Long COVID Leaves Thousands of L.A. Residents Sick, Broke and Ignored

Six years after the pandemic began, doctors are still treating long COVID patients with complex symptoms and unknown futures.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:04pm

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In the three years since Los Angeles County declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, thousands of L.A. County residents are still living with the complex, chronic condition known as long COVID. Symptoms typically affect multiple organs or body systems, and cluster around fatigue, cardiovascular problems, cognitive issues and pain. Researchers have found that long COVID patients are more than twice as likely as people without the condition to have particles of the SARS-CoV-2 virus lingering in their blood. Though the condition strikes across age, gender, race, vaccination status and patients' previous levels of health or activity, women, people of Hispanic origin, people with severe initial infections and unvaccinated people appear more likely to develop long COVID. Patients have struggled to get disability support, with applications often denied despite medical records.

Why it matters

Long COVID has created a large population of people living with a complex, chronic condition with far-reaching implications for their health, housing and economic security. The public health department has formed a working group to study policies and services that could help long COVID patients, but patient advocates say more needs to be done to address the issue.

The details

Symptoms of long COVID typically affect multiple organs or body systems, and cluster around fatigue, cardiovascular problems, cognitive issues and pain. Researchers have found that long COVID patients are more than twice as likely as people without the condition to have particles of the SARS-CoV-2 virus lingering in their blood, which could be causing ongoing inflammation. Patients have struggled to get disability support, with applications often denied despite medical records.

  • In the three years since Los Angeles County declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency in 2023.
  • In 2023, 15.6% of respondents to a countywide health survey said they had experienced COVID symptoms for at least three months after testing positive.
  • Last year, the Trump administration closed the Office for Long COVID Research and Practice and canceled grants for long COVID research.

The players

Elle Seibert

A 31-year-old who has dealt with debilitating fatigue and cardiac symptoms since 2020.

Dr. Caitlin McAuley

Director of the Keck Medicine of USC's COVID Recovery Clinic, one of two dedicated long COVID clinics in the county.

Lawrence Totress

A 51-year-old from South Los Angeles who tested positive for COVID in July 2022 and now struggles with cognitive symptoms and fatigue.

Barbara Ferrer

Director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

Beth Nishida

A 64-year-old from Walnut who retired from special education administration due to the ongoing effects of a 2022 COVID infection.

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What they’re saying

“You're not just becoming disabled. You're realizing how easily society at large and people in your life will abandon you when you cannot offer them things.”

— Elle Seibert (Los Angeles Times)

“It's not like we're twiddling our thumbs and trying to get some money. This is a very serious condition. Take it as it being serious, and allow us to have the resources.”

— Lawrence Totress (Los Angeles Times)

“COVID-19 really has had a profound impact in terms of long-lasting symptoms that affect all kinds of different parts of the body, at a much higher rate than we usually see from other viruses.”

— Barbara Ferrer, Director, L.A. County Department of Public Health (Los Angeles Times)

“The goal really, in my opinion, should be how do we fix it, not just how do we count it. I know [long COVID] is new, but it's not as new as it was. At some point, we have to start learning things and implementing them.”

— Beth Nishida (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The public health department has formed a physician and patient advocate working group that for 12 months will study policies and services that could help long COVID patients, such as a clearer pathway to disability payments and better education for healthcare providers.

The takeaway

Long COVID has created a large population of people living with a complex, chronic condition that has upended their lives, yet they continue to face challenges in getting the support and resources they need. As the virus continues to circulate, more people are being forced to reckon with this invisible disability, underscoring the need for greater awareness, research, and policy solutions to address the long-term impacts of COVID-19.