2,073 Longford people suffer from effects of ‘long Covid’

A national poll suggests that up to 332 Longford people are significantly impacted in their daily lives by the effects of long Covid. A survey by polling firm Ireland Thinks has found there are 230,559 people in Ireland suffering with conditions associated with long COVID.

The research estimates that nationally 36,889 people are significantly impacted in their daily activities by symptoms.
The Ireland Thinks poll was commissioned by Independent Deputy Denis Naughten. In Longford the number of people with long COVID is estimated at 2,073, while the number significantly impacted is estimated at 332.

The figures are taken from the self-declared incidence of long COVID in Ireland, based on the survey. Neighbours Leitrim have estimates of 1,421 people impacted, 227 severely, while Cavan's figures are 3,639 and 582, Roscommon stats are 3,074 and 492, while Westmeath long COVID estimates are 4,861 with 778 long term cases.

Deputy Naughten warned of the long term impact of the virus: “The reality is that such a large number of long COVID patients presenting to our hospitals with complex health conditions at a time when the system is already overwhelmed, could lead to the collapse of the health service.”

The Roscommon elected representative says plans must be put in place to address the issue: “We cannot just sleepwalk into a crisis of chronic illness, which will push people waiting on treatments since before the pandemic even further down already horrendous waiting lists. We need to see this surge of long COVID patients managed with a coordinated response from the Government.”

The polling data shows that: 6% of adults in Ireland have self-reported symptoms of long COVID in excess of 12 weeks, with a further 3% of adults self-reporting the onset of symptoms for less than 12 weeks.
Long COVID symptoms impact a lot on daily activities of 16% of people with long COVID with a further 63% stating that the symptoms are having some impact on their daily lives.

The survey results correlate with previous figures presented by Deputy Naughten based on research published over the summer in The Lancet by a team of researchers in the Netherlands who have attributed long COVID symptoms to 12.7% of patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and research on blood donors published last month by Ireland’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre which indicates that 69% of adults in Ireland have been infected by the virus.
Commenting on the survey results, Deputy Naughten said:

“The findings released from the first comprehensive survey on the prevalence of long COVID in Ireland, show the need to urgently address the care requirements of those who are suffering with this illness.”