The long Covid casts a lasting shadow on workers

More than six months after falling ill, Paul Garner’s out-of-office email asked for patience as he recovered from “post-viral symptoms associated with a Covid-19 infection”.

The infectious disease professor at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine traces the start of his infection to March 19. In the first two months, he was “terrified” by the aggressive disease.

Night sweats and the “cyclic attacks” of the disease became less severe after about three months. The severe fatigue persisted for three more. “I could talk for 15 or 20 minutes, but if I continued too long or spent too much time on the computer, my speech would get confused and I wouldn’t be able to find the words. This really went into the sixth month. I had to be careful of judgments as fatigue made my brain fog. . . You have to be kind to yourself. I’m used to driving. If I have problems, I only increase the effort to overcome them. This strategy doesn’t work if you are sick with Covid. “

Most people with Covid-19 recover within two weeks. Some, like Prof Garner, with so-called Long Covid (symptoms lasting more than three weeks), continue to experience excessive fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, insomnia, muscle fatigue and aches, chest pains, persistent cough, intermittent fevers and brain fog.

Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, warned in a recent report that “long-haul travelers could prove to be a bigger public health problem than excess deaths.” The study finds that about 10% had symptoms for one month, with between 1.5 and 2% after three months. The average age of people with long Covid is 45, and women are more likely to be affected.

Patients have found support in groups such as Body Politic, Long Covid Support Group and Long Covid SOS.

As the people most vulnerable to Long Covid are of working age, the condition also poses a challenge in the workplace. Dr. David Strain, a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School, is researching Long Covid and says “we don’t know enough” to predict that long-haul travelers “will be better within 12 months.” Employers’ best strategy, he says, is to “make sure the workplace is protected from Covid.”

Healthcare professionals face the Long Covid strain

Living with Long Covid is a particular challenge for frontline healthcare professionals. One, 31, recovered from the virus after three weeks and prepared to return to work. Several false starts later, he still has to deal with palpitations, chest pain, and fatigue. “By the very nature of this long illness, it is impossible to tell if you are fully cured and fit to return to work, as symptoms come and go and life becomes a series of peaks and troughs, good days and bad days. Staffing shifts will inevitably become difficult if a large number of the workforce falls ill. “

Some workers report frustration in dealing with HR executives or colleagues, whose only knowledge of Covid-19 is that people end up in hospital or recover relatively quickly. And this comes at a time when many employers are struggling to stay afloat and public services are running low on energy. Prolonged illness has a profound financial impact on those who are not covered by their employer’s sickness schemes or state sickness benefit. There is a clear divide between those who can do a job at home and those with physically demanding jobs.

A woman who works for a private care provider is unable to work six months after being infected. “I have the funny version of Long Covid that involves developing symptoms,” he jokes darkly. Currently receiving statutory sickness allowance (£ 95.85 per week), it is unclear if he qualifies for additional payments to support social workers’ self-isolation.

“I feel more than a little abandoned,” she says. “Long Covid wasn’t a thing when much of the planning was done. . . I’m afraid we miss them. I seem to be considered an acceptable victim of the pandemic. It feels like the equivalent of leaving occasional wounded soldiers behind because they are just too annoying. “

A UK-based family doctor with Long Covid says workplace sympathy can decrease. “Initially, the World Health Organization said you’d be better off in 10 days.” For the past six months he has had a fever, headache, brain fog, and slurred speech. “It’s unpredictable. Some days it can hit you like a brick. Other days I can feel normal if I pass the pace. “

His general practitioner, like many in the UK, is run as a partnership. The partnership agreement states that if she is unable to fulfill her duties for six months, she could be expelled from the practice. Now it has happened. “It became apparent that due to my recurring, relapsing and remitting symptoms, especially daily fever, I would not be able to return to work before the end of the six month period. My illness is too unpredictable. ”

Managers advise to “proceed with caution”

Some long-haul haulers complain about medical gas lighting from doctors who don’t understand a new disease with different symptoms. For this reason, Clare Rayner, an occupational health physician who has suffered from Long Covid, advises managers and colleagues to proceed with caution and be understanding. In the UK, existing workplace policies should cover Long Covid, but “managers dealing with sick-free employees should receive training and updates on how to manage sick leave in accordance with labor law.”

Joy Wu, based in Silicon Valley, is currently looking for work but still exhibits symptoms after being infected with Covid-19 in March. “I know I cannot work full time because I am very tired; I also have insomnia and hypersomnia. I don’t even have a rough estimate of how much I can work in a week since every day is different, “she says. Ms. Wu is transparent with potential employers:” Whether it’s reason or economics, I haven’t received a response from one person “.

He lives on savings and will soon lose the health insurance of his previous employer. “I know that others have been rejected for disabilities because the symptoms of long-haul transport are not considered a disability; I haven’t tried that route yet. “

Prof Garner’s work experience has been positive. “People want to work, but they can be sick and need space to recover. . . and agree on work plans that make sense or provide support where needed. “

Stopping work completely can impact mental health, he says. “I needed social contact via Zoom calls and meetings to keep me going. People need to stay socially engaged. ”However, she has placed limits on her meetings, taking regular breaks and reducing her workload.

Dr. Strain also advises employees to carry on some form of work if possible. “When they recover, they are able to continue – [because] if you have to be unemployed for six months, [you have] I have recovered a lot. “

For senior managers who have cognitive problems, Prof Garner recommends creating or updating a risk management strategy. In her case, she jointly manages a grant with a colleague and has set up a process so that any important decision involving finance or staff requires her agreement.

Your advice to employers? “You understand that this virus disturbs your head and mood. It is important to be considerate. “