Long COVID: MetroHealth Clinic Seeks To Help Long-Haul Patients With Lingering Symptoms

Here are the topics for today’s show.

For some patients recovering from COVID-19, symptoms such as fatigue or difficulty breathing can linger for weeks or even months after contracting the virus.

Such patients are referred to as "long haulers".  MetroHealth says it has established a clinic devoted to helping those post-covid patients who are still struggling against long lasting symptoms.  The clinic began its work in December.  We talk with one of the doctors working in the clinic about what patients are experiencing and how they are matching patients up for the best help based on their longhaul symptoms.

According to MetroHealth's release on the clinic, "patients can contact (or be referred to) the Post-COVID Clinic at 216-957-3959 if they continue to have symptoms disrupting daily life activities four weeks after testing positive."

But first, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says the state will not be expanding its vaccine eligibility for the time being.  Instead, he says the state will be focused on making sure that those already prioritized for getting the COVID-19 vaccine receive their shots before expanding eligibility further.
Currently Ohio is vaccinating those 65 and older along with other earlier prioritized groups including teacher and school staff members.

The pause in expanding vaccine eligibility comes as the United States this week passed another grim milestone of more than half a million deaths attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Governor DeWine ordered the state's flags lowered in memory of those lives lost.

Even as we mark that milestone, there are indicators that more events and gatherings may be possible in 2021.

Finally, COVID-19 has impacted students and their families.  Exploring the impact is the focus of a special reporting project at Ideastream.

It is called Learning Curve: examining the past, present and future of K-12 public education in Ohio.

The series is led by public radio station WKSU -- in partnership with ideastream, and we're examining public education in Ohio - the state of funding, opportunity gaps, inequity, the role of public schools in child welcare and common core /curriculum structure.

We're also reporting on the profound impact of the pandemic on public education. The final phase of the project will be focused on finding solutions that can transform public education for the better.

The pandemic has impacted the ways that so-called wraparound services are provided in Northeast Ohio for children and families in need. These services address challenges that could impede learning or access to education. ideastream's Jenny Hamel has been reporting on the ways support service providers are staying on top of what students and families most need while the children are remote-learning, and making sure those needs are met:

 You can find out more about "Learning Curve" by visiting our Learning Curve section on our Ideastream.org web site or by visiting WKSU.org.

For More Information:

MetroHealth Post-COVID Clinic: 216-957-3959 

Andy Chow, Statehouse News Bureau Reporter, Ohio Public Radio/TV  
Elisheva Weinberger, DO, Rheumatology, Post-COVID Clinic, The MetroHealth System  
Jenny Hamel, Education Reporter, Ideastream