Answer

The problem of the long haul Covid 

This essay presents five questions related to the Barber’s article, The Problem of ‘Long Haul’ COVID. The questions address are based on the key words ‘long Haul’, and  Covid-19.

1. What is the role of media in addressing the problem of ‘long Haul’ Covid-19 ?

Ideally, most of what is known about COVID-19 arises from media platforms. This includes what is known about the “long-hauler” groups.  The media being a powerful tool responsible for massive conspiracies and stereotypes in the past, I would like to know its role in this particular trend. Is the media, perhaps influencing individuals’ mindset and perspective of Covid-19? Also, how is the media helping the “long Haul groups” cope with these adverse uncertainties?

2. Are individuals hesitant to identify themselves as covid-19 long-hauler?

In this question, I would like to know the exact origin of the term “long-haulers”. The first time I heard the term it was from a media coverage showing a group of people who identified themselves as “long-haulers”. Long-haulers is a name given to people who experience prolonged coronavirus-like syndromes including shortness of breath, fatigue, and fast heart rates. Regardless, the window period to identify you as a long-hauler is not clear, and so is the role of psychological stress and disorders.

3. What predictions can be developed from what is known about the biology of COVID-19?

This question aims to find answers about the uncertainties of  COVID-19 from a biological perspective. As Yerramilli (2020)  suggests, “patients are not always reliable sources”, meaning that we cannot base our arguments on human experiences and self-reporting.  (para, 21). Hence, it would be more relieving if biologists could analyze the seriousness of long-hauling in biological terms.

4. What do physicians and medical practitioners think about the problem of “long Haul”?

While there is little known about the waves of COVID-19 infections to follow, physicians must have experienced and learned a lot about COVID-19 in their line of duty. In this question, I would like to get up-close with physicians, and learn their opinions regarding the problem of the COVID-19 “long haul”.

5. Is the healthcare system in any way to be blamed for the “long haul” problem?

As mentioned in the article, the patients claimed their complaints being dismissed in some emergency departments (Barber, 2020 para 2-5). The fact that these healthcare professionals are a reflection of the entire healthcare system, I would like to know whether their response and attitudes towards the “long haul” problem is also a reflection of the health care system.