WVXU: A mounting number of COVID patients continue to report lingering aftereffects
UC expert says long-haul COVID-19 patients can experience symptoms for as long as 18 months
More and more people who contract COVID-19 are experiencing symptoms for an extended period of time. In a story on this produced by WVXU, Richard Becker, MD, professor and director, UC Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute and UC Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, who runs a long COVID clinic at UC Medical Center, said some patients are seeing symptoms last as long as a year and a half.
Richard Becker, MD, professor and director, UC Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute and UC Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease/Photo/Colleen Kelley/UC Creative + Brand
"We have patients who have been hospitalized and then either their recovery is very long or they seem to have a change in symptoms that represent what we call post-COVID conditions," Becker said. "I would say of the several hundred people that we’ve seen in our clinic, a majority of them have had mild or moderate intensity symptoms, but then they have varied symptoms, up to 100 different kinds of symptoms that can last for three, six, nine, 12, 18 months."
Becker said one ongoing unknown is whether or not these patients are contagious.
"We don't know the answer to that," Becker said. "We believe that people are not contagious, but there is certainly a great deal of thought being put into having reservoirs of virus within the body that continue to generate symptoms through triggering of the immune response.
Lead photo/Colleen Kelley/UC Creative + Brand
Next Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is classified as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Commission and is ranked in the National Science Foundation's Top-35 public research universities. UC's medical, graduate and undergraduate students and faculty investigate problems and innovate solutions with real-world impact. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
News Cincinnati loved in 2025
January 2, 2026
The story of prohibition bootlegger George Remus was among WLWT's favorite segments in 2025. UC Law Professor Christopher Bryant spoke with journalist Lindsay Stone about Remus using a temporary insanity defense during a murder trial.
UC College of Nursing Professor honored with AANA education excellence award
December 23, 2025
Susan Newell, assistant professor in the UC College of Nursing, is being recognized by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) as one of three top educational administrators and instructors. She will receive the Clinical Instructor of the Year Award during AANA's top educator event 2026 EDGE Conference, February 4-7 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Supporters give generously to the Bearcats Pantry and Resource Center
December 22, 2025
Supporters gave generously to the Bearcats Pantry and Resource at the University of Cincinnati during two fundraisers: the Crosstown Foodout and Giving Tuesday.