More than half of South Africans who had Covid-19 are still dealing with mental and cognitive challenges long after recovering from the virus—some even two years later.
A study that followed 97 individuals infected during the early waves of the pandemic revealed that symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, and memory issues were common, regardless of how severe their illness had been. In fact, even those who had no symptoms or only mild cases at the time of infection later reported significant mental health struggles.
The research team assessed participants at least six months after infection, using standard screening tools to check for cognitive and emotional well-being. Nearly 50% showed signs of memory or thinking difficulties, and over half said they continued to experience fatigue or mental health problems.
According to the lead researcher, the severity of the initial illness didn’t always determine whether someone would suffer from long-term effects. “Some of the people we spoke to barely felt sick at all during their infection, but months later they were dealing with brain fog, anxiety, and exhaustion,” he explained.
The team also tried to find biological clues—proteins or other markers in the blood taken during the illness—that might help predict who would develop these lasting symptoms. However, the results didn’t reveal any clear indicators.
These findings highlight a growing concern around long Covid, especially when it comes to mental health. The impact, researchers say, is real—and for many, life hasn’t returned to normal.