LAUSR

To The Editor, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a communicable disease caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Following a reported incubation period of 1–14 days, the disease commonly presents through symptoms of fever, cough, fatigue, breathing difficulties, and loss of taste and smell. The majority of COVID‐19 patients are, however, either asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms; while a few may develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which can be life‐threatening or fatal. Although many COVID‐19 patients eventually recover, some do not cease experiencing symptoms long after their COVID‐19 polymerase chain reaction test turns negative; this is commonly referred to as “post‐COVID‐19 syndrome” or “long COVID.” As per guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Post COVID‐19 syndrome is defined as, “signs and symptoms that develop during or after an infection consistent with COVID‐19, continuing for more than 12 weeks (3 months), and not explained by an alternative diagnosis.” NICE has also recommended research on the following topics regarding the post‐COVID‐19 syndrome: