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March is Long Covid Awareness Month, and across Aotearoa thousands of people are quietly living with a condition that continues long after the initial infection has passed.
Fiona Charlton
Long Covid is now an ongoing part of life in New Zealand – effectively endemic, much like seasonal flu – but its long-term impact is often underestimated.
For many, Covid-19 is a short illness. But for a significant number, symptoms persist for months or years. Fatigue, breathlessness, cognitive difficulties, immune disruption, and post exertion symptom worsening can make even simple daily tasks challenging. These are not rare or distant stories. They are happening here in our community, to people who were previously active, working, socialising, and contributing to community life.
These are the “missing people”– the ones who used to be in our gyms, workplaces, sports clubs, schools, and volunteer groups. They want to return, but their bodies no longer respond the way they once did.
One of the most misunderstood aspects of Long Covid is how it affects the immune system and the body’s ability to recover from exertion. Many people push themselves too hard, too soon, not realising that careful pacing and rest can be important in the early stages of recovery. Without appropriate support, symptoms can worsen and become long lasting.
This is not about fear. It is about awareness, compassion, and understanding that Long Covid is a recognised post viral condition that can affect anyone — including people who were previously fit, healthy, and highly resilient.
As a Te Awamutu local and facilitator of a small social support group for CCI Support, I see firsthand how many people are struggling quietly. Our focus is on empowering people on their journey to wellness and helping them reintegrate into community life at their own pace.
This month, I’m asking our community to look for the missing people. They are still here – they just need us to see them.
- Fiona Charlton is the President of Complex Chronic Illness Support and Anzmes – the National Advisory on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and associated conditions.
