 |
| Matt Hancock |
Secretary of Health Matt Hancock
admits he is “concerned” about the long-term impacts of coronavirus
on those infected. Mr Hancock said that after contracting for COVID-19, a
“significant minority” of people had suffered “quite
debilitating” conditions.
admits he is “concerned” about the long-term impacts of coronavirus
on those infected. Mr Hancock said that after contracting for COVID-19, a
“significant minority” of people had suffered “quite
debilitating” conditions.
It comes after news source reported on
how psychosis, insomnia, kidney disease, spinal infections, strokes, chronic
tiredness and mobility issues are being identified in former northern Italian
coronavirus patients.
how psychosis, insomnia, kidney disease, spinal infections, strokes, chronic
tiredness and mobility issues are being identified in former northern Italian
coronavirus patients.
I am concerned that there is growing
evidence that a minority of people-but a significant minority-have long-term
effects and can be quite weakening. So we’ve set up an NHS service to support
those with COVID-19 long-term impacts and we’ve put nearly £10 m into long-term
effects research as well.
evidence that a minority of people-but a significant minority-have long-term
effects and can be quite weakening. So we’ve set up an NHS service to support
those with COVID-19 long-term impacts and we’ve put nearly £10 m into long-term
effects research as well.
I’m worried about that; we’ve taken
action on it-both through the NHS and through the research activities. We are
constantly learning about the impact of it, and it seems that there is a pretty
debilitating long-term impact for some people, quite similar to a syndrome of
post-viral fatigue that you get with many viruses.
action on it-both through the NHS and through the research activities. We are
constantly learning about the impact of it, and it seems that there is a pretty
debilitating long-term impact for some people, quite similar to a syndrome of
post-viral fatigue that you get with many viruses.
We really need to support people in
that situation and also do the research to find out what we can do about it. Doctors in Lombardy, Italy’s worst-affected
region, have said COVID-19 is a systemic infection that affects all the body’s
organs rather than just a respiratory disease, as previously thought.
that situation and also do the research to find out what we can do about it. Doctors in Lombardy, Italy’s worst-affected
region, have said COVID-19 is a systemic infection that affects all the body’s
organs rather than just a respiratory disease, as previously thought.
Mr Hancock admitted that one of the
hardest aspects of responding to the pandemic had been the fact that medical
experts and governments around the world were “constantly learning”
about the virus.
hardest aspects of responding to the pandemic had been the fact that medical
experts and governments around the world were “constantly learning”
about the virus.
He said: “The decisions have been
extraordinary and very large; the issues that you balance are very, very
significant on both sides.
extraordinary and very large; the issues that you balance are very, very
significant on both sides.
The hardest part has undoubtedly been
the fact that, as we’ve learned more, we’ve had to change policy and then
you’ve got to come on to explain why your policy is different today from
yesterday.
the fact that, as we’ve learned more, we’ve had to change policy and then
you’ve got to come on to explain why your policy is different today from
yesterday.
The truth is, because we are
constantly learning. “He pointed to the example of how scientists had
previously believed that those without symptoms of coronavirus could not spread
the illness.
constantly learning. “He pointed to the example of how scientists had
previously believed that those without symptoms of coronavirus could not spread
the illness.
There were six preceding coronaviruses
before this coronavirus and none of them had asymptomatic transmission, Mr
Hancock said.
before this coronavirus and none of them had asymptomatic transmission, Mr
Hancock said.
So, understandably, the initial advice
was not either this one will. But it does, and it’s one of the hardest things
to deal with because when people with symptoms have it, it’s hard enough to
stop a virus-but when people with no symptoms pass it on, it just makes it so
much harder.
was not either this one will. But it does, and it’s one of the hardest things
to deal with because when people with symptoms have it, it’s hard enough to
stop a virus-but when people with no symptoms pass it on, it just makes it so
much harder.
