recovering from Covid-19 and found that long covid was found more frequently in those who had been hospitalized and slightly more often in women.  However, it also demonstrated that long covid affects a significant portion of people of all ages.  The symptoms between people varied and many patients experienced more than one symptom.  Older people and men were more likely to have breathing difficulty and cognitive problems.  Young people and women were more likely to suffer headaches, abdominal symptoms, anxiety, and depression.  While the number of incidents were higher among the elderly and those with more severe initial illness, people with mild symptoms, children and young adults also experience long covid.  Forty-six percent (46%) of children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 22 experience at least one symptom in the 6 months after recovering.  Long Covid is a bigger problem than we thought.

If you are experiencing long covid and unable to return to work you may have a claim for short term or long term disability benefits.  Please contact us if you would like to discuss or if you need help with your claim.