The percentage of Americans reporting symptoms of long COVID-19 declined slightly over the past several weeks, according to a federal survey published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Household Pulse Survey found that 10% of adults who previously had COVID-19 were reporting symptoms of long COVID as of May 8 – down from 11% as of April 10.
COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. have been on the decline for months. The Biden administration ended the public health emergency declaration for the coronavirus earlier this month, shortly after the World Health Organization said that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency of international concern.
But even as the COVID-19 pandemic improves, the number of Americans experiencing long COVID remains in the millions.
Extended to the U.S. population, the survey’s results mean that more than 14.4 million adult Americans are currently experiencing symptoms of long COVID.
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Of the Americans experiencing symptoms of long COVID, nearly 80% report reduced ability to carry out day-to-day activities compared to before having the virus. Nearly a quarter report that their limitations are “significant.”
The survey defined long COVID as symptoms lasting three months or longer that a person did not have prior to coronavirus infection, including “tiredness or fatigue, difficulty thinking, concentrating, forgetfulness, or memory problems (sometimes referred to as ‘brain fog’), difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, joint or muscle pain, fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations), chest pain, dizziness on standing, menstrual changes, changes to taste/smell, or inability to exercise.”
Long COVID can arise after mild or even asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, but the risk for the condition is higher for those who had more severe disease.
