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Recent research suggests that as many as 16 million Americans suffer from "long COVID," a manifestation of COVID-19 infections that cause long-term symptoms in those who have it. Government officials are expressing concern about the effect on the workforce, with 2-to-4 million Americans possibly unable to work at any given time.
Long COVID was recognized relatively early in the COVID-19 pandemic, however, researchers continue to assess the condition and what it will mean for the workplace and in peoples' personal lives. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), people with Long COVID have disease symptoms that persist for weeks or months after their initial COVID-19 infection.
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"Long COVID can hinder an individual's ability to work, attend school, participate in community life, and engage in everyday activities," says HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement on Aug. 3. "As our nation continues to make strides in the fight against COVID-19, these reports are critical to shine a light on Long COVID's impact and how to match people to resources."
A drag on the workforce
In the workplace, long COVID can have a significant impact: one U.S. study found that 26% of employees with the condition have had their work "impacted," meaning that they are either out of work or working reduced hours.
The new findings come at a time when labor shortages are a problem for most industries and areas of employment. A recent Census Bureau report found that the annual cost of lost wages alone will be around $170 billion annually, with lost wage costs potentially going as high as $230 billion.
According to a report by the Brookings institution, the overall costs of long COVID could be much higher. Noting that one researcher estimated lost wage costs at $200 billion per year, the report says:
"Critically, this number does not represent the full economic burden of long COVID, because it does not include impacts such as the lower productivity of people working while ill, the significant health care costs patients incur, or the lost productivity of caretakers. Cutler estimated that medical care and lost quality of life related to long COVID cost an additional $544 billion each year."
Better policies might help
The Brookings' report suggested several policy steps that could be taken to reduce the burden caused by long COVID. These include better vaccines, including nasal vaccines, which can be effective in preventing infection. The report also recommended the use of other mitigation strategies, such as air purifiers and masks.
In addition, public health officials say that more training for physicians and providers is also needed. The Brookings story quotes David Kaufman, M.D., who specializes in post-viral illnesses as saying: "The post-pandemic crisis cannot be addressed without thousands more physicians encouraged, trained, and supported to treat patients with these chronic complex diseases."
For the workforce specifically, the Brookings report notes that 27% of private sector workers in the U.S. lack access to any form of paid sick leave. For poorer Americans the situation is worse: among the bottom 25% of earners, only 52% have access to paid sick leave.
"When workers do not have access to paid sick leave, they are more likely to go to work sick. This likely increases the spread of COVID-19, which leads to more infections and reinfections, and therefore, more long COVID," the report says. "By requiring employers to give all workers access to paid sick leave, Congress could reduce the spread of COVID-19, improve families' economic security, and, potentially, reduce the rate at which COVID-19 infections turn into long COVID."
Public health advocates are promoting additional strategies for helping workers deal with long COVID. This includes providing workplace accommodation for workers with the condition, improving access to disability insurance, and improving data collection on long COVID and the workplace.
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