Some people have new, returning, or lingering symptoms weeks to months after having COVID-19. This condition can be called many names including post-COVID conditions, long COVID, long haul COVID, and Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). People with these conditions are sometimes called ālong-haulers.ā Since July 2021, post-COVID conditions have been considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Anyone who had COVID-19 can develop a post-COVID condition, including people who had COVID-19 with no symptoms or very mild symptoms. People in any age group can develop post-COVID conditions, but they appear to be less common in children compared to adults. There is still a lot we do not know about post-COVID conditions, and this is an area of active research.
Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 in California
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all our lives. Beyond the physical and mental health effects of the pandemic āāÆthere are many other factors such as loss of income, loss of family and friends, delayed health screenings and healthcare for chronic diseases, loss of time in school for children, and more that will impact Californians for years to come.
Given the imbalance in the number of COVID-19 cases between certain communities of different economic and racial/ethnic backgrounds, these heavily impacted communities will also likely be more disproportionately impacted by the long-term consequences of COVID-19. CDPH is committed to understanding how the pandemic has changed lives to address what can be done now and in the future for immediate and long-term needs around COVID-19. Community driven information, partnerships and data will inform future critical decision-making so that policy makers can develop policies, strategies, and programs, and direct resources to the individuals and communities most in need.
Originally posted on February 25, 2022