Hancock: UK ordering more research into long COVID

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Thursday pledged more research and funding into 'Long COVID' after new statistics suggested that more than 1 million people had developed the condition.

The ONS (Office for National Statistics) said 1.1 million people had COVID in the four weeks leading up to March 6.

Of those, around 697,000 first had COVID at least 12 weeks previously, while 70,000 first had it least one year ago.

Speaking to UK broadcaster Sky, Hancock said he was "very worried about the impact of long COVID."

"We're putting more research, money into tackling and understanding long COVID because it appears to be several different syndromes," Hancock said.

"This is a very, very strange, very dangerous virus. And it's yet another reason for everybody to be cautious," he added.

Hancock announced £18.5 million in funding in February for major studies into the effects of long-term effects of the virus.

The ONS reported that 674,000 people have seen their day-to-day activities affected by long COVID symptoms.

Meanwhile a further 196,000 people said their ability to undertake day-to-day activities had been seriously limited.