Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IRELAND’S DEPUTY CHIEF Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, has warned that many people are suffering from prolonged side effects from Covid-19, despite being recorded as having recovered from the illness.
At a media briefing this evening, Dr Glynn said that health authorities are seeing an increase in the number of people taking a long time to fully recover their energy levels and having difficuties with exercise tolerance, even if they weren’t hospitalised for the illness.
In Ireland 92% of confirmed Covid-19 cases are marked as having recovered from the virus. However, Dr Glynn said that many of those people still are not back to feeling how they felt before they contracted the disease.
As Covid-19 is a very new infection medics are still learning about how it affects people over time. Dr Glynn explained that it’s not unusual for people to take a long time to recover after a significant respiratory illness, but they still need to closely monitor people for prolonged side effects.
He added that it’s difficult to provide much more detail at present because many of the people are still within the first two months of their illness.
The health official said that it serves as a message to people that don’t perceive theselves as being vulnerable to the disease because the ultimate outcome is “unknown”.
Just because, perhaps, you’re younger, or perhaps you don’t perceive yourself as someone who might suffer the most significant effects of this disease, if you are to become infected, it doesn’t neccessarily mean that you shouldn’t be doing all in your power to ensure that you don’t get this disease, that people in your family, your friends don’t get this disease, because the ultimate outcome for you, or any one of your family or friends, is unknown.
Dr Glynn advised anyone recovering from Covid-19 to contact their GP with any questions or concerns they may have.
There have been a total of 25,238 confirmed cases of the coronavirus illness in Ireland after eight new cases were announced this evening. Health officials said that a further eight patients have died from the disease, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,703.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Stay healthy everyone, nothing is more important than health.
@Seriousnojoke: Exactly. Now is the time more than ever to get our health in check. 2/3 of Irish adults are overweight so hopefully this pandemic has given some people the wake-up call they need.
@Marie McG: A lot more now since the lockdown started
Had covid in mid-March and my energy levels are still awful.
Also really struggling with exercise… Went for blood tests etc as was getting concerned but relieved to read this is normal.
@Retrostan: I am very sorry to hear the disease has affected you badly. I have read and heard several reports saying the same, there was a report by Tommy Meskill of RTE Morning Ireland yesterday 10th June saying similar. We need to take the virus very seriously, and thanks for your comment.
@Retrostan: Same situation here. Had milder version of covid in March, took almost 6 weeks to get back any reasonable levels of energy. A bit more energy again these days, but finding I feel more tired in general, get tired a lot easier than before having the virus and any sort of a lengthy walk is a bit of a struggle and can be very exhausting. Thankfully my sense of taste and smell returned after around three weeks, but they’re definitely not the same as they used to be before having covid.
@Gearoid OLaoghaire: OMG. Thank you very much for your comment. I hope the problems won’t be permanent. We need to take the virus very seriously.
@Gearoid OLaoghaire: I had something in around New Years which my mother in law and father in law also caught. They were staying with me. We all say it was the worst infection we ever had and those antibiotics definitely did not work. I was shaking in bed for 3 days and struggling to breath later. I’m still even now not 100%. Im wondering how to get an antibody test?
@Retrostan: Hi, it was about 10 weeks before i got my energy back, it came in waves and i got bad again before it ended but now I am finally on the other side of it.
@Tommy C: I don’t know what the situation is here with antibody testing, but what you describe sounds like a candidate for Covid-19. I am NOT a Doctor or medical professional, but “” struggling to breathe” MAY likely indicate ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) . It is quite possible that the virus was circulating undiagnosed before it was assessed in Wuhan, China. Link of probable interest :https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1277449/France-news-coronavirus-December-first-case-COVID-19-Emmanuel-Macron-latest
@Retrostan: can’t say whether I had it or not. I only had high/low temp, cough, no breath (went onto Oxgin – Asthma), slept 16 hours each day, deranged, couldn’t cut the grass in the garden, or make a cuppa tea. Now I nearly can.. the joy of living alone.
@Tommy C: Check with your GP.
@Paul Somers: Sounds like you had some serious symptoms there, you may wish to check with your GP.
@Tommy C: antibiotics work on bacteria not viruses
@Retrostan: likewise- I had it in March and still have much lower energy levels plus my son who is an elite athlete (17) had it and he still can’t get his full fitness back. Little bit worrying
@Retrostan: likewise- I had it in March and still have much lower energy levels plus my son who is an elite athlete (17) had it and he still can’t get his full fitness back. Little bit worrying
@Retrostan: likewise- I had it in March and still have much lower energy levels plus my son who is an elite athlete (17) had it and he still can’t get his full fitness back. Little bit worrying
@Retrostan: likewise- I had it in March and still have much lower energy levels plus my son who is an elite athlete (17) had it and he still can’t get his full fitness back. Little bit worrying
@Retrostan: likewise- I had it in March and still have much lower energy levels plus my son who is an elite athlete (17) had it and he still can’t get his full fitness back. Little bit worrying
Because it is a new virus it is also unknowable what the longer term outcomes may be.
On this one question alone the world’s governments are playing Russian Roulette with the lives of the planet by not seeking to crush the virus.
@PV Nevin: did you see the photo in the NY times of a set of lungs ravaged by Coronavirus from a dead patient. I swear to God, they looked like they were microwaved on high for about 10 mins. Unrecognisable.
@PV Nevin: hahaha your funny alright. Yeah the worlds governments should keep everyone at home until we have a vaccine hahaha haha pmsl, some people just have that natural dry wit I guess
@Dino: Get Covid-19 yourself, and you can act as our herd immunity. Hahaha!
@Dino: well, he didn’t actually say that, so you literally just invented a scenario just so you could make a snide and sarcastic comment. I mean, how pathetic is that?
I take it the lower tolerance for exercise is down to reduced ability to get oxygen in? Beetroot has been shown to really help in the absorption so try adding that into your diet.
@Alan Currie: let us know how that goes for you!
We were taking of the covid19 virus and me and my family said the same that this virus would leave you weak and tired after your body was battling that awful disease .So mind your health if you had bad symptoms. Stay safe .❤
Oh that would be because we are all suffering at the hand of the media fear mongering, government rules, policed state for months
@Patricia Moloney: Not really, because the things you mention would effect people’s mental health, the impacts of covid 19 being referenced in this article, are the physical impacts on people that actually were infected with covid 19, recovered and are now facing debilitating and even life changing consequences as a result…
Nasty case of nopubicitis here
@SkepticalHippoEyes: don’t worry, they’ll grow when you get a bit older – just make sure to keep them clean and trim them from time to time – nobody likes a birds nest down there.
I’m on week 11 now and still suffering with severe fatigue. Also having difficulty to breath ascim only using 50%of my lung capacity. I still have lower back pain, swollen feet and hands,and dighvram pain also sore eyes. I’m so glad to hear I’m not alone
@Eugene Van As: I’m on week 11 also, still having shortness of breath, lung pain and terrible fatigue. Before Covid I was fit and healthy with no underlying health issues. Just hoping there will be no lasting damage from this.
I’m on day 84 now . Last week I was ok then relapsed again the past few days. Sore tummy, diaphragm, eyes chest, short breathed, general not well feeling
have your say