An estimated 1.3 million people living in the UK are suffering from self-reported long COVID, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows.
The figures, valid from 9 November to 6 December, represents around 2% of the population.
According to the ONS, prevalence of self-reported long COVID remained greatest in those who were:
- Aged 35 to 69 years
- Female
- Living in more deprived areas
- Working in health, social care or teaching and education
- With another activity-limiting health condition or disability
And, 64% of people with self-reported long COVID said their symptoms affected their daily activities, while 20% said it limited their daily activities “a lot”, the ONS said.
Symptoms vary from person to person, but many who experience them didn’t need hospital treatment or were even tested for their initial COVID-19 illness. Some may have even been asymptomatic.
Some studies have found 10% of people who have mild COVID-19 will go on to have long COVID, but other studies have estimated as many as 35% will.