Long COVID and Coronavirus Recovery

Recovering from COVID-19 (Long Covid)

The majority of people who experience a COVID-19 infection have a short illness, though full recovery can take several weeks. Symptoms can affect adults and children and may fluctuate in severity and change in nature over time. Most people who experience COVID-19 will need time to recover from the illness.  It is important that people are kind to themselves and allow their body to recover at a natural pace.

Recovery from COVID-19 is different for everybody.  However if your COVID-19 symptoms last weeks or months after the infection has gone you could be experiencing Long COVID.

Symptoms of Long COVID

There are many symptoms of Long COVID. The most common symptoms are:

• Feeling extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• Shortness of breath
• Problems with memory and concentration (brain fog)
• Joint pain
• Dizziness
• Having trouble sleeping
• Chest pain or having a ‘tight’ feeling in your chest
• Pins and needles
• Tinnitus/ear ache
• Depression and anxiety
• Feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach pain, experiencing a loss of appetite
• High temperature, cough, headache, sore throat
• Changes to your sense of smell or taste
• Rashes

Self-help advice

• Find out more about Long COVID and how it can be managed. See our self-help resources below.
• Visit our Pain and Long Term Health Conditions topic if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.
• Try one of the courses on Long COVID management below which looks at ways of managing the symptoms, setbacks and mental health impact of Long COVID.
• See details on Post-Covid Recovery on the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board website. See self-help resources below.
• See details ‘Getting support for recovery from Long COVID’ on the Welsh Government website. See self-help resources below.
• Download the COVID Recovery app which has been developed to help manage symptoms. The app has been developed to support people who are still feeling a range of cardiac, neurological and psychological issues after having COVID-19. Your health professional may recommend the app to you as part of your rehabilitation support. See self-help resources below.
• Visit the Public Health Wales website which includes details of an online COVID recovery programme and information on specific symptoms. See self-help resources below for details.
• Always call 999 if you experience any life threatening symptoms or contact the 111 online coronavirus service or your GP if you feel your symptoms aren’t improving or you need further advice.

When to visit your GP

If you are worried about symptoms 4 weeks or more after having COVID-19 contact your GP.