Dedicated Care for Long-COVID Patients

30 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the total number of cases of long-COVID diagnosed and logged in Singapore since the figure of zero reported in November 2020, broken down by gender and age group; (b) what are the plans for dedicated, integrated care for long-COVID patients, including physiological and psychological care; and (c) what measures have been taken to support patients with long-COVID symptoms.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: "Long COVID" is not a distinct medical condition or a formal diagnosis and refers to persons who have continued symptoms of COVID-19 infection. The underlying reasons for continued symptoms vary, as do the symptoms themselves. We continue to offer care to all these patients, who require support from different clinical teams, depending on their condition.

A multi-centre study led by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) showed that one in 10 COVID-19 patients who recovered after the initial infection continued to display symptoms, such as cough or breathlessness, six months after resolution of the acute illness. Those aged above 65 years and who had severe infection were associated with an increased likelihood of these persistent symptoms.