Long Covid and Public Health

How public health interventions could decrease or increase the disease burden of long covid

Long Covid Disease Burden in the United States
Showing the total disease burden of long covid as measured in Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Each DALY represents one year of healthy life lost to illness.
Based on research showing 80 DALYs per 1,000 long COVID cases1 with an estimated 17M cases of long COVID2 in the US.
202520262027202820290.0M 350.0M 700.0M 1360.0M

Mandatory paid sick leave for workers with COVID-19 symptoms, in weeks

Percentage of buildings with effective air filtration, ventilation, and far germicial UVC

Percentage of symptomatic individuals tested

Percentage of population with up-to-date vaccination

Percentage of population wearing effective masks

Percentage of population using preventive measures such as nasal sprays and PrEP

References:

  1. Nature Medicine: Long COVID burden and risk factors in 10 UK longitudinal studies and electronic health records
  2. KFF: As Recommendations for Isolation End, How Common is Long COVID?