Long Covid has high prevalence and impact: Where is the Government response? Long Covid's impacts on health, social, and economic justify a well-coordinated national response focused on prevention, people-centred care, and research.

There's a new PHCC briefing out today on #longcovid in New Zealand

www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/lon...

Huge. It doesn't have to be this way 😔

Thank you Amanda Kvalsvig for going out to bat for Long Covid sufferers again.

And thank you Esther for using your precious energy to share your experience with Long Covid.

#longcovid

It is not good enough that Long Covid sufferers have to form support groups to get any kind of help.

It is not good enough that Covid is still circulating leading to more Long Covid and we are not using the tools available to us, particularly clean air measures.

www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Driving Under the Cognitive Influence of COVID-19: Exploring the Impact of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Road Safety | Neurology ObjectiveThis study evaluated the association between acute COVID-19 cases and the number of car crashes with varying COVID-19 vaccination rates, Long COVID rates, and COVID-19 mitigation strategies.B...

A reminder that long COVID isn't mild, & more you get COVID, the better your chances of having sequelae.

"Acute COVID-19, regardless of Long COVID status, is linked to an increased risk of car crashes presumably due to neurologic changes caused by SARS-CoV-2."

www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...

Should we be doing more for sufferers of Long Covid? It might feel like the days of Covid are well behind most of us, but six years on from the initial outbreak, around 200 thousand New Zealanders are still dealing with it because they have Long Covid. ...

New Zealand 🇳🇿
www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

#longcovid #chronicillness #mecfs

Almost 200,000 New Zealanders are now living with long COVID – where is the government plan? The prevalence of long COVID is more than a hundred times greater than the definition of a rare disease – yet there are no specific health services or support.

"New Zealand must take long COVID seriously. Denial of these impacts and delays in providing appropriate care mean New Zealand is missing opportunities to limit harms to individuals and society." #kikorangi #longcovid @amandakvalsvig.bsky.social theconversation.com/almost-200-0...

Almost 200,000 New Zealanders are now living with long Covid - where is the government plan? Opinion - A high prevalence of long Covid is perhaps the starkest reminder that the pandemic is far from over.

"Policymakers and the public are reluctant to even speak of Covid in the present tense, but the evidence shows it is still a major infectious disease in Aotearoa New Zealand, with wide-ranging negative impacts".

#longcovid

www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-...

This resource was prepared by @lcsupportaotearoa.bsky.social and endorsed by Assoc Prof Mona Jeffreys.

It is a patient-created guide which aims to give a snapshot to media on the prevalence, characteristics, and implications of Long Covid in New Zealand.

Long Covid Support Aotearoa teal logo on Long Covid in New Zealand Explainer

New #media resource: #longcovid Explainer

longcovidsupport.co.nz/wp-content/u...

We were the first to do a media release about it, tho! 😅
longcovidsupport.co.nz/news/survey-ki…

We are rapt that Waatea has used & reported on both our recent media releases. They also delved into at least one Public Health Communications Centre expert report on Long Covid in their stories

Hi Denis! Long Covid Support Aotearoa here. There's one correction to that media piece - we've just let them know, should be updated soon 🙏

The survey was the Ministry of Health's annual New Zealand Health Survey - not ours.

Please listen to these powerful voices. This is what life is like for the thousands of us in Aotearoa living with Long COVID.

Here is the link to the resource from Dr Mona Jeffreys from Victoria University of Wellington, which was sent to doctors

Resource-for-GPs-2026.pdf

#LongCovidAwareness

NZ rejects WHO pandemic rule changes, aligning with 'fringe' RFK Jr NZ is now one of just five countries to have rejected the post-pandemic changes to the WHO's global health rules without providing a reason. Marc Daalder reports.

Scoop: NZ has rejected post-pandemic changes to the WHO's global health rules without providing a reason, making it one of just five countries to do so.

"This is reputation-wrecking. People will think that we’ve lost our mind," says former PM Helen Clark.
newsroom.co.nz/2026/03/18/n...

also: getting covid once is better than getting it twice. with each covid infection, your odds of getting long covid increases, and if you already have long covid, reinfection will likely make it worse

"It got worse and worse and worse.

"By August I was unable to move."

The impacts of Long Covid are wide and far-reaching. Action is urgently needed for research, prevention, and support.

A woman with Long Covid has been left in a "no man's land" within the health system.

The former Palmerston North city councillor contracted Covid in May 2022.

Argh *of thousands

The personal face of the hundreds of thousands with Long Covid Six years after the country went into its first pandemic lockdown, new data shows the impact of Long Covid on hundreds of thousands of Kiwis, but what, if anything, has changed for Long Covid patients...

Listen: The personal face of the hundreds on thousands with Long Covid

www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Health support group calls for better government oversight of Long Covid effects New data from the Ministry of Health estimates 185,000 New Zealanders experienced Long Covid symptoms in the 12 months ending July last year.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Some recommended follows on this topic are:
@lcsupportaotearoa.bsky.social,
@covidactionnz.bsky.social, @covidsafenz.bsky.social, @cyncharron.bsky.social, @toolongcovid.bsky.social, @chrisjensenj.bsky.social
Please add if there are others I’ve missed, and thanks to anyone amplifying regularly.
🙏

New Brighton pier in Christchurch lit up in teal and the beach at night

We're shining a light on Long Covid in Christchurch

#longcovidawarenessday #longcovidawareness

longcovidsupport.co.nz/news/shining-a-light-on-long-covid

This international Long Covid awareness day, I’m thinking about those who are still in the trenches. Those who aren’t centered in the press, those who started fighting in 2020 and haven’t stopped - for research, for policy, for support. Lived experience experts never called on for their expertise.
🧵

Not testing for Covid-19 is causing problems 🧪🧪

If you or a loved one are struggling with ongoing symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, gastric issues, or brain fog, check out our website for more information.

It's Long Covid Awareness Day.

Thousands of New Zealanders have Long Covid affecting their ability to work, care for their families and do the things that bring them joy.

So we stand in solidarity with all those struggling.

www.longcovidsupport.co.nz

#longcovid #longcovidawarenessday

PRESS RELEASE

250,000 Kiwis may have Long Covid but New Zealand isn't counting

#longcovid #longcovidawareness #longcovidawarenessday #kiwi

longcovidsupport.co.nz/news/250000-...

The Detail - As Covid hits again, Prof Michael Baker discusses what we can do and what more should be done.
pocketcasts.com/podcasts/f98...

Sick and Tired Aotearoa A show that shines a light on chronic and invisible illnesses in Aotearoa.

Tune in to Manawatu People's Radio tonight at 9pm, head to www.mpr.nz/show/sickandtiredaotearoa or find it in the usual podcast spots.