THE LONG HAULERS

The human and economic costs of Covid-19 will linger long after a vaccine has arrived

- Jason Gale

Eight months and more than 50 million documented cases into the pandemic, there’s still much we don’t understand about SARS-CoV-2. We do know that the majority of those infected with the novel coronavirus display no or mild symptoms. Worryingly, a not-insignificant portion of the 20 million people globally who’ve recovered suffer lingering effects, including lung, heart, and nervous system impairment.

Researchers are collecting patient data to determine the duration and depth of the health consequences. Meantime, post-Covid-19 clinics are opening to cater to an expanding population of so-called long haulers ( survivors left with scarred lungs, chronic heart damage, post-viral fatigue, and other persistent, debilitating conditions), a sign that enduring disability will perhaps weigh on health systems and the labor force long after a vaccine becomes widely available.

The phenomenon of what’s known as “long Covid” isn’t unique; postviral syndromes occur after many infections, including with the common cold, influenza, and Epstein-Barr. What’s novel about SARS-CoV-2 is the broad spectrum of symptoms that are being reported and the duration of months, not weeks. The long-term, multi-organ effects may prolong the pandemic’s economic legacy, adding to its unprecedented global cost— predicted by Australian National University scholars to reach as much as $35.3 trillion through 2025.

“Because Covid-19 is a new disease, much about the clinical course remains uncertain—in particular, the possible long-term health consequences, if any,” Carlos del Rio, executive associate dean at Emory University School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote in an Oct. 5 paper in the