On July 14, 2022, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Health Officer, Dr. Jeff Duchin was joined by Dr. Janna Friedly of UW Medicine’s Post-COVID Rehabilitation and Recovery Clinic to discuss long-COVID, including impacts and resources. Dr. Duchin also provided an update on current COVID-19 trends.

A transcript of the briefing is now available, and the video of the briefing is below.

Dr. Duchin discussed the levels of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in King County, hospital capacity, and the Omicron BA.5 variant.

“The recent BA.5 variant is better at dodging our immunity from both vaccination and from past infection. And this means it’s very easy for people who previously had COVID to get sick again. However, our vaccines are still providing great protection against hospitalization and death, but the boosters are needed to provide the best protection, especially for older adults.” 

– Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer, Public Health – Seattle & King County

Dr. Janna Friedly, Executive Director of the UW Medicine Post-COVID Rehabilitation and Recovery Clinic, spoke about the impact of long COVID.

“We are seeing patients really from all walks of life and people of all ages – not only adults, but we’re also seeing teenagers and younger people who are previously healthy and very high functioning.”

“It’s important to recognize that recovery takes a long time. Symptoms do get better over time . . . so I think that there is a lot of hope.”

– Dr. Janna Friedly, UW Medicine