A Co. Cavan Senator has raised the of long term Covid, and how it manifests itself in people.
Senator Joe O'Reilly raised the issue in the Seanad last week.
The Co. Cavan man highlighted the valiant, courageous, and selfless service of healthcare workers during the pandemic.
However, he explained that healthcare workers were at high risk during the pandemic.
Studies show that close contact, inadequate protective equipment, particularly early on, and an inability to distance, because it was not possible to distance in their work situation, increased the risk.
Some 10,000 healthcare personnel and social care workers contracted Covid at some point.
Twenty-three healthcare workers lost their lives.
More than 120, and up to 150, INMO members and social care workers remain affected with long Covid.
Speaking in the Seanad, Senator O'Reilly explained the situation.
"To turn to the specific issue, long-term Covid manifests itself through fatigue, breathlessness, brain fog, persistent cough, chest pains, muscle and joint pains, loss of taste and smell, and cardiac conditions. It is not contingent on the gravity of the Covid in the first instance," he said.
"In other words, somebody could have had mild Covid and still have long Covid.
"Healthcare workers were at high risk during the pandemic. Studies show that close contact, inadequate protective equipment, particularly early on, and an inability to distance, because it was not possible to distance in their work situation, increased the risk," Senator O'Reilly explained.
