Five years after the first coronavirus lockdown, long Covid is still a devastating reality for millions of people in England and Scotland. The disease has rendered its sufferers bedbound for years, leaving them with debilitating symptoms such as breathlessness, brain fog, and multi-organ damage.
Despite a lack of proven treatments or a cure, more people are falling ill every day with the virus that causes this debilitating disability. Successive governments have abandoned almost every strategy to tackle long Covid, leaving patients feeling ignored and unsupported.
The situation is particularly dire for children, who are being left to suffer alone. In 2024, over 110,000 minors aged three to 17 in England and Scotland were estimated to have long Covid, with many severely affected. Parents of these children are facing threats from schools, with some even taken to court for truancy.
The economic toll is also significant, with a study estimating that long Covid cost the UK economy at least £5.7bn in lost productivity from 2022 to 2023. The annual healthcare bill from the disease could be as much as £4.2bn by 2030.
Ministers’ decision to end most free testing and severely restrict the vaccine has had two major consequences: it has made the public repeatedly infected with Covid, increasing the risk of long-term health complications. This lack of action has also led to a normalization of repeated infections, which is now being seen as the new normal.
The situation is unacceptable, with patients turning to costly and unproven remedies in desperation. The NHS is struggling to cope, with clinics closing their doors and some even under threat. Disability benefits are also inadequate, with many patients denied support despite severe symptoms.
The lack of action from the government is a mark of shame for those suffering from long Covid. It’s time for ministers to acknowledge the crisis and take concrete steps to address it. Until then, long Covid sufferers will continue to suffer in silence, left without help or support when they need it most.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/17/long-covid-pandemic-britain-power-lockdown-disease