Most people who get COVID-19 will have symptoms for a short time and then get well within a few weeks. The time it takes to get well from COVID-19 is different for each person. and depends on how sick you were with COVID-19 and if you have any other existing health issues.
Sometimes COVID-19 causes a person to feel unwell for many months after the initial illness. This is called ‘long COVID’. Long COVID can last for many weeks and months, even after a person no longer has the virus. Even people who had a mild COVID-19 infection and did not need to go to hospital can still have long COVID.
Some symptoms of long COVID include:
- extreme tiredness
- coughing
- breathlessness
- fever
- chest pain
- joint pain
- problems with memory and concentration.
Many long-term side effects from COVID-19 are still not known.
Keeping up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines will help protect you from long COVID.
If you tested positive for COVID-19 more than a few weeks ago, and you’re still feeling unwell, have a yarn with your healthcare worker.
If you are worried about your symptoms, you can call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080, 24 hours a day.