Mild to moderate COVID-19 lasts about two weeks for most people. In others, the long-term effects of COVID-19 can cause lingering health problems that last for months. While it is clear that people with certain risk factors like high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and obesity are more likely to have a serious case of COVID-19, there is not a clear link between these risk factors and the long-term effects of COVID-19. While the percentage of people who have had COVID and currently report long COVID symptoms has recently declined, the rate remains high.
This infographic explores what we currently know about long COVID. It also offers methods for preventing long COVID through protective measures and vaccines. Although we still do not know much about long COVID, scientists are working to better understand this new and emerging illness and how different groups of people experience it.