Tipperary TD says Long Covid needs to be tackled with same urgency as initial outbreak

Long Covid needs to be acknowledged with the same degree of importance as the initial wave of infections, according to Independent Tipperary TD Michael Lowry.

“People are suffering and are crying out for help,” he said following the release of a report by Ireland Thinks which shows 7,203 people in Tipperary are suffering from Long Covid.

As many as 1,152 of these are significantly impacted by what are often debilitating health issues, long after they have had the virus.

The reality was that a large number of Long Covid patients were presenting to hospitals with complex health conditions at a time when the system was already bursting at the seams, said Deputy Lowry.

"These patients, many of whom are chronically ill, are adding to our already ridiculously long waiting lists as there are insufficient dedicated clinics established to deal with their medical needs,” he said.