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About long COVID
Most people with COVID-19 recover within 2 to 6 weeks. For others, recovery can take up to 12 weeks. Some people report a wide range of symptoms that last for weeks or months after the expected recovery period.
In New Zealand, long COVID is clinically defined as ongoing symptoms that continue for 12 weeks or more after infection with SARS-CoV-2.
Data from the New Zealand Health Survey 2024/25 show about 1 in 11 adults (9.2% or 401,000 people) reported ever having long COVID symptoms.
More information on long COVID can be found on the Health New Zealand website.
About the long COVID programme
The Ministry of Health’s long COVID programme was established to support outcomes of patients with long COVID in New Zealand by sharing emerging models of care, clinical guidance and patient self-management resources. The programme was completed in December 2024.
The clinical management of long COVID in New Zealand is led by Health New Zealand, which is responsible for the delivery of health services to people with long-term conditions. Care of people with long COVID is mainly provided through primary health care, including GPs, nurses and multi-disciplinary teams.
Long COVID Expert Advisory Group
The Ministry established the Long COVID Expert Advisory Group in 2022 to assess the evidence on long COVID and provide short-term advice on the Aotearoa New Zealand context, informing recommendations for clinical practice and guidelines. The group completed its work in 2022.
Clinical guidelines for long COVID
These guidelines were published in 2022 following the work undertaken by the Long COVID Expert Advisory Group and were reviewed in 2025.
- Clinical Rehabilitation Guideline for People with Long COVID in Aotearoa New Zealand
- Guidance for the Acute Phase of Rehabilitation of People with or Recovering from COVID 19 in Aotearoa New Zealand
Long COVID research
The Ministry of Health has funded the following research projects on the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 to help inform responses to long COVID and planning for future pandemic preparedness.
Impacts of COVID-19 study
- Impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa - Ngā Kawekawe o Mate Korona (August 2021, Victoria University of Wellington)
- LOGIC study: LONG term health Impact of COVID-19: Waikato Hospital Cohort
- Burden of Long COVID in Aotearoa New Zealand: Establishing a Registry
