Myth-busters: debunking long COVID myths and misconceptions

Myth-busters: debunking long COVID myths and misconceptions

30 January - 31 March 2026

WHO / Hedinn Halldorsson
© Credits

Misconceptions about post COVID-19 condition, more commonly known as long COVID, continue to hinder diagnosis, prevention, care and rehabilitation.

To debunk these myths and misconceptions, WHO/Europe, with support from the European Union, has developed 8 long COVID myth-busters that use evidence-based information and real patient stories to clear up these myths and promote scientifically accurate understanding. These messages are published in the form of social media assets that can easily be adapted by any individuals and organizations and further shared.

Long COVID refers to a range of symptoms that persist for at least 2 months after an initial COVID-19 infection, affecting physical, cognitive and mental health, and potentially impacting daily functioning and quality of life.

While the exact number of people living with long COVID remains uncertain, it is estimated that more than 36 million people across the WHO European Region may have experienced it during the first 3 years of the pandemic (2020–2022). With reduced COVID-19 testing and uneven surveillance post 2022, the true cumulative number is likely higher. Yet, despite its scale, long COVID remains one of the most misunderstood aspects of the pandemic, with myths and false information continuing to circulate online and offline.

These myths are not abstract. They affect how people are believed, diagnosed, supported and treated – and they deepen stigma for those already living with life-altering symptoms.

 

Working together to set the record straight

“This initiative is a benchmark for integrated risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management in action,” says Cristiana Salvi, Regional Advisor on Community Resilience and Protection, WHO/Europe. “By working closely with community groups and people directly affected, we began by listening to understand myths and fears, then addressed false information using proven approaches that counter and expose misleading narratives, while anchoring risk communication in real human stories to build trust, empathy and understanding.”

Dispelling persistent myths about long COVID is rooted in listening to the voices that matter – patients, health workers and representatives of civil society organizations and patient associations. To amplify these perspectives, WHO/Europe established an informal long COVID working group composed of representatives from these groups.

Through this collaborative process, the group reviewed existing WHO materials, engaged subject experts and incorporated input from people with lived experience to identify the most common and harmful myths that continue to circulate.



A human face behind the numbers

Behind every statistic is a real person living with the consequences of long COVID.

Sarah, from the United Kingdom, has been navigating life with the condition since January 2021. As she explains: “My life has been dismantled by a relentless series of losses: my hearing, energy, mobility, my career as a senior academic, and even the ability to cry”.

Five years on, the challenges remain severe. “Daily management depends on careful pacing, strict boundaries around energy use, and a willingness to cancel plans at short notice when symptoms flare,” she says. Despite medication, fatigue, chest pain and cognitive difficulties persist.

Sarah’s story underscores why tackling myths and false information matters: long COVID is real, complex and life-changing. Increasing understanding of the condition is essential to reducing stigma and supporting those affected.

Guided by international good practices in risk communication, the long COVID myth-busters series was developed to reflect the realities of patients’ experiences, share evidence-based facts, address misconceptions, and empower communities with reliable information to support informed decisions and those living with long COVID.

Seven patient stories from 5 European countries – Czechia, Iceland, Slovenia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom – were collected and paired with these myths to ensure authenticity. These stories illustrate the varied and complex ways that long COVID affects individuals, making the facts more relatable and fostering deeper understanding and empathy.



The truth sandwich: a smart way to debunk myths

To make myth-busting effective, the series uses the “truth sandwich” technique. Each myth-buster begins with a scientific fact about long COVID, introduces a harmful myth and then pairs it with a real-life patient story before explaining why the myth is misleading. It closes with another fact to reinforce accurate information. This approach counters false information, fosters critical thinking, reduces stigma and builds empathy towards long COVID patients.

The format prioritizes clarity and engagement, making it more likely that messages will be seen, understood and shared. The series primarily targets the general public, health and care workers, and families and caregivers of long COVID patients. To ensure effective reach, a dissemination strategy was co-created with the informal working group to identify targeted channels and audiences.



Inoculation

Inoculation is a way of preparing people to recognize and resist mis- and disinformation before it takes hold – much like a gentle warning that helps us pause and think critically when we encounter misleading claims. Health myths often feel simple, familiar or comforting, which makes them easy to believe and share. Some even play on fear or blame, creating a false sense of safety.

By learning to identify these tactics, people can become better equipped to pause, question and critically assess the information they encounter. This approach encourages thoughtful reflection rather than automatic acceptance of myths, thereby contributing to longer-term resilience to mis- and disinformation.

 



How to get involved

Individuals and organizations working on long COVID or on resilience information systems also help amplify accurate information by sharing the long COVID myth-busters on social media, with health-care providers and within local networks. Sharing these resources widely helps counter false narratives and reduce stigma, supporting those living with long COVID.



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