There is mounting evidence that many people who have experienced COVID-19 are left with chronic, multi-organ symptoms, which is informally known as long COVID or post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Initial studies show that up to 70% of people affected by COVID-19 experience some reduced organ function four months after the onset of their acute symptoms.

The emergence of long COVID has important implications for people living with or at risk of nocommunicable diseases (NCDs), in addition to the direct impacts of the pandemic on people living with NCDs which include the acute illness and disruptions of essential NCD care.

This briefing note is for policymakers and provides key messages on long COVID based on data available as of April 2021. The NCD Alliance acknowledges that the evidence base for long COVID is still rapidly developing and intends this briefing note to be a living document to be updated as necessary.