Long Covid numbers in UK hit two million people

  • Post last modified:April 25, 2024
  • Reading time:13 mins read


New government statistics have confirmed what millions of people already knew. Specifically, this was that cases of long Covid across the UK are rampant and ever on the rise – now up to two million people. Of course, for people living the daily realities of this devastating chronic illness especially, the news didn’t come as a surprise.

Long Covid widespread and rising

On Thursday 25 April, the UK government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) released the results of its ‘Winter Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Study’.

Predictably, these latest figures showed that long Covid cases are soaring. According to the survey, at least two million people – 3.3% – of England and Scotland’s population are currently living with long Covid.

The ONS also broke its data down by age group. In particular, it showed that the percentages for different age demographics self-reporting long Covid ranged from between 1% to 5%. Specifically, it found that long Covid is affecting:

  • 1% of people aged 3 to 17
  • Over 3% for those aged 18 to 34
  • 4% of people aged 35 to 44
  • 5% of people aged 45 to 54 – the demographic with the highest percentage of reports.
  • Closely following this, 4.9% of 55 to 64 year olds reported long Covid
  • Over 3% for those aged 65 to 74
  • 2.8% of people aged over 75

Perhaps most significantly, the ONS data estimated that the largest proportion of people in these cases had been living with the devastating chronic illness for over three years.

It detailed that 30.6% – nearly a third – of people had lived with long Covid or over 156 weeks (more than 3 years). On top of this, over 20% have lived with it for over two years – the next highest percentage. Taken together, it shows that at least one million people across England and Scotland are still battling the post-viral fallout from the devastating coronavirus pandemic.

However, the huge number of people living with long Covid didn’t come as a surprise to some. Despite this, the figures did also leave others scratching their heads.

Long Covid – the pandemic is “not over”

Long Covid groups and people living with the post-viral chronic illness took to X to highlight the ramifications of the new statistics.

As Long Covid Support said, the ONS figures are clear on one thing in particular: that the “pandemic is not over”:

Notably, Long Covid Support pointed out these figures were also greater than the ONS had previously estimated. In March, it had calculated long Covid cases at 2.9%. What this means is that 100,000 more people are suffering the debilitating impacts of the chronic illness than it had thought back in March 2023.

Long Covid Support told the Canary:

It’s not ‘sick note culture’ Rishi – it’s Long Covid. Long Covid is not a historical problem, it continues to claim new victims We need preventative action

However, some people pointed out that it was likely an underestimate anyway:

Astutely, some highlighted the problems with the ONS data relying on self reports of long Covid. In other words, people won’t always be aware that they are living with it, despite new symptoms:

So as one X poster underscored, the study might simply show the number of people who know they have it:

Medical and media gaslighting

Another poster on X pointed out that the ONS use of self-reported cases was unsurprising, given the uphill battle patients face to get a diagnosis:

Of course, this isn’t even to mention the medical gaslighting and abuse doctors routinely mete out against long Covid patients.

The chronic illness community on X weren’t going to let the corporate media off the hook either. Vitally, one poster expressed how the low rates of self reporting are thanks to the media blitz to downplay long Covid and its failure to connect the dots between the rising rates of other health conditions:

For a masterclass in this, look no further than the Long Covid Awareness Day gaslighting from all the usual junk science corporate media shills.

Suspiciously low figures?

Alongside this, Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) Sheffield raised their eyebrows at the figures. It referenced the fact that cases of long Covid had only risen from 1.9 million to 2 million in a year, prompting it to question the integrity of the data:

Moreover, as one person on X noted the ONS prevalence rates were suspiciously lower than estimates in other countries. For instance, in March the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calculated long Covid rates in the US as 6.8%. So, he suggested the low comparative figures might just have something to do with the abysmal state of the UK’s long Covid testing, and rife denial:

Such as the fact the NHS has deprioritised treatment targets for long Covid, perhaps?

Of course, people shouldn’t have to spell out the obvious: that the pandemic is still here. However, as others pointed out the UK government has been doing fuck all to stop this ongoing mass disabling event:

People highlighted myriad of ways the government COULD be preventing cases. Or you know, helping people with long Covid. Long Covid Advocacy put out a statement with some very practical ideas:

Callous Tory agenda

Of course, actually helping people with long Covid isn’t on the government’s priority list. Instead, as the Canary’s Rachel Charlton-Dailey recently pointed out, it’s a bit pre-occupied gaslighting the whole chronically ill and disabled community back into work.

The irony wasn’t lost on the good folks of X either:

So, as the government’s latest infantilising plan smears millions of chronically ill people for “pulling a sickie”, is it the latest ONS figures that’s actually pulling a fast one?

It seems likely.

By contrast to the ONS 3.3%, a separate study found the prevalence of long Covid much higher. Specifically, a November 2023 study in the journal Nature estimated the true rate at between 6.6–10.3%. Notably, the analysis trashed an earlier 2.7% figure the ONS had put out.

At the end of the day, millions of people across the UK are dealing with the devastating day-to-day reality of life with long Covid. Ultimately, the new statistics do nothing to stop the gaslighting, abuse, and appalling lack of care.

If even the conservative ONS data shows the cases creeping up, alarm bells should be blaring. From the government’s disastrous pandemic response to its ongoing callous agenda for sick and disabled people, it’s simply more evidence of the obvious. That is, that the Tories are signing off a gargantuan mass disabling event, and they don’t give a shit.

Feature image via AFP News Agency/Youtube





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