CDC Publishes Long Beach Health Department Study that Measures Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on Various Populations

Long Beach, CA - The results of a scientific study of COVID-19, conducted by the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), has been published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

"We are proud of our Health Department's work with the CDC to publish findings that will help inform and benefit the world's understanding of this global pandemic," said Mayor Robert Garcia. "Our Health Department's local response work has allowed Long Beach to become a national model in its response to the pandemic, and by also publishing this important research they have gone above and beyond the call."

For the study, the Health Department Epidemiology Program selected a random sample of Long Beach residents who tested positive for COVID-19. Over the course of more than a year, surveillance and interviews were conducted with those patients to identify trends in post-acute sequelae, or long COVID-19, where new, continuing or recurring symptoms occur two or more months after the initial infection.

The study found that among people aged 18 years or older who had a positive COVID-19 test result, one out of three reported at least one COVID-19 symptom two months after their positive test result. Higher rates were reported among people aged 40 years and older, females, people with pre-existing conditions and people who identify as non-Hispanic Black.

According to the study, reported symptoms included loss of taste (54.1%), abnormal/loss of sense of smell (50.3%), muscle/joint pain (51.4%), fatigue (48.4%) and headache (46.4%).

Researchers concluded that identifying groups disproportionately affected by long COVID-19 could help prioritize prevention and treatment strategies, including vaccination of groups at higher risk for long-term symptoms.

"This study was a team effort among the Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Division and several partners," said Nora Balanji, Health Department Epidemiology Supervisor. "We hope that our findings will guide future studies on long COVID-19 and allocate resources to improve health equity, especially among diverse communities, such as Long Beach."

Those who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 are urged to protect their lives and the lives of their loved ones by getting vaccinated. The City's vaccine clinics are open six days per week across Long Beach and mobile vaccine vans can visit those who are unable to travel to a City vaccine site. Appointments for vaccines are encouraged, though not required. The schedule is posted in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog at longbeach.gov/vaxlb. People interested in scheduling an appointment or need further information may call 562.570.4636 or email [email protected] for assistance. People also may make appointments via My Turn.

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. People may also visit longbeach.gov/COVID19data for up to date information regarding cases and vaccines in

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