Long-Term Symptoms Among Adults Tested for SARS-CoV-2 — United States, January 2020–April 2021

Abstract

What is already known about this topic? Long-term symptoms associated with COVID-19 represent an emerging public health concern. What is added by this report? In a nonprobability-based sample of U.S. adults tested for SARS-CoV-2, symptoms often associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection were common; 65.9% of respondents whose SARS-CoV-2 test results were positive reported symptoms lasting >4 weeks compared with 42.9% of those whose test results were negative. More persons who received positive test results (76.2%) reported persistence (>4 weeks) of at least one initially occurring symptom compared with those whose test results were negative (69.6%). What are the implications for public health practice? These findings can aid efforts to address post-COVID conditions and messaging on potential benefits of vaccination.