Most people who have COVID-19 recover completely within a few weeks. But some people — even those who had mild versions of the disease — continue to experience symptoms after their initial recovery. These people sometimes describe themselves as “long-haulers,” and the conditions have been called “post-COVID-19 syndrome” or “long COVID-19.” These health issues also are sometimes called “post-COVID-19 conditions.” These health issues are generally considered to be effects of COVID-19 that persist for more than four weeks after people have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The World Health Organization has developed a working clinical case definition of post-COVID conditions: “Post COVID-19 condition occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis.
