Due to the emergence of the milder Omicron strains, the number of persons in the UK who claim to have long-term Covid has decreased for the first time in a year.
In June, 3.0% of people, or 1.93 million people, had symptoms more than four weeks after the virus was gone.
That decreased from 3.1% in May, or 1.95 million people.
The number of persons who had symptoms for at least a year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), was also expected to have decreased for the first time, from 826,000 to 807,000.
According to earlier studies, Omicron had a 50% lower risk of resulting in extended Covid than the Delta strain.
During the initial infection, Omicron is also considerably less likely to cause hospitalization or death.
Since Covid was initially reported following the first pandemic waves, there have been significant concerns regarding its effects.
Some specialists cautioned that the condition would destroy the economy and start a secondary epidemic.
In December 2020, the NHS opened 69 specialized extended Covid clinics at a cost of £10 million.
The estimates from the ONS are based on a survey of about 248,000 people who lived in the UK; their responses were not always supported by a diagnosis.
Following the BA.2 wave, May saw the highest numbers of patients with lengthy Covid.
The ONS’s lengthy Covid findings have already been questioned by experts, with some stating that they are likely an overestimate given that symptoms like headaches and exhaustion can be related to a wide range of diseases.
According to the ONS data, infections during the Omicron wave earlier this year may have contributed to one-third of the present long-term Covid cases.
Only about 5% of people who contracted Covid during the Delta wave last summer still have it, while 12% did so during the peak of the Alpha wave in early 2021.
According to the ONS, fatigue remained the most prevalent symptom reported by patients with long-term COVID, with 56% reporting having it.
Shortness of breath (31%) loss of smell (22%) and muscle discomfort (31%) were the next symptoms (21 per cent).
People between the ages of 35 and 69, women, and those employed in social care, health care, and education had the highest prevalence rates.
Long Covid is characterized by persistent viral symptoms that appear more than a month after infection.
It is a poorly known ailment, and those who have it typically complain of being extremely exhausted, having trouble breathing, losing their sense of smell, and having trouble focusing.
But a number of other symptoms, including joint discomfort, nausea, sleeplessness, and depression, have also been connected to it.
The BA.5 and BA.4 Omicron subvariants of the virus are currently causing a fifth wave in Britain, albeit the former is anticipated to take the lead.
According to separate ONS figures, infections in England have increased to 1.8 million.
The BA.5 virus, which is spreading throughout Europe and the US, is expected to be a third more contagious than its progenitor, which is regarded as being just as contagious as the measles.
Government advisors, however, think it is equally moderate, which could result in shorter Covid instances.
The number of deaths currently reported in England and Wales is significantly lower than that in earlier waves this year and only a small portion of those witnessed at the beginning of 2021.
Monday saw 1,911 virus admissions in Britain, a 331% increase from the 443 recorded on June 4.
Official data, however, reveals that only 37.5% of hospital patients are predominantly admitted due to virus illness.