Long Covid still a risk with Omicron despite mild illness: Dr Anthony Fauci

Long-term Covid symptoms usually include shortness of breath, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and brain fog.

Washington: Even after causing mild illness, people infected with Omicron are likely to suffer from long Covid, top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has said.

Data emerging from studies in South Africa, the US and the UK, has shown that Omicron causes mild illness, as well as causes lower hospitalisation rates. However, it is still too early to affirm how severe omicron is.

"Long Covid can happen no matter what virus variant occurs. There's no evidence that there's any difference between Delta or Beta or now Omicron," Fauci was quoted as saying in an interview with Spectrum News.