The World Health Organization warned in a new report that millions of COVID-19 survivors continue to suffer debilitating and lingering symptoms long after their initial bout of the disease, with major social, health and economic consequences. Dr. Hans Kluge is the WHO’s regional director for Europe.

Dr. Hans Kluge: “The burden is real, and it is significant. About one in 10 COVID-19 sufferers remain unwell after 12 weeks, and many for much longer.”

The WHO’s report on so-called long COVID was led by professor Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Martin McKee: “Those suffering from it describe a varying combination of overlapping symptoms: chest pain, muscle pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and what patients describe as brain fog, among many, many others.”