Mainland residents discuss post-COVID-19 sequelae: fear wind and cold, wear cotton clothes in hot weather

Recent outbreak of the epidemic in mainland China has triggered continuous warnings from the disease control center and doctors towards the public. Many individuals who have previously contracted the novel coronavirus (CCP virus) have been discussing the prominent sequelae of this wave of the epidemic within social media groups. Symptoms such as being afraid of wind and cold, wearing winter clothes in 30-degree weather, staying indoors out of fear of being ridiculed by others, have become apparent among the affected individuals.

Since abruptly abandoning the three-year policy of strict control and eradication, the epidemic in mainland China has been resurging constantly, with overcrowded hospitals becoming a common sight. Related death cases are frequently exposed on the internet, although major hospitals and media outlets try to avoid using the term “novel coronavirus.” Recently, Guangdong reported over 18,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus in July, with noticeable symptoms observed in young individuals after infection. Disease control centers across mainland China have also started reminding citizens to be vigilant and cautious, mentioning that this wave of the epidemic started to rise again at the end of June. Subsequently, various social media platforms in mainland China have been discussing the resurgence of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Some doctors have even created videos expressing their own positive diagnosis for the virus, initially mistaking it for a mild cold. However, they later experienced symptoms such as low-grade fever, dry cough, body aches, and diarrhea, realizing that they had tested positive for the virus.

One presenter shared that the parents of their friends had been re-infected with the novel coronavirus and developed white lung, undergoing intensive care in the hospital for over a month.

The post-effects of contracting the novel coronavirus have also been hotly debated on social media platforms. An individual from Guizhou, suffering from sequelae, mentioned, “I have been taking medication for over a year, still wearing winter clothes in May.”

Another individual from Chongqing, aged 55, revealed that after a lung infection in the lunar New Year, they developed a fear of cold and wind. They elaborated on the struggle of wearing thick clothing in 30-degree weather to prevent illness.

Someone from Shanxi shared that they can’t bear the wind even while walking normally; their movements at home have become sluggish and challenging.

A construction worker from Jiangsu expressed, “I have severe sequelae as well. After spending over 50,000 yuan, I am much less sensitive to cold and wind now. I have stopped wearing down jackets only these past few days. Others may question if it is really that cold, but as long as I feel comfortable, it doesn’t matter.”

A female designer from Anhui mentioned, “Since testing positive in April, I have developed a fear of cold and wind, unable to go out. Despite the temperature being 31 degrees, I still wear autumn clothing and a sweater. I feel like a weirdo, sweating while shivering, wondering if death is approaching.”

An individual from Anyang concurred, “I can’t go out without a cotton-padded jacket.”

A young person from Henan shared their struggle with pneumonia after contracting the novel coronavirus, finding it exhausting to climb stairs and experiencing breathlessness with minimal activity, likening their condition to that of an 80-year-old.

Some recovered patients have discussed lingering symptoms persisting for over a year, including dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, tinnitus, and extreme exhaustion from minimal physical exertion, leading to a constant state of lethargy.

Regarding the post-effects of the novel coronavirus mentioned by the public, Dr. Zhang Xiaoyang from Beijing, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, believes that after contracting the virus, one’s vital energy is inevitably damaged, leading to symptoms of fatigue and weakness, known in modern medicine as “post-infection fatigue syndrome.” In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this condition is referred to as insufficient vital energy, presenting as a fear of wind, water, and cold, which can be managed through Chinese medicine treatments.