Rising Concerns: Long Covid Cases Surge Across America Despite CDC Relaxing Isolation Recommendations

A recent survey conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed a concerning surge in long Covid cases across America, despite the health agency relaxing isolation recommendations. According to the survey, 6.8% of American adults are currently experiencing long Covid symptoms, marking an alarming increase from previous months.

David Putrino, the Nash Family Director of the Cohen Center for Recovery From Complex Chronic Illness at Mount Sinai, expressed his worries about the accelerated emergence of long Covid cases. The rise in cases comes in the wake of heightened Covid transmission across the US during the winter season.

The survey found that more than three-quarters of individuals with long Covid are experiencing limitations in their day-to-day activities, with approximately one in five reporting significant impacts on their daily lives. This amounts to an estimated 3.8 million Americans battling debilitating effects post-Covid infection.

Recent data from the UK also suggested that a significant number of individuals might be unable to work due to long Covid, emphasizing the global impact of the condition. Americans have witnessed increased levels of unemployment since the onset of the pandemic, with long Covid playing a substantial role in this trend.

Differences in long Covid rates across US states have been noted, with the highest prevalence reported in states like North Dakota, Kentucky, West Virginia, Alaska, and Maine, while states such as Hawaii, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming reported lower rates.

Despite the CDC defining long Covid as symptoms lasting four weeks or longer, the survey results indicate that the actual rate of individuals experiencing prolonged Covid-related symptoms could be even higher than reported. Lara Jirmanus, a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School and a member of the People’s CDC, emphasized the uncertainties surrounding the long-term effects of the condition.