“Long-Covid” is the term increasingly used to describe the lasting effects experienced by people who have recovered from the acute stage of Covid-19 infection. What started as anecdotal reports on social media, has spread into patient groups and, more recently, traditional media sources such as newspapers and news websites.

The Royal College of GPs has stated that some 10 per cent of Covid-19 patients suffer from symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches and headaches for a prolonged period of time. There are also reports of individuals experiencing more severe complications such as respiratory difficulties and cognitive impairment, which may require ongoing treatment and support. There are, of course, also many people who are feeling the impact of the social and economic effects of the pandemic, such as isolation and loss of income, and this in turn has led to a surge in mental health problems.

In Millie’s case, she needs reassurance that the way she is feeling is not just in her head, but rather an accepted consequence of her having had Covid-19. She should seek help and support, both in medical terms by making a GP appointment, as well as connecting with others going through a similar experience and/or participating in research on the topic. There are several long-Covid groups on social media, some of which have tens of thousands of members, for support purposes.