long COVID

noun

variants or less commonly long COVID-19 or long-haul COVID or long-haul COVID-19

: a condition that is marked by the presence of symptoms (such as fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or brain fog) which persist for an extended period of time (such as weeks or months) following a person's initial recovery from COVID-19 infection : post-covid syndrome

The sickest COVID-19 patients are not the only ones to suffer from long COVID. Patients who had a milder initial case that didn't result in hospitalization can also have persistent symptoms.

—Stephanie LaVergne

Because of the growing number of long COVID patients, more hospitals are creating outpatient clinics with multiple specialists or expanding centers that initially focused only on patients leaving intensive care units.

—Meredith Cohn

Ceresa is one of a growing number of COVID-19 survivors with serious symptoms that last far beyond the acute infection with the virus. Some of these patients, often referred to as 'long-haulers' or people with long COVID-19 … are receiving treatment at … clinics like the one at Mount Sinai.

—Kevin Loria

… long-haul COVID-19 refers to the ongoing adverse health effects of coronavirus infection, which can last for weeks, and even months, after the initial phase of their illness has passed.

—Eve Glazier and Elizabeth Ko

Examples of long COVID in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The same thing happens in people with long COVID who experience immune dysfunction, persistent immune cell activation, and autoimmune antibody production. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 15 July 2025

For guests recovering from long COVID, fatigue, or burnout, this becomes a key part of the therapy. —Nel-Olivia Waga, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

The virus also causes lingering and sometimes debilitating systemic issues known as long COVID, including in children. —Jen Christiansen, Scientific American, 25 June 2025

As a result, long COVID patients face challenges in getting adequate access to care. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025

Research into long COVID is still at an early stage. —Farah Aziz Annesha, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2025

For instance, pediatric long COVID — also called MIS-C, or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children — may happen two to six weeks after coronavirus infection and develop even if symptoms are mild or nonexistent. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 28 May 2025

His next game will be his first since April 2023, after long COVID derailed the now 37-year-old’s NHL career. —Murat Ates, New York Times, 21 June 2025

He'd been forced to sit out on touring with the band for two years due to a battle with long COVID, and first returned to performing with Jane's Addiction that May. —Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2020, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

long COVID

noun

variants also long COVID-19

: a condition that is marked by the presence of symptoms which persist for an extended period of time following a person's initial recovery from COVID-19 infection

Medical Definition

long COVID

noun

variants also long COVID-19 or long-haul COVID or long-haul COVID-19

: a condition that is marked by the presence of symptoms (such as fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or brain fog) which persist for an extended period of time (such as weeks or months) following a person's initial recovery from COVID-19 infection : post-covid syndrome

… there's no clear way to diagnose long COVID and no standard treatment protocol. Some long haulers feel better after a couple of weeks following the initial infection, but then fall ill to old or even new disease-related symptoms that may affect multiple organs and systems weeks or months later. For others … their symptoms never fully abate after the initial infection; they just linger.

—Melba Newsome, Charlotte (North Carolina) Observer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is set to release interim guidance for physicians treating patients with long COVID-19 …

—Congressional Quarterly News

… long-haul COVID-19 refers to the ongoing adverse health effects of coronavirus infection, which can last for weeks, and even months, after the initial phase of their illness has passed.

—Eve Glazier and Elizabeth Ko, Chicago Daily Herald

Long-haul COVID patients tend to exhibit the kinds of symptoms about which disability case reviewers have historically been skeptical, if not downright hostile. These include chronic fatigue, nonspecific body and nerve pain, headaches and persistent confusion known as "brain fog."

—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times