This infographic is about:
Prevention of Post
COVID-19 Condition
(also known as long COVID)
I’ve never heard about post COVID-19 condition (PCC) — what is it?
Post COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID) usually appears within three months from an acute COVID-19 infection and lasts at least two months.
Symptoms (e.g., brain fog, fatigue, shortness of breath, pain) vary, can change or worsen over time, and significantly impact daily life, according to the World Health Organization.
About 3.5 million Canadian
adults have reported long-term symptoms after having a COVID-19 infection as of June 2023.
Facts about PCC
About 2.1 million Canadian adults continue to have long-term symptoms and about half said their symptoms showed no signs of getting better over time.
More than 1 in 5 Canadians with
long-term symptoms after a COVID-19 infection who were in work or school missed days of work or school.
For some people, PCC has really changed their lives
What used to be easy...
...isn't anymore.
“
For me, I’ve been ill for a year and a half. Before becoming ill, I was training for an Olympic length triathlon and now I can barely walk to the bathroom.
— Person with lived PCC experience
It's been two and a half years and I just resigned from my job because I can’t work and I’m basically housebound.
— Person with lived PCC experience
Hear from others' experiences
“
Raising awareness about PCC: what has been done and how to prevent PCC?
The Canadian Guidelines for Post COVID-19 Condition (CAN-PCC) Collaborative has developed guidelines on the prevention of PCC. There are a number of recommendations to help adults make informed decisions about their health.
To see the full list of recommendations and good practice statements on the prevention of PCC in adults, click here.
What are some CAN-PCC recommendations for adults to help prevent a COVID infection and PCC?
It is normal to be worried and have questions about how to prevent a COVID-19 infection and PCC.​ Below are some common questions and recommendations to help you stay informed.
Seek support from a healthcare provider if you need more help.
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How do I find trusted information?There is lots of information available online for COVID-19 and PCC. It can feel overwhelming to sort through what is trustworthy. Misinformation and disinformation can make it hard to find reliable recommendations about COVID and PCC. What is misinformation? Misinformation is false or misleading information presented as facts, regardless of intent What is disinformation? Disinformation is a type of misinformation that is purposefully misleading Check the source – look to trusted health organizations like Health Canada or educational institutions like McMaster University, Cochrane Canada. Websites ending in .gov and .edu may be more trustworthy than other sources. Look for scientific evidence – trustworthy websites will often link to scientific publications where they found the information. Look at the date – try to find the latest version of information to stay up to date. The following resources may help you figure out what health information you can trust: Check Then Share | Canada's Centre for Digital and Media Literacy Evaluating Health Information | The University of California San Francisco Health
To see a full list of recommendations and good practice statements on the prevention of PCC in adults, click here.
Dominic: Hi Zara. Did you hear that your favourite band is coming to town in November? We should get tickets.
Zara: I did hear, but I am worried the crowd will be too big. I know lots of people are sick with COVID right now. I do not want to catch anything.
Dominic: It is no big deal. You have a strong immune system.
Zara: That does not matter. Anyone can get COVID. If you get COVID, you are at risk of developing long COVID. We should look into what precautions to take so that we can make an informed decision about whether or not to go to the concert. I will do a quick internet search to see what information I can find.
Listen to Dominic and Zara
talk about whether they
should attend a social event
I did an internet search and found the website for the Canadian Guidelines for Post COVID-19 Condition. I see that the guidelines were recently developed. They are based on science and answer some of my questions.
​
There are many different recommendations on how to prevent long COVID in adults. This will help Dominic and me decide how to stay safe.
​
— Zara
Learn more about the
information that Zara finds
Listen to Zara as she checks in
on her neighbour, Darius, who
currently has a COVID infection
Zara: How are you feeling this afternoon?
​
Darius: Not great. I still feel tired from my COVID infection and I have a headache. I am also worried about long COVID because of my existing health condition.
​
Zara: I am sorry that you are going through this. I emailed you the CAN-PCC website, which includes a list of recommendations about preventing long COVID in adults.
​
Darius: Thank you, Zara. I took a look this morning. I still have a few questions. I think I will reach out to my doctor for help. Thanks for being such a great neighbour.
​
Zara: I am here if you need anything.
Seek support from a healthcare provider if you need more help
When talking about preventing PCC with a healthcare provider, here are some important questions to think about:
Listen to Darius who is seeking support from a healthcare provider about preventing PCC
Doctor: Hi Darius, how can I help you today?
Darius: I have COVID. I do not feel well. I am worried about getting long COVID because I already have a health condition. I heard that there are guidelines available and some steps I can take to help lower my chances of getting long COVID. Can you tell me more about them?
Doctor: Sure! McMaster University and Cochrane Canada developed guidelines on the prevention of PCC. They are made up of science-based recommendations that healthcare providers can use to give you the best care. There are a number of recommendations to help prevent long COVID, which we can talk about.
If you start to experience any symptoms of long COVID, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, or cognitive difficulties, it is important to seek medical attention early. Early detection and management can help improve health outcomes.
It is also important to stay informed about the latest updates to the guidelines, as they may change with new research.
Visit the other guideline topics to learn more about:
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How do I find trusted information?There is lots of information available online for COVID-19 and PCC. It can feel overwhelming to sort through what is trustworthy. Misinformation and disinformation can make it hard to find reliable recommendations about COVID and PCC. What is misinformation? Misinformation is false or misleading information presented as facts, regardless of intent What is disinformation? Disinformation is a type of misinformation that is purposefully misleading Check the source – look to trusted health organizations like Health Canada or educational institutions like McMaster University, Cochrane Canada. Websites ending in .gov and .edu may be more trustworthy than other sources. Look for scientific evidence – trustworthy websites will often link to scientific publications where they found the information. Look at the date – try to find the latest version of information to stay up to date. The following resources may help you figure out what health information you can trust: Check Then Share | Canada's Centre for Digital and Media Literacy Evaluating Health Information | The University of California San Francisco Health
