Working with Long Covid For many affected, Long Covid becomes a struggle for survival in everyday life

Many individuals affected by long-term consequences of coronavirus infection, known as Long Covid, are facing daily struggles to maintain their livelihoods while working. For these people, the condition has become a battle for survival, with many unable to rely on disability insurance benefits despite being hindered from working. The situation is particularly challenging for Fabien, who continues to suffer severe effects several years after contracting the virus. He describes waking up feeling exhausted and constantly tired, managing only a few hours each day for activity. He goes shopping, takes walks, and engages in other activities, but by evening, he lacks the strength to continue. His ability to work is severely limited, yet the Swiss Disability Insurance (IV) has concluded that he is between 80 and 100 percent fit for his job. Similarly, Dorothée, once a trained mountain guide accustomed to high altitudes, now finds herself restricted due to her body’s inability to tolerate low oxygen levels. She can only ascend to around 2,300 meters, significantly limiting her outdoor activities. As a librarian, she works part-time and requires regular naps, describing her exhaustion as more than just fatigue, it feels as though she is being physically crushed. Despite medical reports indicating she can work only at 40 percent capacity, the IV has ruled her fully capable of employment. Both Fabien and Dorothée have contributed to the disability insurance system but are denied benefits despite their conditions preventing them from working. The Federal Office of Social Insurance (BSV) explains that a diagnosis alone does not qualify someone for a pension. Instead, the IV relies on evaluations conducted by medical assessment centers that review all documents, including rehabilitation potential. A pension is only considered after all possible measures for returning to work have been exhausted. The IV prioritizes reintegrating sick individuals into the workforce rather than immediately granting pensions. This approach assumes at least partial recovery from Long Covid. According to Christian von Plessen, head of the Long-Covid clinic at Unisanté in Lausanne, approximately four out of five patients improve within two years. However, some take longer to recover, and a small group experiences worsening symptoms even after two years. Dorothée, six years post-infection, still hasn’t recovered. Without support from the IV, she must fend for herself. To cope, she plans to establish a nonprofit organization through which friends and family can donate monthly funds. These contributions would supplement her income and help her manage financially. The ongoing struggle highlights the complexities faced by those living with Long Covid, emphasizing the need for clearer guidelines and greater support systems to assist those unable to return to work.