3% of adults reported having persistent symptoms after COVID-19, and one-third of those work fewer hours or no longer work at all. This is evidenced by the latest quarterly update from June 2024. The results of this study are part of Health Research for COVID-19.
The Network for Health Research in Disasters (GOR Network) publishes an update on this page every six months, summarising key results about adults from survey research and data from primary care providers. The results on research about young people are published quarterly. The aim of this study is to provide information to the municipalities, the provinces and the national government of the Netherlands to assist them in formulating policies to facilitate better pandemic preparedness and to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Summary of research round 12, June 2024
Post-COVID poses obstacles to participation in society
Over 3% of adults (26+) report having persistent symptoms after COVID-19. This is also known as post-COVID or Long COVID. 17% of these people work fewer than the usual number of hours, while 9% are registered as completely unable to work due to illness and 6% have stopped working. One-quarter of adults with post-COVID reported that their social contacts have become limited or vanished altogether as a result of their illness. They often do not have enough energy for interaction, or feel too tired to meet up with others. A small percentage of adults with post-COVID also reported that their ties to with friends and family have deteriorated, although a few noted that their illness has strengthened their ties with their loved ones.
Social contact and relaxation are key to feeling happy
Over three-quarters of adults say that social contact with friends and family makes them happy. They also thoroughly enjoy having a pleasant home to live where they can relax. Other sources of happiness included good health for themselves and those around them.
Working from home
Over half of adults reported that they can work from home, and 29% do so. Adults are given a lot of space to make their own decisions regarding working from home. For example, most have the ability to choose for themselves whether they want to work from home (73%). The vast majority of adults who work from home perceive this as pleasant or very pleasant (90%).
High levels of tiredness, insomnia and memory and concentration problems
In the period from April to June 2024, the number of adults (26+) who visited the GP for insomnia was also higher than in the same period in 2019. There was also a striking increase in GP visits for tiredness from late May on (week 22 of 2024). This increase was observed in men and women in all age groups. In the second quarter of 2024, the number of GP contacts for memory and concentration problems was also higher than in 2019. However, the numbers were similar to the second quarter of 2023.