Long COVID and Post-COVID Conditions: Health Effects and Public Health

Dear Colleagues,

In December 2019, novel coronavirus pneumonia infections were recorded in the city of Wuhan, China, caused by a new coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (COVID-19) quickly reached pandemic proportions, affecting the daily routines and lives of the global population within just a few weeks. In 2022, the pandemic is still ongoing.

Over two years of living and working in a pandemic situation has significantly changed our lives. The control of this global event has included a number of public health measures and restrictions; adequate infection prevention, treatment, and vaccination constitute only a handful of the social, economic, and political interventions experienced over the last two years. SARS-CoV-2 continues to cause acute disease and chronic manifestations in vulnerable individuals; however, the pandemic has triggered global behavioural changes and new forms of social interaction.

The pandemic had a severe impact on socially and economically disadvantaged groups, and amplified pre-existing inequalities. The impact on mental health was and still is considerable in many sectors of society. Lockdowns and school closures isolated people and groups. Families were split physically, and there have been reports of increased domestic violence. While highly educated groups have been able to cope with the pandemic—even benefiting from home working—others have suffered unemployment or lack of support and company. Healthcare workers were particularly hit, with several reports of increased psychiatric symptoms in the last two years. Parallel to these events, we witnessed a global research effort to synthesize and spread knowledge, alongside other positive changes, such as reduced levels of air pollution.

This Special Issue seeks papers offering insight into the challenges and lessons learned in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our focus is on public health data, data deficits, emergent data problems, and innovative solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. We welcome papers that bring together international researchers from different theoretical and methodological perspectives, as well as biological and clinical standpoints, in order to advance knowledge in the field of COVID-19.  We hope that this Special Issue will shed light on current evidence and further inform political decisions.

Dr. Joana Berger-Estilita
Guest Editor

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