So-called long COVID infections that leave people with symptoms longer than 12 weeks and new chronic illnesses will likely affect the U.S. for “years to come,” the top deputy at the Department of Health and Human Services warned Wednesday.
Rachel Levine, assistant secretary of health and human services, cited an April 5 Biden administration memo calling for “a whole-of-government response” to address the growing number of Americans whose afflictions outlast the virus.
“It is important to focus a new lens on the pandemic and direct much-needed attention to Long COVID. Taking care of affected patients presents challenges given the incompleteness of research, the lack of sufficient diagnostics support, and pervasive problems with access to services,” Dr.