Re: Queensland Chief Health Officer: 'Long COVID' Doesn't Exist

BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:

'Long COVID' is a sinister term that causes unnecessary fear and should be
abolished, according to Queensland's Chief Health Officer.

Dr. John Gerrard said the term was 'probably harmful' because it implied COVID
could create 'unique and exceptional' long-term symptoms, whereas new research
shows they were almost identical to other post-viral conditions.

'We believe it is time to stop using terms like long COVID,' Dr Gerrard, who
is an infectious disease expert, said. 'It implies that there is something
particularly sinister and ominous about Covid-19. Our evidence suggests that
there isn't, that it is not dissimilar to other viruses. That does not mean
that you can't get these persistent symptoms following COVID-19, but you're no
more likely to get it after COVID than with other respiratory viruses, like
influenza or even the common cold.'

What the fuck is this asshole talking about? Long COVID symptoms are due
to a combination of damage to blood vessels and nerves that in turn
damages muscles and organs. It has nothing to do with the persistence of
flu-like symptoms that infected people might get for a couple of weeks
that don't have anything to do with whether the person will get long
COVID. Since when do the viruses that cause flu or the cold cause
symptoms of long-term damage to the body?

The conclusion was drawn from a recent Queensland study which monitored the
lasting effects on about 2,400 people who caught COVID and about 2,700 people
who caught other viruses such as influenza.

Looking at the term "long COVID" only and nothing medically useful? The
funders of this absurd study should never fund anything ever again.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13199273/Queensland-Chief-Health-Officer-Dr-John-Gerrard-stop-using-term-long-Covid.html
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