Lasting fatigue a symptom of long COVID, expert says
Many people who contracted COVID-19 during the sixth wave complained of lasting symptoms, sometimes known as long COVID, which Dr. Sohail Gandhi said can result in low energy or extreme fatigue.
"That seems to be the biggest and most burdensome symptom of all," said the Stayner physician and former president of the Ontario Medical Association.
Gandhi noted other symptoms, including muscle aches, difficulty thinking, and a chronic cough but said many patients in his practice came back to the same issue: constant exhaustion.
"It's something that just takes a period of time to recover from," he said.
Gandhi said fighting long COVID could be challenging for those suffering with daily fatigue.
"It's really important to eat right. It's important to try as hard as you can to get some exercise, even if it's going out for a walk."
He said the sixth wave is on a downward trajectory, with the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals decreasing in Ontario and ICU admissions easing.
"I think it's a very positive sign that our ICU numbers did not, in fact, go as high as some people thought about when the mask mandate was lifted a few weeks ago."
He remarked that this is a sign of a highly vaccinated society and anticipates ICU numbers will continue to drop over the coming months.
Still, Gandhi is monitoring subvariants found in South Africa.
And while he is concerned to see reports of new variants, Gandhi said it's going to be part of living with the virus.
"We are going to see new variants of COVID every so often, and we just need to learn how to manage with that as a society."
Gandhi said he expects an annual vaccine would be necessary as the virus continually changes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.