In Ireland, there have been over 1.7 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection so far. Long Covid is the continuation, or development of new symptoms, three months after the initial infection with Covid-19, that cannot be explained by alternative diagnoses.
The exact number of people in Ireland with Long Covid is unknown. One estimate suggested by the campaign and support group, Long Covid Advocacy Ireland (LCAI), is around 350,000 people.
The HSE says exact numbers vary, ranging from 1.8% - 8.3% of people who got infected and from 15%-53% based on self-reported data.
Studies are under way to try and establish an accurate figure. The problem with Long Covid is the dearth of data on the numbers, and doctors are not fully sure of what they are dealing with and the prognosis.