SMEATON COVID-19 survivor Richard Evans is not entirely sure he has shaken off the deadly virus almost one year since he fell ill.
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Most of the lingering symptoms, particularly in his respiratory system, started to clear up about Christmastime. He still coughs up a bit of "gunk", unsure whether this is coming from his lungs or throat.
While symptoms have eased, Mr Evans said they were nothing like what they were two months ago, let alone in August when The Courier last checked in. Then he still had the shortness of breath, random pains and headaches.
General practitioners in the Ballarat and wider Goldfields region have continued to report patients with long-COVID, or post-COVID syndrome, months after they have been cleared as an active case, according to Western Victoria Primary Health Network.
The PHN warns that even though Victoria has been in a prolonged period with no community transmissions, people must remain COVID vigilant in testing with any symptoms, hand hygiene, social distancing and wearing masks when required.
City of Ballarat has gone more than 160 days without any new confirmed COVID-19 infections.
Mr Evans, then aged 47, was one of Ballarat's first active cases when he returned from a snowboarding trip in Montana, in the United States, last March.
While his symptoms at the time were minor, Mr Evans self-isolated on his farm before the federal government introduced the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine, but it was 23 days before he was cleared to reunite with his partner and family.
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"It's a bit hard to say now whether I still have symptoms because for the most I feel pretty good," Mr Evans said.
"My body feels sore but I've been able to keep running. I do get sore more than I used to...Perhaps I feel a bit more tired because I was out of action for awhile and put on weight, which I've now mostly lost, but it's hard to know."
Medical scans have cleared Mr Evans of any major concerns in his lungs but he said there was still that niggling uncertainty in the full impact of the virus.
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Ballarat GP and Western Victoria PHN clinical spokesperson Amy Litras said persistent late effects of the virus could be complex and affect multiple body systems for a proportion of people who have been cleared of the active virus.
She said these impacts were also felt in young people who experienced an otherwise mild COVID-19 illness.
"GPs in our region are seeing patients with symptoms of long-COVID including fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, headaches, muscle aches, brain fog and loss of smell," Dr Litras said.
"These symptoms have a significant, negative effect on quality of life, mental health and for some, can be debilitating. While we still have much to learn about long-COVID there is help and support available (via GPs)."
Anyone with cold, flu or hayfever-like symptoms is urged to get tested. Call 4311 1571 for a free COVID-19 test.
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