Ensuring your business is prepared for ‘long Covid’
Most people who contract COVID-19 will fully recover - but employers should prepare for the fact that many will experience a long and challenging journey back to good health.
In a year marked by Covid-related upheaval for businesses, many employers have risen to the challenge and made creditable efforts to manage risk and protect their staff. However, we are now learning more about the potential long-term effects of Covid, and the diverse range of reactions to the virus.
Awareness of ‘long Covid’ began when Covid sufferers began sharing their experience of remaining unwell for weeks and months after developing symptoms.
Some had experienced scepticism from their GPs, and had struggled to get support with managing their symptoms. Many took to social media to compare their situation with others.
Definitions
A working definition of the condition is not recovering for several weeks or months following the start of typical Covid symptoms, irrespective of whether you were tested or not.
Acute fatigue has emerged as the most common symptom, but these can also include cough, breathlessness, muscle and body aches, chest heaviness or pressure, depression, migraines and cognitive impairment (or ‘brain fog’).
While our understanding of COVID-19 is improving, there is still much that is unknown about the behaviour of the virus.
In terms of the outlook for those with long-term symptoms, there are lessons which can be learned from existing research on typical recovery patterns in cases of Sepsis, SARS and other post-viral respiratory conditions.
Who’s affected?
According to the Covid Symptoms Study, the condition is twice as common in women than men. The same study found that 10% of those infected with Covid experienced symptoms for over a month, with an estimated 60,000 people in the UK experiencing symptoms lasting longer than three months.
Research suggests that around 80% of those experiencing long-term Covid symptoms will recover.
Treatment and support for those with long Covid
The NHS has already made a number of resources available online through the ‘Your Covid Recovery’ programme, and has recently announced plans for a network of 40 ‘long Covid’ clinics to tackle persistent symptoms.
However, the absence of established definitions for the condition is proving a challenge for medical professionals aiming to support these individuals. And there will be specific challenges around returning to work for those suffering with longer-term symptoms.
This is where the skills of an Occupational Health Practitioner can prove invaluable. They are skilled in the management of fatigue - the principal symptom of long Covid - and can provide support where employees are experiencing other symptoms which could affect work performance, for instance cognitive impairment.
At the time of writing, government advice is to work from home, and this option may well be beneficial to those experiencing post-Covid fatigue, allowing for more flexibility and avoiding the exertion of travel. A phased return to work may also be of benefit, so employees can make a gradual return to their normal work delivery and contracted hours.
Adjustments may be needed to an individual’s workplace, whether that is at home or another setting, to accommodate symptoms and minimize discomfort. Make sure your company’s policies are visible and flexible enough to deal with a range of support needs.
Finally, many of those reporting long Covid symptoms also report a significant mental health impact. The pandemic has already had a significant impact on mental health; so ensure that access to support is clearly signposted and wellbeing is an ongoing area of focus in your communications and engagement approach.
Line managers should understand that recovery from Covid can be long and complex, and that affected staff will require regular check-ins and ongoing monitoring to ensure they remain healthy and productive.