It has already become clear that coronavirus can cause permanent damage to our organs, such as damage to the heart, lungs or nervous system, as well as general pain and fatigue. Possible consequences also include a persistent loss of smell or taste, and more.
We are not even a year into the study of SARS-CoV-2, and yet we continue to collide with the unexpected. However, what constitutes one of the most frightening conclusions is "its consistency or duration."
How long these symptoms can stay in our system remains to be seen. A German study showed that about two in three patients had heart inflammation 71 days after being formally cured of Covid-19. Other researchers found many people with damaged lungs three months after they were "well done".
What we want to know is how will these sick or formerly sick be after 5 years or after 20 years. Will they breathe normally, will they run the same? What does this uncertainty mean for us in 2020?
One thing that means is that we cannot simply focus on mortality when assessing the risk of Covid-19.
The current idea is that young people are more immune and are more likely to survive or recover sooner if they become infected.
"Long Covid" or "extended Covid" challenges this logic. Should I worry more now? What is the right way to think about all this?
Psychologically, Covid "short" and "long" are analogues.
However, the possibility of a long Covidi is more dangerous, as it brings the idea that the virus can enter us and stay there, causing damage, thus turning more or less into a chronic disease.
Understanding that Covid-19 can be a chronic disease makes all the decisions and measures taken even more difficult because it adds another risk enigma.
Source: Bloomberg
