[timr]

I'm not claiming that it's impossible that there are long-term Covid symptoms. It's clearly possible: we know that it happens to a non-trivial percentage of people who are infected with influenza, and other common viruses.

What we don't know -- and what articles like this ignore -- is how common and serious the symptoms are. And asking a group of people, one-quarter of whom haven't even tested positive for the virus, to self-report everything that has them feeling crummy, is not science.

The Atlantic is not a scientific journal, but their "science writer" should at least be aware of this basic standard of evidence, and at best, avoid the temptation to spread panic based on speculation.

[perl4ever]

>is not science.

Like you say, it's the Atlantic, not a scientific journal. I prefer to say "not terribly useful or accurate" rather than "not science".

[timr]

In normal times, I could care less what the Atlantic chooses to publish under the name of "science". But right now, thoughtless misinformation from media authorities is leading to panic, and it's the equivalent of yelling "fire" in a crowded theater.

[perl4ever]

To me, it's the equivalent of yelling "fire" in a theater crowded with 300 million people, all of whom are on fire.

[timr]

Panic does not change the facts.

[rumanator]

Don't you believe it's a good thing to discuss facts and findings about a pandemic which already infected a few million people around the world, and changed everyone's lives?

I mean,in the US alone covid already killed nearly 190k people from a pool of around 6200k infected. Doesn't this justify having informed evidence-based discussions?