Australia’s Chief Health Officer Calls for the Term ‘Long COVID’ to Be Scrapped

‘It implies that there is something particularly sinister and ominous about COVID-19,’ Dr. Gerrard said.

A new study has demonstrated that Long COVID can resolve over time. Shutterstock

One of Australia’s top doctors is calling for the term “long COVID” to be scrapped following a study that found the long-term effects of the virus was no different to the seasonal flu.

In a statement on March 15, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said the term “long COVID” wrongly implied that long-term COVID symptoms were “somehow unique and exceptional” to other viral infections.