About Long COVID

Simple diagram of human body with call-outs to long covid symptoms.

Most people who contract COVID will fully recover, but some do not. A number of people will have physical and/or mental health issues that last long after an initial COVID infection. This is known as Long COVID*.

Symptoms of Long COVID can start around the time a person first gets COVID and last for months— or even longer. Symptoms can also start weeks or months after someone has first contracted COVID.

Even people who seem to feel fine for a while after an initial COVID infection can experience Long COVID symptoms later. These issues may impact people’s relationships, ability to work and quality of life.

*The medical term for Long COVID is post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, abbreviated as PASC.

Common Long COVID symptoms

  • Fatigue
  • Mood Changes
  • Difficulty Concentrating
  • Headaches
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea or diarrhea
  • Blood pressure issues
  • Poor appetite
  • Muscle aches
  • Joint pain

Resources for those with Long COVID symptoms

RECOVER Initiative

RECOVER, which stands for Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery, is a national initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Our team is one of 15 medical research organizations across the country that conducts RECOVER research. Find out how to participate in the Bay Area under the Join Our Studies section of this website.

The national RECOVER website provides details about the research, funding, community impacts and ways to get involved — no matter where you live. The FAQ sections offer helpful details about the science, who can participate, and more.

See More Resources at the end of the FAQ for information about where to find Long COVID medical treatment and support. 

Patient-Led Research Collaborative for Long COVID

The Patient-Led Research Collaborative is a group of Long COVID patients who are also researchers. This group was born out of the Body Politic Slack Support Group, which did the first research on Long COVID in April 2020. Members of the group are researchers in relevant fields, including biomedical research, participatory research, neuroscience, cognitive science, public policy, machine learning, human-centered design and health activism. That is in addition to all members having personal experience with COVID-19.

To see the group’s research (past and present), learn more about its mission, participate in a survey, or find out how to join a Long COVID support group, check out the website at PatientResearchCovid19.com.