Letter to the editor: Commissioners should use ARP funds to help long covid victims

Westmoreland County will receive $105 million from the American Rescue Plan that commissioners plan to spend on human service programs. I know firsthand the multi-discipline health care and mental health resources required for post-viral illnesses, since I have suffered 25 years with a disease known as ME/CFS. I urge the commissioners to use ARP funds to help residents most in need, those still suffering from symptoms of covid-19.

There are over 38,000 cases of covid-19 in the county, which could become the post-viral illness, long covid, per CDC. Long-covid patients, one year later, have problems with mobility, pain, anxiety, depression and lower quality-of-life self-assessment scores than healthy peers, per Lancet.

Approximately 25% to 35% of covid-19 patients may experience long covid, per longcovid alliance.org, so if 25% of the cases develop into long covid, there will be about 9,000 residents requiring significant public health support.

Therefore, ARP funds should be identified to assist patients with health care costs, health care resources and mental health support. Organizations like the CDC and the longcovidalliance.org provide specific recommendations for the resources needed for management of long-covid conditions.

The commissioners have an unprecedented opportunity to make long-term, permanent improvements to our health care systems to benefit 9,000 new patients, the post-viral illnesses community and me!

Melissa Karabin

North Huntingdon