Council to ask how many people have suffered 'Long Covid' in Milton Keynes

Long COVID is where people who have had COVID continue to feel the effects of the virus weeks after initially becoming ill.

According to NHS England, symptoms can include breathlessness, chronic fatigue, brain fog, anxiety and stress - and they can last for many weeks.

The Office for National Statistics has found an estimated one in five people testing positive for Covid experienced symptoms for five weeks or longer, and one in 10 had symptoms for 12 weeks or longer.

The Liberal Democrat Group wanted to make sure that any MK Council employees suffering with Long Covid have adequate support from their employer.

They put forward a motion asking the leader and chief executive of the council to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and request the government regularly reports on the number of people living with Long Covid, and to consider measures to support those living with the condition.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Andy Reilly, Shadow Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, moved the motion and said: “I am pleased the motion was passed, and that the council agreed to our calls for support for employees experiencing Long Covid.

“This is a complex issue, and the Conservative government will have to look at assistance, not just local authorities.

“We are all hopeful that the vaccination programme will eventually see us emerge from the immediate COVID crisis, but we should not be complacent about the longer-term public health implications of long COVID. I am proud that we can start looking at this here and now in Milton Keynes Council, so that employees know that we care and will support them.”

Councillor Leo Montague seconded the motion: “When political decisions are made, or events are dealt with, there are groups within society who sometimes get forgotten, or left behind.

"I hope this motion can serve as a timely reminder to all of us in Milton Keynes of the plight of those suffering from Long Covid, and ensure that those people, our fellow members of the Milton Keynes community, are not forgotten.”