25 Aug 2020

People who have recovered from COVID-19 are likely to experience complications of having been infected with coronavirus.

  This was revealed by presidential COVID-19 task team deputy coordinator Professor Mosepele Mosepele when giving an update on the pandemic Monday.

 “Their health is not 100 per cent. Some complain of unusual headaches, dizziness, loss of sense of smell (anosmia) and loss of sense of taste,” he said.

 Professor Mosepele explained that recovering from COVID-19 meant no signs of infection such as fever and difficulty in breathing.

 Some former patients developed blood clots, which interfered with circulation resulting in swollen feet, damage or failure of some vital organs such as lungs and therefore affecting normal breathing.

 “Some have challenges of heart failure, minor strokes, swelling in certain parts of the body and high blood pressure,” he added. 

Professor Mosepele said local recoveries had experienced some of the complications.    

“Feeling delusional, hallucinating and stumbling as they walk are some of the reported symptoms associated with the aftermath of COVID-19,” he said. 

In other countries, he said, ex-patients had complained of chronic fatigue even after a good sleep.

Professor Mosepele said since COVID-19 to date there was no well-established programme for caring and monitoring those who had recovered. 

“We advise them to visit the nearest health facility, whenever they experience health related complications,” he said.

Even though there was a need for establishing an acute COVID-19 care programme, Professor Mosepele noted that the pandemic struck unexpectedly and therefore the focus was on arresting the situation at hand.

“We will continue monitoring our programmes in order to deal with all emanating challenges,” he said.

He said it was not yet clear whether those who had recovered from COVID-19 could be re-infected. 

When a person was infected, the body released antibodies that last for about three months therefore re-infection would be mild since the body would be on  alert. 

“We are still learning about the disease and we must admit that it is here for long. I appeal to those who have recovered to be cautious, and continue to abide by the set precautionary measures. At a time when they were released, we advised them to isolate for seven to 14 days and take all the other necessary precautions aimed at fighting COVID-19,” he said. Ends