Long Covid turned my life upside down, says scientist

Five years on from contracting Covid, medical scientist Rebecca Broni is still living with its effects.

"My main problem is really, really intense, crippling fatigue," she said.

She said it is a unique type of exhaustion.

"Everyone's been tired. I've been tired before, but it's different, it's a whole body situation. Your body is not functioning, basically.

"You can't think straight, even to make scrambled egg, it's a very, very sluggish thought process, so, for me, fatigue is really, the main problem," she explained.

"I am quite sick at the minute, so there's some days now I might sleep till four or five o'clock in the day.

"Maybe if I'm having a really good day, I might get out for a walk for a half an hour or so at a snail's pace ... but those days are quite few and far between at the minute."

Ms Broni got Covid while working in a Dublin hospital. She has tried to return to work on a couple of occasions but was ultimately unable to do so.

"I've been out of work consistently for the last two years, and it's been really hard. My life has been turned upside down. I really miss work.

"I love what I do. I'm a medical scientist. I work with a great bunch of people. I miss being in there, just working away, you know, living my life, working away, meeting friends, just getting on with [life] as most people have. It's really turned my life upside down," she said.

For the last number of years, Ms Broni has been on full pay - thanks to the Government’s targeted scheme that was introduced in July 2022.

The payment scheme is aimed at specific healthcare workers who have long Covid.

Following a Labour Court recommendation in June 2025, that scheme will formally conclude on 31 December 2025.

"It's going to significantly impact my living situation," said Ms Broni who now faces a cut in payments.

"I'm renting in Dublin at the minute … a really major way [it is affecting me] is actually where I'm going to live in a couple of months' time, and will I qualify for the Housing Assistance Payment.

"It's incredibly stressful. You know that in terms of, literally, a roof over my head is going to be a problem in a couple of months' time possibly," she said.

In a statement, the Department of Health said the conclusion of the scheme "does not mean that supports will end" and said there are social welfare options. Those who remain unfit for work will transition to Public Service Sick Leave. It said there are other supports too.

The Department also said it acknowledges the "extraordinary role" healthcare workers played during the pandemic but that the scheme was a temporary and exceptional measure, pointing out that its estimated cost has been over €15.4m.

There are currently around 159 staff on the scheme, most, the Department has said, have remained on full pay for almost five years.

The Department said this is, "a level of protection unmatched in any other sector".

The winding down of the scheme has been opposed by unions and Opposition TDs.

They are critical too that Ireland is one of two EU countries that does not recognise Covid as an occupational illness.

As for Rebecca, she is now facing into an uncertain future.

"I don't blame the public for moving on from Covid at all. You know, people have to move on their lives. But there's some of us here still stuck in extreme illness five years later, possibly more, and the Government are doing everything they can to ignore it.

"We looked after people in very high-risk situations. And it's now to look after us because a small, very small, number of us are still sick here after so many years," added Ms Broni.