Health services planning for COVID-19 has understandably focused on mortality, hospital admissions and intensive care capacity, alongside vaccination and public health control measures. However, concerns about the long-term consequences of the pandemic are increasingly focused on the long-term clinical sequelae being seen in survivors of COVID-19.
Collectively referred to as Long COVID, a significant minority of patients report suffering from extended COVID-related medical conditions for weeks or even months post-infection. Although Long COVID is not yet fully understood, it has already placed a significant burden on countries which have suffered more acutely from the pandemic than Australia. As Australia has reopened and caseloads have risen, health policy makers in Australia should be preparing to address Long COVID.
In this webinar, we will explore the hospital experience of Long COVID in Israel; examine the likely burden and health system impacts of Long COVID and post-COVID illness in Australia and discuss the development of Australian evidence-based clinical guidelines for Long COVID.
Speakers include:
- Dr Itzchak Levy – Director at Infectious Disease Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
- Prof Martin Hensher – Menzies Centre for Medical Research, University of Tasmania
- Prof Mark Morgan – National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce
