The Silent Epidemic Draining America’s Workforce
A new study highlights that millions of Americans, especially younger adults, may struggle to return to work due to Long COVID symptoms. The research reveals that about 14% of working-age individuals with Long COVID had not resumed their jobs within three months of their initial infection. Dr. Arjun Venkatesh, the study’s lead researcher and chair of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine, estimates this could affect up to 2 million people, with an average age of around 40 years old.
The economic impact of Long COVID is significant, with Dr. Venkatesh noting that it affects both the broader economy and individual financial stability. The study, which analyzed data from over 6,000 COVID-19 patients across multiple states, found that nearly 10% of those who were employed before the pandemic continued to experience severe symptoms months later.
The study indicates that individuals with five or more Long COVID symptoms are more than twice as likely to be unable to return to work compared to those without long-term symptoms. This underscores the severity of Long COVID for many and its potential to disrupt employment.
These findings, published in PLOS ONE, suggest that the scale of Long COVID warrants significant economic support similar to that provided during the pandemic. Dr. Venkatesh calls for substantial interventions to address the widespread issue of prolonged COVID symptoms and its impact on workers and the economy.
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