The Sick Times

09/27/2025

It can feel really lonely navigating the Long COVID crisis.

At The Sick Times, we report on the common, life-changing disease following SARS-CoV-2 infection that affects over 400 million people worldwide and can be fatal. Our coverage spans related infection-associated chronic conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis, dysautonomia, mast cell activation syndrome, and more. Unlike many outlets, we continue to report on the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Join us as we investigate injustices, challenge powerful institutions, wade through the latest research, assess COVID-19 data, and offer a platform for those most affected by the crisis.

Sign up for the newsletter and join thousands of other folks who, like you, want real, fact-based news without COVID-19 denial, minimizing, or gaslighting. https://thesicktimes.org/newsletter/

09/26/2025

Long COVID is not FND, but some patients are getting diagnosed with it. Here’s what to do if it happens to you: https://bit.ly/4mxAyiB

09/25/2025

💊 Two studies found limitations of Paxlovid for protection from

🩸 Long COVID may increase menstrual bleeding

👨‍⚕️ A new clinical trial is testing Mitoquinone in combination with “exercise rehabilitation” (which may be detrimental) for LC

This week's research updates: bit.ly/46EXPcu

09/25/2025

In May, The Sick Times published an op-ed about a novel bill in Illinois that would enshrine the right to wear medical masks into that state’s law. We received a letter from a reader, sharing concerns about the right-to-mask bill currently pending CA: https://bit.ly/481168l

09/24/2025

Season one of our podcast, Still Here, has come to a close. Our brilliant podcast producer, James Salanga, is moving full-time to The Objective. It's been a joy to work with James, and we're excited to follow them on their new adventures!

09/23/2025

After an uncertain few weeks, all available metrics now agree that the U.S. has passed the peak of its summer/early fall COVID-19 surge. But even as disease levels trend down, there is still a lot of SARS-CoV-2 going around.

This week's COVID-19 trends:

After an uncertain few weeks, all available metrics now agree that the U.S. has passed the peak of its summer/early fall COVID-19 surge. But even as disease levels trend down, there is still a lot of SARS-CoV-2 going around, and levels are unlikely to drop too much further as we start getting into c...

09/22/2025

To offer guidance on finding and interpreting infectious disease data during these confusing times, Betsy Ladyzhets talked to epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers about COVID-19, flu, and RSV data sources; interpreting data; Long COVID; ongoing bird flu concerns; and more.

To offer guidance on finding and interpreting infectious disease data during these confusing times, managing editor Betsy Ladyzhets talked to Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health and author of the popular newsletter, Force of Infection.

09/12/2025

A study found 29% of participants who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 developed Long COVID

A combination of 3 antivirals helped improve Long COVID symptoms

The FDA accepted the application of a potential oral therapy for the prevention of COVID-19

This week's research:

A large study in Saudi Arabia found that 29% of participants who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 developed Long COVID. “This finding is consistent with the higher prevalence estimates reported globally and highlights the long-term burden of post-acute COVID-19 symptoms,” the authors of the study, ...

09/11/2025

After a yearlong deliberation process, the U.S.’s flagship research program has announced its second round of clinical trials. Betsy Ladyzhets spoke with advocates and researchers about whether RECOVER-TLC is living up to its promised ambition.

Some Long COVID advocates and researchers, including those who advised the National Institutes of Health’s initiative, say RECOVER-TLC isn’t living up to its promised ambition.

09/10/2025

COVID-19 is still spreading at high levels in the U.S., as the variant XFG collides with the start of a new school year.

While writing this week’s update, Betsy Ladyzhets found that the CDC has made its COVID-19 data harder to find and interpret.

COVID-19 is still spreading at high levels in the U.S., as the variant XFG collides with the start of a new school year. Some data sources suggest that this summer-into-early fall wave may have reached its peak in parts of the West and South. But indicators are mixed and disease levels are still far...

09/06/2025

💊 Metformin may help reduce the risk of Long COVID

💉 A Phase 2 clinical trial is studying the drug vidofludimus calcium (IMU-838) for Long COVID.

🧑‍🔬 The NIH’s second RECOVER-Treating Long COVID workshop is happening Sept. 9–10

research updates:

Metformin may help reduce the risk of Long COVID, according to two new studies. One large study from the United Kingdom found that it reduced the rate of Long COVID in “obese and overweight” people by 63% percent.

09/05/2025

How do you get people to care about COVID-19? Here’s what Zaina Fairey has learned as an organizer.

As someone with Long COVID, it’s demoralizing to see people in my circles party and engage in COVID-risky behaviors while I sit at home. It would be easy to turn my back on those people and give up on community organizations that minimize COVID-19. But that’s not me, and that’s not what being ...