Long COVID: New Government Reports on Helpful Services, Research Agenda
In response to President Joe Biden’s Memorandum on Addressing the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published 2 reports about Long COVID. The reports are part of a government-wide response to address Long COVID, which is a set of long-term conditions that many who have had the SARS-CoV-2 virus experience long after recovery from the initial illness. Westat has been supporting the development of the reports, working with 14 federal agencies to complete them and creating a set of digital communication products to support their rollout.
“These reports align with Westat’s mission to improve lives through evidence-based, research,” notes Shoma Ghose, Ph.D., Westat’s Project Director on this initiative. “We consider it a great privilege to be part of this work that can lead to improved patient outcomes.”
The reports are:
- Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19 Report (PDF) outlines federal services and mechanisms of support available to the American public in addressing the longer-term effects of COVID-19.
- National Research Action Plan on Long COVID (PDF) provides the first U.S. government-wide national research agenda focused on advancing prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and provision of services and supports for individuals and families experiencing Long COVID.
“It’s important to inform the public about how the longer-term effects of COVID-19 are influencing the way we live and that services are available to help,” said Erin Loomis, Westat’s Communications Task Lead for the project. “These reports are instrumental in that effort.”
Media coverage about the reports:
- Bloomberg Law: New Long Covid Office Aims to Advance Treatment for Patients
- Rolling Stone: White House to Establish Office of Long Covid