Julie Steenhuysen and Ahmed Aboulenein

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – President Joe Biden gave Tuesday’s task to the U.S. Department of Health to develop a national strategy to address the looming problem of long COVID. It is a multi-symptom complex and often fatal condition.

The long COVID (which occurs months after an COVID-19 infection) affects almost 7% of U.S. adults, and 2.3%. It has caused an estimated $386 Billion in lost earnings, savings, and medical bills according to the Solve Long Covid initiative, an advocacy and research group.

The condition has been linked to more than 200 symptoms, many of which can last for several months. These include fatigue, brain fog and breathing difficulties, as well as pain after very little physical activity.

“Long COVID exists, and we still don’t understand so much about it,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. He will be leading the government response.

At a press conference, he said: “Americans of all ages and backgrounds are experiencing long COVID.” To be clear: We will use all the tools we have for these Americans.

The White House stated that the plan would expand care, research and disability services to people with this condition. Biden stated in a Presidential Memorandum that Becerra would release the National Research Action Plan jointly created within 120 days.

This plan addresses concerns expressed by patient advocacy organizations, who have criticised the slow pace of the National Institutes of Health’s $1.15 Billion RECOVER program. It aims to speed up enrollment of 40,000 patients with long-term COVID.

According to the plan, $20 million will be invested by the Department of Health and Human Services next year. This money will go towards assisting those living with chronic COVID and mentoring primary care providers, and developing multi-specialty facilities across the nation.

Biden has proposed to add $25 million to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2023 budget – in addition to their $50 million investment – to help better understand and solve long-term COVID risks and characteristics.

Additional provisions may include the addition of longer COVID programmes to existing 18 Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.

HHS will also launch Health+, which aims to gain insights from those with this often-debilitating condition. This information can be used to inform quality care and to contribute to standardized best practices in long COVID clinics.

This plan also intends to transform its findings into effective disability policies with Social Security Administration. It will also work with Department of Labor in helping workers affected by the decision to return their jobs.