A friend sent me the following email:
I personally know three people who have lost a parent each to Covid, as well as three younger (middle aged and healthy) people who have had the virus. Unfortunately one of the people who caught it early on lives in South Africa, an old friend of mine only a couple of years older than me. He is a 'long hauler', suffering a multitude of symptoms for many months after the initial infection. He was fit, healthy and has no preexisting conditions that I know of.Most statistics I find, lump long term cases in with severe cases including those that lead to fatality. Lung damage is certainly no surprise for someone who has survived a near fatal lung infection. I am not surprised that someone who has been hospitalized and hung on the balances between life and death might have some permanent scars and damage.Apparenly a sizeable number of people (perhaps up to 10%) suffer from this. This virus may well not affect most people badly, but the long term effects aren't yet known either, even for those who get it mildly. Take many viral diseases known today which may not have immediate major impacts (and stay with us for life), yet months and years down the line resurface and/or cause major organ damage. We simply don't know enough about the possible long-term affects to be blasè about it.
Cronic fatigue along with possible suppression of the immune system is cited.
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