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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 15/10/2026

This week's Long COVID research updates from @mileswgriffis.bsky.social: thesicktimes.org/2026/10/13/r...

ID: Hemp plants are backlit by early morning sun. They grow tall and green before a forested backdrop. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Long COVID research updates. A new study found COVID-19 was linked to a significant increase in dementia in older people with type 2 diabetes. The SARS-CoV-2-specific monoclonal antibody AER002 failed in a trial for Long COVID. The FDA has cleared a new phase 2 clinical trial for Long COVID studying an investigational botanical drug called FRP-003.” The following slides feature shortened versions of the text in this caption.

A new study found COVID-19 was linked to a significant increase in dementia in older people with type 2 diabetes. The retrospective study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience included a cohort of nearly half a million people with documented SARS-C0V-2 infections, with records taken from a global database with 181 healthcare organizations. The researchers found those infected had a 50% higher chance of dementia compared to controls. The association “persisted and strengthened” beyond the early post-infection period and secondary outcomes included increased rates of Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, and other diagnoses. The authors tracked dementia by an ICD-10-CM code and cautioned the results could be an underestimate.

The SARS-CoV-2-specific monoclonal antibody AER002 failed in a trial for Long COVID. The study, which included 36 participants, was recently published in Nature Communications, but early results were shared in spring 2025. While researchers found the drug was safe and well tolerated, there were no significant differences in the physical health or quality of life of participants, nor in objective biological measures. “Despite this negative result, several observations suggest promise for monoclonal antibody therapies in certain individuals and should inform future trial design,” the authors wrote. Read more about the trial viral persistence in trials in this feature by Betsy.

The FDA has cleared a new phase 2 clinical trial for Long COVID studying an investigational botanical drug called FRP-003. The drug, also known as Formula C™, is made primarily from products called terpenes found in hemp flowers. A very small trial published in 2022 assessed the drug, but did not have a true placebo. According to a press release, the randomized trial will include 220 participants with Long COVID who have fatigue and post-exertional malaise (PEM), who will take one of two dose options of the drug twice a day, or a placebo, for 56 days. The study plans to begin recruiting in the U.S. in early 2027 at locations in Salt Lake City and New York.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 14/10/2026

This week at The Sick Times: @khaoticaa.bsky.social interviewed 16 transgender people with Long COVID and surveyed dozens more, finding how neglect within healthcare and the queer community both contribute to the medical and social erasure of trans people. thesicktimes.org/2026/10/13/t...

A person in a high quality mask holds a sign at a protest that reads, "Silence=Death" with a trans flag in an equilateral triangle. The person stands in the streets of Los Angeles outside of Children's Hospital Los Angeles during a 2025 protest. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Trans people with Long COVID navigate a new “dark age” in trans health. By Khalil (Kae) Dennis. Reporting.”

Key points you should know:

Both Long COVID disability and anti-trans policies limit access to gender-affirming care through varying mechanisms, including increased medical stigma, upcoming Medicaid work requirements, and symptom pathologization.

Unreliable electronic health records, funding constraints, and cisgender-centered research all contribute to the lack of research into trans people with Long COVID.

Trans people with Long COVID face similar medical, financial, and social barriers as people with HIV during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, necessitating a closer look at patient-first care models.

Solidarity from queer community members and trans health advocates is needed to bolster documentation, and subsequent social services, for this growing, vulnerable group.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 13/10/2026

Lynne Morioka shares how she created the mask-required, “outdoors first” Hearts and Minds Learning Community in Minneapolis, Minnesota. thesicktimes.org/2026/10/09/h...

A white woman wearing a purple respirator holds a sign that says "Hearts + Minds Learning Community." The text reads, "The Sick Times. How I built a COVID-safer school that’s become the heart of a more caring community. By
Lynne Morioka. Commentary."

For families maneuvering the often isolating reality of living a COVID-cautious life, especially those living with a chronic illness like Long COVID, finding an educational environment that doesn’t jeopardize a child’s or family’s health can feel impossible.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 09/10/2026

Long Covid Superheroes showcases the bravery of asking for help, resting, and being compassionate with yourself and others. Read more from @heatherhogan.bsky.social: thesicktimes.org/2026/10/05/k...

The cover of Long COVID Superheroes features illustrated kids in pajama-capes holding hands and drifting through the air. The text reads “The Sick Times. Kids with Long COVID co-created their own superhero comic book. By Heather Hogan. Arts & Culture.”

An illustration of Joy Explorer, a superhero with Long COVID using a wheelchair. The text reads "Unlike Marvel-style superheroes who possess superhuman strength, invincibility, and rugged individualism, these superheroes showcase bravery by asking for help, resting, and being compassionate with themselves and others. For example, Joy Explorer, created by Sophia, uses her Joy Vision Goggles to locate small joys that keep her going. Nebuli, created by Lucy, generates pocket universes to escape the boredom of being housebound."

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 08/10/2026

This week's #LongCOVID research updates from @mileswgriffis.bsky.social: thesicktimes.org/2026/10/06/r...

Helicobacter pylori infection seen medical imaging. The bacteria appears dark brown in clumps in an endoscopic gastric biopsy image. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Long COVID research updates. As many as 2.3 million new cases of cancer were triggered by infections worldwide in 2024. One in 10 adults stated that COVID-19 worsened a pre-existing health condition long term. A recent commentary argues that Long COVID is an occupational disease for teachers.”

🤒 As many as 2.3 million new cases of cancer were triggered by infections worldwide in 2024, according to new research in The Lancet Oncology. French researchers analyzed a large database of cancer incidence from 2024, looking at specific diagnoses that were attributable to infections. They assessed twelve infections including HIV and found that the bacteria H. pylori, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) had the largest number of cases attributable to them. The researchers concluded that some of these infections, like HPV and HBV, are preventable with vaccines, and that more research for EBV vaccines is needed. EBV has also been linked to multiple sclerosis and Lupus. The study did not assess SARS-CoV-2.

🦠 One in 10 adults stated that COVID-19 worsened a pre-existing health condition long term, according to a new preprint. Researchers conducted a study between 2023 and 2025 that included 2,227 adults from four sites around the U.S. who took three surveys over the course of a year after having COVID-19. “Respondents in our study shared struggles with stress and social isolation as they live with chronic conditions and the risk of reinfection or newly worsening condition,” the authors wrote.

👩🏽‍🏫 A recent commentary in NEW SOLUTIONS argues that Long COVID is an occupational disease for teachers. The article states this profession has a high risk of Long COVID and COVID-19 and recommends policies including air cleaning and ventilation to benefit both teachers and students, as well as disability supports compliant with the American with Disabilities Act. “Making these proposed investments in future research and practice to promote teachers’ occupational health could help support and replenish the teacher workforce,” the authors concluded.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 07/10/2026

Researchers, clinicians, and advocates gathered for the inaugural conference of the International Society for Long COVID and Post-Acute Infection Syndromes in the Netherlands in late August. Read more from @davetuller1.bsky.social: thesicktimes.org/2026/10/06/b...

Collage graphic featuring a photo of buildings along a canal in Amsterdam, a cluster of tulips, an anatomical diagram showing the human brain and spinal cord, and a diagram of microbes, interspersed with colored blocks in golden and light green. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Biological pathways and mechanistic trials centered at new Long COVID conference in Amsterdam. By David Tuller. Reporting.”

Key points you should know:

In late August, the International Society for Long COVID and Post-Acute Infection Syndromes hosted its inaugural gathering in Amsterdam. Hundreds hobnobbed in the H’ART Museum, a major cultural and conference facility in the heart of the city.

Presenters acknowledged that a series of clinical trials had produced disappointing results. They focused on seeking lessons from the null findings and called for more smartly designed trials targeting the pathological mechanisms believed to be involved.

Some presenters highlighted innovative use of electronic wearables and remote monitoring in an effort to improve research and accurately track biological events, such as the occurrence of post-exertional malaise.

PROBE-PASC, a program centering mechanistic trials for Long COVID funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, was revealed during the conference.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 06/10/2026

COVID-19 trends continue to diverge by region. The Northwest seems to be the latest hotspot, and Western states overall are seeing an early start to flu season. thesicktimes.org/2026/10/06/n...

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for October 6, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "high" (represented with red) and slightly decreasing (represented with a diagonal down arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "very low*" (lighter yellow) and significantly decreasing (directly down arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and stable (side to side arrow). Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."

COVID-19 trends continue to diverge by region, as some parts of the country are seeing a summer wave taper off and others are seeing cases rise with the onset of colder weather. The Northwest seems to be the latest hotspot, and Western states overall are seeing an early start to flu season.

Cases continue to decline in the South, with wastewater data from the CDC, WastewaterSCAN, and Biobot Analytics as well as test positivity and emergency department visits all showing multiple weeks of decreases for this region. However, COVID-19 levels are still higher in these states, as outbreaks from the summer wave have not yet concluded.
In the West, there seems to be a split between North and South: test positivity rates and ED visits are starting to decline in the Southwest but increasing in the Northwest.

Two line charts showing test positivity rates for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, from the CDC's National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS). The top chart shows trends for health region 9, including Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, and other island territories; the bottom chart shows trends for health region 10, including Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington state. On both charts, the X axis represents time, going from September 2025 to September 2026, and the Y axis represents the percent of tests reporting positive results each week, going from 0% to 30%. Influenza is represented by a blue line and triangles and SARS-CoV-2 is represented by a red line and circles. Both regions have recently reported higher COVID-19 levels and are starting to report higher flu levels. In the latest data, region 9 is showing a potential decline in COVID-19 and more rapid increase in flu, while region 10 is showing a continued increase in COVID-19 and more muted (but still significant) increase in flu.

The test positivity rate for health region 10, which includes Northwest states, has been over 10% for the last three weeks.
Flu cases are also starting to increase on the West coast. Test positivity data for flu, from the same CDC system where I find these data for COVID-19, show recent increases for both health region 10 and region 9, the Southwest.

I’m watching to see if COVID-19 levels go up further in the Northeast and Midwest, as these regions saw fewer cases this summer and often experience bigger outbreaks with colder weather.
There’s some good news for ongoing data availability: the CDC has awarded a new wastewater testing contract to Verily covering about 200 sites in the CDC's network. As Verily also had the prior contract for these sites, there will be a shorter gap in data than if the CDC was switching to a different contractor. It’s still unclear how long we may see a reporting break, though — the latest note on the CDC dashboard simply says “there will be a brief gap.”

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 05/10/2026

Newly knighted ME advocate Anil van der Zee discusses his royal honor with @davetuller1.bsky.social: thesicktimes.org/2026/10/02/a...

ME advocate Anil van der Zee holds the Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau medal in his home. He poses with Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema in a darkened room. The text reads, “Virology Blog x The Sick Times. Anil van der Zee receives Dutch royal distinction. The newly knighted ME advocate discusses his royal honor with David Tuller. Interview.”

I don’t especially care for awards in general, nor do I enjoy doing this “work.” It’s not a new calling in life. I’m not an activist or patient advocate, although I realize others might label me that way. I have better things to do than having to fight for basic healthcare, debunking shoddy science and so on. It’s borne out of sheer desperation as a patient in the hope of getting better or at least being sick with proper care. Just being sick without having to fight for other things we’re currently dealing with as patients would already be amazing.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 30/09/2026

While there are no data sources on Long COVID in prison, experts suspect rates of the disease may be higher there than in the general population. They face high reinfection risks and poor access to medical care. Read more from @octoberk.bsky.social: thesicktimes.org/2026/09/29/i...

A graphic shows two images side by side. One are mobility devices, including many walkers, outside of prison cells. Another shows a red SARS-CoV-2 virus contrasted with a black background. The text reads, “The Sick Times. I interviewed five people with Long COVID in prison. They are invisible in the system. By October Krausch.

Meanwhile, her cellmate, Wayland Scott, says he has frequently had problems breathing after COVID-19, and gets winded going up the stairs he must take to get to his cell. Even so, he has not been able to receive an inhaler, despite having one before Long COVID when he first came to prison. “There was a year that they had a big shortage of the albuterol. And when that happened, I got taken off of my inhaler and I’ve never been able to get it back,” he said.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 29/09/2026

To stay up to date with the latest COVID-19 trends, make sure you're signed up for our newsletter! You'll get @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social's breakdown every Tuesday, delivered directly to your inbox! thesicktimes.org/newsletter/

The CDC’s infectious disease forecasting center, which uses emergency department data, estimates that COVID-19 cases are “growing or likely growing” in 14 states, “declining or likely declining” in five states, and “not changing” in 18 states as of September 23.
The West coast remains a major hotspot for COVID-19 spread as it’s been throughout the summer. The CDC describes average SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater as “high” for California, Oregon, and Washington and “very high” for Hawaii; what the CDC calls “high,” I would characterize as actually very high given the agency’s high baseline for this metric.

Levels might be declining in some parts of the West but are still going up in others.
COVID-19 levels in the South seem to be on the decline, but remain higher as this region has also been a hotspot this summer.
The Northeast might be the next hotspot, with wastewater as well as healthcare system data reporting potential increases.

This week, the CDC’s wastewater dashboard includes a note that data will be interrupted for about 200 testing sites. The note describes this as a “brief gap” in data while the agency awards a new contract to a biotech company that will supplement testing programs at state and local public health departments.
While the CDC says there will be a “brief gap” in data from these sites, it doesn’t provide any specifics on when a new contract will be awarded or how the agency will support places impacted by this break in testing. My story from last June includes more context on this situation.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 29/09/2026

The current COVID-19 picture remains varied by region: as the summer wave continues into early fall, cases are trending up in the Northeast and parts of the West and down in the South. And an upcoming gap between CDC contracts will further restrict available data. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/29/n...

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for September 29, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "high" (represented with red) and slightly decreasing (represented with a diagonal down arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "low*" (darker yellow) and stable (side to side arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and slightly decreasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."

The current COVID-19 picture remains varied by region: as the summer wave continues into early fall, cases are trending up in the Northeast and parts of the West and down in the South. And an upcoming gap between CDC contracts will further restrict available data.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 26/09/2026

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 25/09/2026

Study: More evidence of reduced blood flow to the brain of people with Long COVID Analysis: The U.S. is ill-equipped to respond to LC and future mass disabling events Preprint: Assessed over 700 LC clinical trials and found that they emphasized treating symptoms thesicktimes.org/2026/09/22/r...

A visual shows functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain, which allow researchers to visualize the activity of the brain. Three scans surround a 3-d image of a human head with a view into their brain. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Long COVID research updates. A small study found more evidence of reduced blood flow to the brain of people with Long COVID. New analysis: The U.S. is ill-equipped to respond to Long COVID and future mass disabling events. A recent preprint assessed over 700 Long COVID clinical trials and found that they emphasized treating symptoms.”

A small study in NeuroImage: Reports has found more evidence of reduced blood flow to the brain of people with Long COVID. The authors concluded that this abnormality was linked with fatigue, after they assessed brain imaging results of 22 people with Long COVID and compared them with 19 controls. Participants of the study performed a 20-minute cognitive test called psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), while undergoing a type of MRI that tracks blood flow. People with Long COVID reported much higher fatigue than controls both before and after the task, and “exhibited significantly longer reaction times during the PVT,” the authors concluded.

The U.S. is ill-equipped to respond to Long COVID and future mass disabling events, a new analysis argues in The Journal of Medical Humanities. Author Philip Finkelstein evaluated the disease through the lens of securitization, or, how public challenges are viewed as existential security threats. He found that modern security strategies remain “shortsighted and poorly attuned to threats that operate insidiously, eroding societies from within.” He stated that to properly address the security of Long COVID on society, the U.S. would need to invest in long-term care, workplace accommodations, and social support, but that these solutions are not “geopolitically advantageous.”

A recent preprint shared in Research Square assessed over 700 Long COVID clinical trials and found that they emphasized treating symptoms. Only 57 of the 714 trials addressed post-exertional malaise (PEM), prevalent in a subtype of Long COVID, and only eight of those trials used PEM as primary endpoint. “There is a substantial unmet need for well-powered, mechanism-based, disease-modifying trials with biomarker-driven designs and objective, exertion-based endpoints,” the researchers concluded. Still, researchers stated they used a conservative research strategy, which may have missed some studies.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 24/09/2026

1,700 people have signed a petition asking for a pause and independent review of a Long COVID trial planning to test the Lighting Process, a pseudoscientific mind-body program that outside experts have heavily criticized. Read more from spichaksimon.bsky.social: thesicktimes.org/2026/09/22/p...

A close up of a grey stone building at McMaster University. Ivy crawls across the building, changing color in fall. It appears green, orange, and red. The text reads, “The Sick Times. People with Long COVID demand pause of McMaster University clinical trial. By Simon Spichak. Reporting.”

Key points you should know:

A petition signed by 1,700 people asks for a pause and independent review of a trial run by McMaster University researchers who want to test the Lightning Process.

The Lightning Process is a pseudoscientific mind-body program to try to treat Long COVID that has been accused of exploiting people with Long COVID and related diseases.

The trial is designed in part by a Lightning Process practitioner and prescreens participants for motivation using a questionnaire that isn’t validated for Long COVID.

There are very few trials and little funding in Canada for Long COVID research, and advocates believe that studying the Lightning Process instead of pathobiological pathways is a waste of funding.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 24/09/2026

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 23/09/2026

The Telegraph recently published an article about "sickfluencers" titled “How having a disability became cool." We've republished a piece by Julia Doubleday at The Gauntlet pushing back against the article, which she calls "absurd on its face." thesicktimes.org/2026/09/21/c...

A young woman stands by a staircase with a backdrop of tree canopy. She wears a white, high quality mask and has long dark hair. She wears a teal sweatshirt and black pants. The text reads, “The Gauntlet x The Sick Times. COVID-19 — not TikTok — is disabling young women “Sickfluencers” are symptoms of a mass disabling event. By Julia Doubleday.”

“The country is sicker than it’s ever been before” — now why would that be? Six years after COVID-19 hit, four years after the virus has been allowed to run totally rampant without mitigation, the country is sicker than it’s ever been before, but we can’t come up with any reason why that would be other than “women be faking?”

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 22/09/2026

In the South, wastewater and healthcare system data both indicate decreasing COVID-19 cases. The CDC’s infectious disease forecasting center estimates cases are “declining or likely declining” in 13 states as of September 16, including states across the South.
In the West, there are conflicting data on whether the wave has peaked or is still rising. The CDC’s regional average for the West reports a decline, while WWSCAN reports a plateau or slower increase and Biobot Analytics reports a significant increase.
Still, recent COVID-19 levels are higher across both the South and West.

Chart from the CDC's Center for Disease Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) displaying recent epidemic trends for COVID-19. The chart is a map of the U.S. with states color-coded according to their COVID-19 trend status: dark purple for "growing" cases, lighter purple for "likely growing," white for "not changing," gray for "not estimated," lighter teal for "likely declining," and darker teal for "declining." Text above the chart reads: "As of September 16, 2026, we estimate that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 27 states, declining or likely declining in 13 states, and not changing in 10 states. Previous estimates can be found on data.cdc.gov." The states with "growing or likely growing" cases are largely all in the North of the U.S. (plus California, Alaska, and Hawaii) and states with "declining or likely declining" cases are all in the South.

The Northeast, and to a lesser extent the Midwest, are starting to report increasing COVID-19 spread after lower levels throughout the summer. The CDC’s forecasting center estimates cases are “growing or likely growing” in 27 states, with most of those in the Northeast, Midwest, and Northwest.

As updated COVID-19 vaccines have started to become available, some health experts are raising concerns about their status in the CDC’s Vaccines for Children program, which provides free vaccinations to children who are uninsured, underinsured, or otherwise need financial support. The agency hasn’t yet decided whether COVID-19 vaccines will be part of the program this year, the Wall Street Journal reported last week. Delaying or restricting COVID-19 vaccines from this program could lead to increased severe infections and Long COVID among children.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 22/09/2026

COVID-19 spread seems to have peaked for the summer in the South, but may still be increasing in the West and is starting to go up more in Northern states. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/22/n...

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for September 22, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "high" (represented with red) and slightly increasing (represented with a diagonal up arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "low*" (darker yellow) and stable (side to side arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and slightly decreasing (diagonal down arrow). Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."

While national averages for COVID-19 metrics appear to be at a peak or plateau as of mid-September, the picture actually looks pretty different from region to region. COVID-19 spread seems to have peaked for the summer in the South, but may still be increasing in the West and is starting to go up more in Northern states.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 21/09/2026

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 18/09/2026

Want to stay on top of all the latest Long COVID research? Sign up for our newsletter and get @mileswgriffis.bsky.social's research updates delivered directly to your inbox every Tuesday! thesicktimes.org/newsletter/

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 18/09/2026

🦠 Study: Repeat SARS-C0V-2 infections were linked to a higher odds of new health conditions 📝 Long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis, and post-treatment Lyme disease are included as priorities in the new NIAID 2026-2030 Strategic Plan thesicktimes.org/2026/09/15/r...

A colorful red, orange, and purple microscopic image shows coronavirus particles in vibrant detail. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Long COVID research updates. Study: Repeat SARS-C0V-2 infections were linked to a higher odds of new health conditions. Long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis, and post-treatment Lyme disease are included as priorities in the new NIAID 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.”

Repeat SARS-C0V-2 infections were linked to a higher odds of new health conditions, according to a new study in the Canada Communicable Disease Report. Researchers assessed data from 9,000 people who responded to a self-reported survey between 2020 and 2023, and found that those with more than two SARS-CoV-2 infections had a 76% higher risk of a new diagnosis compared to those who had not reported any infections. The survey covered a broad range of diagnoses, including respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal conditions. The authors cautioned that the results could not prove that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused the new conditions due to limitations of the study.

Long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis, and post-treatment Lyme disease are included as priorities in the new NIAID 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. The National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases claims it will center on finding both risk factors and underlying mechanisms.“NIAID remains committed to supporting research to develop person-centered prevention and treatment strategies that improve the quality of life of those impacted by long-term conditions following clearance of an infection,” the plan states. Still, it’s unclear how NIAID plans to fund additional research for these diseases.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 17/09/2026

This week at The Sick Times, Selina Nwulu argues that corporate interests have had more say in our behaviors toward both COVID-19 and the climate crisis than any evidence-based public health response. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/15/d...

A demonstrator holds a cardboard sign that reads "People Not Profit". The demonstrator has long hair and wears a high quality black mask. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Denial is a tactic for both the COVID-19 and climate crises. By Selina Nwulu. Commentary.”

Corporate influences in today’s age don’t look like outright denial; instead, leaders insist on the smoke and mirrors of “business as usual.”
Living in this denial, and subsequent neglect, is catastrophic on both a practical and existential level. What does it do to our sense of self and safety to be routinely gaslit out of reacting in real time to the crises that surround us?

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 16/09/2026

This summer’s COVID-19 wave may have reached its peak in some parts of the country, as major metrics report disease levels stagnating or starting to decline as of early September. But levels remain high in many places, particularly in the West and South. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/15/n...

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for September 15, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "high" (represented with red) and stable (represented with a side to side arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "very low*" (lighter yellow) and stable; and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and stable. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."

Wastewater data from the CDC and Biobot Analytics report that national averages of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage have leveled off in recent weeks. WastewaterSCAN still reports an increasing national average through early September, but the rate of that increase has slowed down a lot compared to the rapid climb reported in August.

The West and South have reported the highest SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater throughout this wave. In the West, wastewater data from both WWSCAN and Biobot suggest that COVID-19 outbreaks may still be growing in some places.

Based on wastewater data, this summer’s wave appears to have included fewer COVID-19 cases than prior summers’. However, such comparisons always need to come with a large grain of salt, because scientists don’t have a great sense of how the coronavirus’ continued evolution, as well as the many other factors that make wastewater data messy, has impacted the way individual infections show up in sewage.

While the COVID-19 wave may be peaking, other viruses are slowly starting to enter the picture.

The CDC’s flu surveillance network reports growing cases of influenza-like illness, or people seeking healthcare for fever plus cough or sore throat, over recent weeks. This is a broad metric that can include some COVID-19 cases along with flu, RSV, and other viruses that cause similar respiratory symptoms.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 15/09/2026

Want to stay on top of more Long COVID clinical trials and breaking news like this? Sign up for The Sick Times newsletter: thesicktimes.org/newsletter/

The novel drug bezisterim may help improve fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and neurological symptoms in people with Long COVID, according to preliminary clinical trial results that the treatment’s developer, BioVie, shared Tuesday morning. While the trial’s findings require further analysis and peer-review, the initial results are among the most promising from any Long COVID trial reported so far, the study’s expert advisors said.

BioVie plans to use these results from its phase 2 trial, called ADDRESS-LC, to inform a larger, phase 3 study that could confirm the drug’s ability to help people with Long COVID. The company also seeks to pursue accelerated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, representatives said during a webinar discussing the results.

Bezisterim is a novel drug also being tested for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. The drug is a synthetic derivative of a steroid and can cross the blood-brain barrier, which means it can directly impact the brain and change neurological symptoms. BioVie states that the drug is believed to reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 15/09/2026

Novel drug bezisterim may help improve fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and neurological symptoms in people with Long COVID, according to preliminary clinical trial results that the treatment’s developer, BioVie, shared this morning. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/15/b...

ID: A hand placing a pill in a weekly organizer. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Bezisterim may help with some Long COVID symptoms, drug’s developer reports in early trial results. By Betsy Ladyzhets. News.” The following slides feature quotes from the story at The Sick Times.

“What really stands out to me about the data that have been presented today is that it shows a very clear direction” toward improving key symptoms, said Ezra Spier, a Long COVID patient-researcher who advised the trial team, during the webinar. “It gives the community some hope, because we’ve been seeing trial fail after fail after fail. Seeing something that provides demonstrated impact, I think is really exciting.”

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 08/09/2026

As @mileswgriffis.bsky.social and his husband participated in the effort to rehabilitate the burn scar from the 2020 Dome Fire, the ritual of planting the Joshua trees took on an even greater meaning when he realized the uncanny overlaps with the COVID-19 pandemic. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/08/w...

Black text over an image of the Dome Fire burn scar reads, “After a lightning bolt hit the forest in August 2020, igniting the fire, Cima Dome became forever bound to the COVID-19 pandemic for me. It was the year I lost both my health and my refuge. Things only got worse in 2023, when a second fire broke outignited in the preserve, burning nearly 100,000 acres and killing another 1 million Joshua trees. Where do you mourn when your sanctuary suddenly becomes a place to grieve? Miles W. Griffis, The Sick Times.”

Black text over an image of the Dome Fire burn scar reads, “Because I lost my abilities to the pandemic, this wild gardening has given me some control to confront two crises at once. I plant Joshua trees and leave out water for our nonhuman neighbors to offer mutual aid for the environment. I name each tree to oppose our society’s denial of the pandemic’s “incalculable” mass death and its continuing effects. I imagine each Joshua tree as a spiked fist rising from the ashes of indifference. Miles W. Griffis, The Sick Times.”

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 03/09/2026

Want to stay on top of Long COVID research and news about clinical trials? Sign up for The Sick Times newsletter and we'll deliver our original reporting directly to your inbox! pages.viral-loops.com/share-the-si...

People with Long COVID are at a higher risk for cardiovascular, renal, and pulmonary (CRP) outcomes, according to a large observational study published in Journal of the American Heart Association. The study was a retrospective study and assessed more than 2.6 million people who developed COVID-19, comparing about 158,000 people who had been diagnosed with Long COVID with the larger group of controls. Researchers assessed 15 types of CRP outcomes including pulmonary embolisms, strokes, kidney disease, and more. They found a greater risk of worse outcomes with Long COVID for younger people compared to younger people without Long COVID, than the differences in risks for older people.

NASEM recently announced a new study on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection across all age groups and its implications for the military. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study will specifically assess the scientific evidence of neurocognitive impacts, as well as how the infection affects “military force readiness.” The committee currently has 14 provisional appointees, who will do literature reviews and conduct public meetings on COVID-19 and Long COVID to produce a report for the government. Public feedback is open on the project and committee members until September 14th.

A new trial for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) will study Intermittent Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Treatment (IHHT). Researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark will enroll 104 female participants in the randomized trial and compare the treatment, which delivers short cycles of low and high oxygen for 22–40 minute sessions, to a placebo. They hypothesize that the treatment may help the body adapt to oxygen related stress. The study will use the Short Form-36 Health Survey as its primary endpoint, measuring quality of life. The study is not yet recruiting.

Researchers behind RECOVER-VITAL, the National Institutes of Health’s clinical trial testing Paxlovid for Long COVID, have formally published their results in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, after sharing them on clinicaltrials.gov this spring. The study found that both 15-day and 25-day Paxlovid courses did not help improve symptoms. While the study collected samples from participants to investigate how the antiviral impacted potential viral persistence, analysis of those samples is “pending” and “will be published” in future studies, the researchers wrote. For more on these results and other RECOVER trials, see Betsy’s story from May.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 03/09/2026

This week's #LongCOVID research updates from @mileswgriffis.bsky.social: thesicktimes.org/2026/09/01/r...

A scanning electron micrograph (SEM) image shows a blood clot, made up of blood cells tangled in grey appearing fibrin. The text reads, "The Sick Times. Long COVID research updates.

Study: People with Long COVID are at a higher risk for cardiovascular, renal, and pulmonary outcomes

NASEM announced a new study on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection across all age groups and its implications for the military

A new trial for myalgic encephalomyelitis will study Intermittent Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Treatment

RECOVER-VITAL’s clinical trial testing Paxlovid for Long COVID has formally published their results

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 02/09/2026

Want to stay on top of breaking Long COVID news? Sign up for The Sick Times newsletter and we'll deliver our original reporting directly to your inbox! pages.viral-loops.com/share-the-si...

PROBE-PASC should represent part of a much larger national research effort — not the limit of our investment.

Karyn Bishof, COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 02/09/2026

Updates include: * Context on past DOD medical research funding * Comments + slides from Michael Peluso’s presentation at the ISLC-PAIS conference * Comments from Long COVID advocates * And a closer look at first clinical trial in the series, which will test Pemgarda and hydroxychloroquine

Key points you should know:

A new U.S. clinical trials program called PROBE-PASC was announced on Friday at a Long COVID conference in Amsterdam. The program received initial funding of $8 million from a Department of Defense (DOD) grant.

This DOD grant, through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), supports biomedical research for specific diseases and topics that Congress has designated as priorities. Past grants have supported research into cancer, tick-borne illnesses, traumatic brain injuries, and more.

Key points you should know:

The first clinical trial in the series will test the monoclonal antibody Pemgarda, along with the immune-modulating drug hydroxychloroquine. The study will include arms with both drugs by themselves and the two in combination.

The funding shows the DOD’s interest in Long COVID, which research has shown affects the military. A 2023 CDMRP grant supported the clinical trial of the novel drug bezisterim for Long COVID.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 02/09/2026

On Friday, The Sick Times broke the news that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is funding a new clinical trials program for Long COVID with an initial grant of $8 million. This week we have more reporting from Betsy Ladyzhets about PROBE-PASC. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/01/d...

ID: A view of the U.S. Pentagon building at night reflecting in the Potomac River. Five bright lights emit from the building like stars. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Department of Defense funds $8 million grant for Long COVID trials. The first study in a new mechanistic clinical trials program will test Pemgarda and hydroxychloroquine alone and in combination. By Betsy Ladyzhets. Reporting.”

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 01/09/2026

The U.S.’s summer 2026 COVID-19 wave is in full swing. All disease tracking metrics report increased spread across the country, and the school year’s start and upcoming holiday weekend will cause further outbreaks. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/01/n...

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for September 1, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "high" (represented with red) and slightly increasing (represented with a diagonal up arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "very low*" (lighter yellow) and significantly increasing (represented with a directly up arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and slightly increasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."

The U.S.’s summer 2026 COVID-19 wave is in full swing. All disease tracking metrics report increased spread across the country, and the school year’s start and upcoming holiday weekend will cause further outbreaks. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated vaccines for this year, but they may be hard to access for many people thanks to Trump administration policies.

Wastewater data from the CDC, WastewaterSCAN, and Biobot Analytics all report growing SARS-CoV-2 levels across all regions into late August. See my recent video for more detail on why the CDC's national level is still "very low" despite these increases.
Test positivity, as reported by the CDC’s PCR testing network, also continues to increase across the U.S. The South and West report the highest rates of positive COVID-19 tests. And the CDC’s infectious disease forecasting center estimates that COVID-19 cases are “growing” in the vast majority of states as of August 26.

ID: Chart from the CDC's National Wastewater Surveillance System showing trends in wastewater viral activity levels (WVALs) over time for the state of Texas. The line chart's Y axis represents WVAL and includes horizontal lines dividing the chart into categories: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. The X axis represents time, going from December 2025 to August 2026. The chart includes lines representing Texas's state-wide average (in purple), the regional average for the South (in yellow), and the national average (in black). All areas had a COVID-19 wave in winter 2025-26, and are seeing another wave now in summer 2026. Recent values for Texas are drastically higher than those for the South and the national average.

Texas has emerged as a particular hotspot right now. SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater in the state are “very high” according to the CDC with 40 testing sites reporting, which is a particularly concerning reading given how high of a bar the CDC’s dashboard has for this category.

Last week, the FDA approved COVID-19 vaccines that have been updated to protect against recently-circulating variants. Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax have all told news outlets that they are starting to ship their updated vaccines to pharmacies, and appointments will start to be available in the coming days and weeks. However, only Americans over age 65 and those with a “preexisting condition” that increases risk of severe COVID-19 are officially eligible for the vaccines.
In many places, it’s still possible to get vaccinated for COVID-19 without being formally eligible, but people faced challenges with making appointments and getting their insurance to cover the shots under similar federal policies last year.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 01/09/2026

Despite prior experience working in public health, Kelly Sealey has faced challenges getting care for Long COVID and chronic seizures. This essay is part of the Color of Long COVID series, supported by the Disability Visibility Project. thesicktimes.org/2026/08/28/w...

A collage of three images: a close up of a Black woman in a high quality mask, brain scans, and a close up of a service dog's vest. Red, violet, and sage green shapes are laid over the images. The text reads, “The Sick Times. “We’re going to stop the gaslighting right now”: How I’m fighting back as a Black woman with Long COVID. By Kelly Sealey. Commentary.”

I’ve seen countless specialists for Long COVID and my seizures. While a few have helped guide my care, most have gaslit me. I’ve never in my 47 years of life or 20-plus years of working in healthcare experienced such interactions with medical professionals. I can’t help but wonder if this is tied to my race in some way, given how Black women are treated by some providers.
Kelly Sealey

“We’re going to stop the gaslighting right now”: How
I’m fighting back as a Black woman with Long COVID

Kelly Sealey

“We’re going to stop the gaslighting right now”: How
I’m fighting back as a Black woman with Long COVID

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 27/08/2026

It's a great time to sign up for The Sick Times newsletter! Not only will you get @mileswgriffis.bsky.social's research updates delivered to your inbox every week — right now we're testing a referral program that'll score you Sick Times stickers, hats, & more! pages.viral-loops.com/share-the-si...

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 27/08/2026

👀 Observational study: found more evidence of endothelial dysfunction in Long COVID (LC) 💊 Small clinical trial: found a probiotic formula called VSL#3 helped improve fatigue in people with LC 🧬 Study: “MicroRNA” may serve as a future biomarker for LC thesicktimes.org/2026/08/25/r...

A close up photo of a human eye. The eye is hazel and the person appears to be lighter skinned. They have a dark brown eyelashes and a hazel eye. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Long COVID research updates. Another observational study found more evidence of endothelial dysfunction in Long COVID. A small clinical trial found a probiotic formula called VSL#3 helped improve fatigue in people with Long COVID. Small pieces of genetic molecules in the blood called “microRNA” may serve as a future biomarker for Long COVID.”

Another observational study found more evidence of endothelial dysfunction in Long COVID. German researchers evaluated the eyes of 102 people with Long COVID, comparing them to 102 people “recovered” from COVID-19, as well as controls. The study, published in BMC Medicine, used a non-invasive technique called retinal vessel analysis (RVA) that measures blood vessels in the eyes. Researchers found people with Long COVID had abnormalities in those vessels; those abnormalities were most pronounced in the participants who also met criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). They additionally found those with the abnormalities had worse neurocognitive symptoms.

A small clinical trial found a probiotic formula called VSL#3 helped improve fatigue in people with Long COVID. Published in the British Journal of Biomedical Science, the trial included 23 participants who took two sachets of the formula per day for 28 days, or a placebo. The Italian researchers used the Chalder Fatigue Scale as a primary endpoint, finding that the formula significantly reduced fatigue compared to the placebo. They also found, using exploratory biological analysis, that the formula reduced some pro-inflammatory and immune-related cytokines; they concluded more research is needed on treatments targeting the microbiome for Long COVID with larger sample sizes.

Small pieces of genetic molecules in the blood called “microRNA” may serve as a future biomarker for Long COVID, according to a new study shared in Communications Medicine. Austrian researchers evaluated the blood of 206 people with Long COVID and compared them to 71 controls, finding abnormalities in three microRNAs in Long COVID. “These findings suggest that measuring circulating microRNAs could eventually help with diagnosis, but further validation in larger, well-matched populations is required before clinical implementation,” the authors wrote.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 26/08/2026

💌 1 successful referral = a thank-you note from our team 🕊️ 5 = a pack of Sick Times stickers, designed by artists in the Long COVID community. 🧢 10 = a Sick Times hat! 🌈 20 = you’ll be invited to a one-on-one Q&A call with one of our editors, Miles and Betsy.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 26/08/2026

Want to help The Sick Times keep going and growing? Signing up for — and sharing — our newsletter is a great way to do that! Co-founder and managing editor @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social is here to tell you more!

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 26/08/2026

The end of summer may be approaching in the U.S., but our summer COVID-19 wave is showing no signs of slowing. All data sources report significant increases in disease levels and outbreaks across the country. thesicktimes.org/2026/08/25/n...

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for August 25, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "high" (represented with red) and significantly increasing (represented with a directly up arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "very low*" (lighter yellow) and significantly increasing ; and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and significantly increasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."

The end of summer may be approaching in the U.S., but our summer COVID-19 wave is showing no signs of slowing. All data sources report significant increases in disease levels and outbreaks across the country. As the latest data are from mid-August, case counts may be higher in your area than they appear.

The CDC, WastewaterSCAN, and Biobot Analytics all report increases in SARS-CoV-2 levels at sewage testing sites around the U.S. The West and South continue to feature the biggest hotspots in this wave, but there are testing sites with high levels and notable increases across all regions.
While WWSCAN and Biobot both describe recent national SARS-CoV-2 levels as higher, the CDC still insists they are “very low.” This is partially because the CDC compares recent levels to an already-high baseline, and partially because the agency keeps shifting its data presentation to downplay COVID-19’s spread.

ID: Line chart showing COVID-19 PCR test positivity trends, using data from the CDC's National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS). Text at the top of the chart reads, "Weekly percent of tests positive for respiratory viruses reported to NREVSS, COVID-19, national average." The Y axis represents percent of tests returning positive results in each week, and the X axis represents time, going from July 2025 to August 2026. The chart shows a wave in summer to early fall 2025, one in winter to early spring 2025-26, and rising levels indicating the first part of a wave in summer 2026. In the latest data point from the week ending August 15, test positivity is close to 5%; this metric peaked at about 5.4% in the winter 2025-spring 26 wave.

Test positivity, as reported by the CDC’s PCR testing network, also continues to increase nationally and across regions. The testing network’s national average is nearing 5%, where test positivity peaked during last winter’s wave; and this metric has already surpassed the winter’s highest levels for parts of the South and West.

School has started for much of the U.S., which will likely magnify outbreaks as very few schools still take any COVID-19 precautions. A recent paper in the journal Vaccine shows the immense costs of infectious diseases harming children: the authors estimated that every measles case reported in 2025 cost the medical and public health systems over $100 million total that year, and likely even more this year as measles continues spreading. Long COVID in children is not tracked as closely, but is surely still causing immense harm.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 25/08/2026

To help us grow our newsletter, we’re trying out a referral program. We think this will make it easier for readers like you to share the newsletter with other community members. But we need your help to test it out!

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 20/08/2026

Sign up for our newsletter to get research updates, COVID-19-trends, original reporting about the ongoing pandemic, essays and commentary from disabled writers, and more — every Tuesday: thesicktimes.org/newsletter/

🦠 Researchers found immune abnormalities in the intestines of people with Long COVID, according to a new preprint. The small study compared colon tissue samples and blood of 44 people with Long COVID to 13 controls who “recovered” from COVID-19, using several different analysis methods. They found that 27% of the Long COVID participants had persistent SARS-CoV-2 virus, and that the prevalence was higher in tissues, compared to blood. Since the study was observational, it does not prove that viral persistence causes immune dysregulation, the researchers stated. Still, they concluded that antivirals, as well as combination treatments that target both viral reservoirs and tissue-based immune dysfunction, should be studied as Long COVID treatments.

👩🏽‍⚕️ A new government report from the U.K. found that around one in four healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 early in the pandemic have had Long COVID. Called REACH-OUT, the mixed-methods study analyzed existing datasets and research from around the world, including a detailed survey of over 11,000 healthcare workers in the U.K. The study found a severe lack of support for workers and extensive stigma of the disease from managers and fellow healthcare workers. “This research highlights how much impact the COVID pandemic continues to have on healthcare workers,” Katherine Woolf, a medical education researcher, told London Daily News.

💵 A preprint from Yale estimates that universal healthcare in the U.S. could save the lives of over 114,000 Americans a year. Researchers ran models using data from 2024, comparing our current multi-payer system to a single-payer system, looking at both healthcare expenditure and mortality. Alongside the many thousand lives saved, they also projected universal healthcare would reduce expenditure by over $1 trillion per year. “Our results indicate that the existing budget is more than sufficient to cover everyone at lower total cost,” the researchers concluded. “The obstacle to universal coverage has never been the absence of resources, but the way they are allocated.”

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 20/08/2026

This week's Long COVID research updates from @mileswgriffis.bsky.social: thesicktimes.org/2026/08/18/r...

A computer image highlights the large intestine in a person. It appears red and curves through the abdomen of the subject. Other organs and body parts are faded out and contrasted with a black background. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Long COVID research updates. Preprint: Researchers found immune abnormalities in the intestines of people with Long COVID. Report: One in four healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 early in the pandemic in the U.K. have had Long COVID. Preprint: Universal healthcare in the U.S. could save the lives of over 114,000 Americans a year.”

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 19/08/2026

Advocates are calling on senators and representatives to include the ME/CFS Research Roadmap and new Long COVID funding in the fiscal year 2027 budget as legislators debate appropriations bills in the coming weeks. Read more from @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social: thesicktimes.org/2026/08/18/c...

ID: MEAction advocates demonstrate outside of the Capital building in Washington D.C. on a sunny, spring day. They wear red t-shirts that read "millions missing" and "SOS" as well as high quality masks. One is in a wheel chair, while another sits on a stool. They hold signs that say, "Millions Missing, SOS, 2025, MEAction" that have an illustration of the statue of liberty. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Congress’s 2027 budget could include new funding for Long COVID and ME. By Betsy Ladyzhets. Reporting.”

Key points you should know:

Congress is legally required to pass a federal budget every year. The budget process, called appropriations, can be an opportunity to secure new research funding more quickly than specific, standalone bills.

Advocates are pushing for the fiscal year 2027 budget to include $50 million for the ME/CFS Research Roadmap, a detailed plan to advance ME research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Some 2027 budget proposals include opportunities for new Long COVID and infection-associated chronic condition (IACC) funding across the NIH, other health agencies, and the Department of Defense.

Advocates are focusing on contacting senators, as Senate offices are still drafting appropriations bills in the next few weeks while the House versions of these bills are already written.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 18/08/2026

COVID-19 spread continues to increase across the US as this summer’s wave keeps climbing. While levels are highest in the West & South, there are hotspots in all regions. The CDC as well as mainstream media sources are downplaying this wave as they have many others. thesicktimes.org/2026/08/18/n...

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for August 18, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "high" (represented with orange) and significantly increasing (represented with a directly up arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "very low*" (lighter yellow) and slightly increasing (diagonal up arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and significantly increasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."

The CDC, WastewaterSCAN, and Biobot Analytics all report increasing SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater through late July and early August, with the highest levels in the West followed by the South.
The CDC’s national wastewater viral activity level (WVAL) is still “very low” despite clear increases in infections. In addition to using only recent data for its activity level calculation — meaning the baseline is much higher than truly low levels we saw early in the pandemic — the agency recently shifted its categories to further downplay COVID-19’s spread. WVAL values that would’ve been labeled as “low” before this shift are now “very low,” values that would’ve been “moderate” are now “low,” and so on.

Chart from the California Department of Public Health sharing statewide data for SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater. A box in the top left corner describes the statewide level and trend: level is "low" and trend is "strong increase 128%." A box in the bottom left summarizes trends across testing sites in the state: 61% of sites have an increase, 15% have a plateau, 14% have a decrease, and 10% have insufficient data. On the right, there is a line chart showing the statewide average over the last two years. The X axis represents time and the Y axis represents the wastewater viral activity level, with colored lines going across the chart to signify differences between very low, low, moderate, high, very high. The chart shows larger summer waves and smaller winter waves over 2024-early 2026; in the latest data, levels have been dramatically rising over the last two months but are still marked as "low."

For example, California currently has a “low” WVAL on the CDC’s dashboard. But based on the raw data, it would have been labeled as “moderate” with the same statewide average before this shift. The state health department’s dashboard, which also uses CDC levels to display the data, now labels prior waves as peaking with “low” and “moderate” levels, too. Data tracker Michael Hoerger flagged the CDC category change and shared a video explaining it.

Meanwhile, the CDC’s infectious disease forecasting center (which uses emergency department data) estimates that COVID-19 cases are “growing or likely growing” across all states but one as of August 12.
Over a month after COVID-19 levels started increasing, mainstream media outlets have finally picked up on the presence of this summer’s wave. One recent story in NPR downplays the virus’ continued spread, suggesting that it only makes people “feel awful for a week or two” and completely failing to mention Long COVID as a potential result of infection.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 14/08/2026

This week at The Sick Times, a new essay from Kara Yorio about how following the established protocol after her breast cancer diagnosis showed her a new way to approach her Long COVID care. thesicktimes.org/2026/08/14/b...

A graphic shows a white woman in a high quality mask on the subway. She wears a glasses, hoops, and has a short hair. Overlaid over the black and white photo are various shades of pink circles. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Breast cancer exposed the lack of care I receive for Long COVID. Cancer has a sadly well-worn path. It showed me that I deserve dignity and support for Long COVID. By Kara Yorio. Essay.”

Before the cancer diagnosis, I sought answers to my Long COVID symptoms. I was privileged to access various specialists and undergo many tests. I collected a lot of data with no answers or measurable improvement. Mostly on my own, I attempted to manufacture some kind of plan amid so much medical uncertainty.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 13/08/2026

🦠 New study: confirmed COVID-19 can reactivate dormant viruses in the body 🫀 Clinical trial: found a combination prednisolone and losartan did not significantly improve heart function in Long COVID 💵 NIH RECOVER announced funding for pathobiology research thesicktimes.org/2026/08/11/r...

An electron micrograph image shows numerous herpes simplex virions, members of the Herpesviridae virus family. The round viruses appear black and gray, contrasted on an icy blue background. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Long COVID research updates. New study: confirmed COVID-19 can reactivate dormant viruses in the body. Clinical trial: found a combination prednisolone and losartan did not significantly improve heart function in Long COVID. The National Institute of Health’s RECOVER program recently announced funding for pathobiology research.”

🦠 COVID-19 can reactivate dormant viruses in the body, confirms new research in Nature. Researchers ran advanced analyses of data from multiple biological layers on 1,154 people hospitalized with COVID-19 before mid-2021 and found significant reactivation of viruses in the herpes and Anelloviridae families. “Nearly half of people … had a virus that they were already carrying wake up,” a co-author told Science. “This happens [even] in people whose immune systems are otherwise normal.” While reactivated viruses have been found in prior studies on Long COVID, the researchers caution that their new results do not prove causation. “Our results raise the possibility that viral reactivation may contribute to the development of severe acute COVID-19 and Long COVID,” the authors concluded.

🫀A German clinical trial found a combination of the steroid prednisolone and the heart medication losartan did not significantly improve heart function in Long COVID. The randomized, double-blind study, published in Nature Communications, included 279 people with Long COVID who had cardiovascular symptoms, excluding people with pre-existing structural heart disease. Participants took the drug combination, or a placebo, for 16 weeks and completed heart imaging before and after the study. While the combination was found to be “safe and well-tolerated” and some participants reported improved symptoms during the trial, the study did not meet a statistically significant primary endpoint measuring a specific change in how much blood was pumped from the heart.

💵 The National Institute of Health’s RECOVER program recently announced funding for pathobiology research. Researchers can apply for grants up to $800,000 per year (for two years), and apply to use data and biosamples from RECOVER’s observational studies along with — for the first time — from its clinical trials. “Investigators from higher education institutions, government agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and other eligible institutions are encouraged to apply,” a RECOVER press release stated.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 12/08/2026

Key points you should know:

Long COVID’s heterogeneity and range of clinical presentations have made the search for biomarkers extremely complicated and resource-intensive.

With a $1.35 million donation from PolyBio Research Foundation, the University of California, San Francisco has recently launched VIPER, a program designed to coordinate and accelerate the biomarker search. VIPER stands for Viral Immunopathogenesis and Persistence Repeat Donor Cohort.

Key points you should know:

VIPER’s initial focus is on biomarkers related to viral persistence, although the project expects to expand to other possible biological pathways in future efforts.

The program will include a “well-defined” cohort of 150 participants — 100 with Long COVID and 50 who had COVID-19 but recovered.

Researchers are planning fast-track promising candidates for noninvasive tests into clinical trials and, if the results are good, to scale up dissemination as quickly as possible.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 12/08/2026

Led by researchers at UCSF, the VIPER research program plans to validate promising candidates for noninvasive tests that can be used to advance #LongCOVID clinical trials. thesicktimes.org/2026/08/11/v...

ID: A collage graphic displays a tower of the Golden Gate bridge, with a pixelated filter, vials of blood in black and white, and a photo of a light blue viper. These images are overlayed with white borders over a microscopic image of red SARS-CoV-2 viruses with a blue background. The text reads, “The Sick Times. VIPER aims to fast track Long COVID biomarkers. Here’s how it works. By David Tuller.”

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 11/08/2026

This summer’s COVID-19 wave started later and lower than similar waves in prior years, making it difficult to anticipate what might happen in the coming months.

ID: Line chart from WastewaterSCAN showing average SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater from all testing sites in the WWSCAN network. The X axis represents time, going from June 2023 to July 2026, and the Y axis represents quantity of nucleic acids, PMMoV normalized (x 1 million). The black line shows several surges, in the summer and winter of each year. In the most recent data, SARS-CoV-2 levels have been increasing rapidly but started very low from a long, low lull in spring and early summer 2026.

WastewaterSCAN and Biobot Analytics both report increasing SARS-CoV-2 in their national and regional averages throughout July. WWSCAN now reports a “high” national trend for SARS-CoV-2 (with increasing levels and medium concentration compared to historical data) along with a “high” trend in the West and South, and “medium” in the Midwest and Northeast.

After months of a stable and “very low” average, the CDC is finally reporting a pronounced increase in its national wastewater viral activity level for SARS-CoV-2. The CDC’s analysis methods — using a higher baseline for historical comparison than other wastewater data providers — often leads their dashboard to be delayed in warning about a starting wave.
The CDC’s infectious disease forecasting center estimates that COVID-19 cases are “growing” in 41 states and “likely growing” in two more states, as of August 5.

In other disease news: outbreaks may be starting to slow down for cyclospora, the parasite causing severe gastrointestinal illness.
Still, there are several active outbreaks of cyclospora across many states. In a recent article in The Conversation, wastewater researcher Joan Rose describes how the parasite may spread when contaminated sewage is used to water crops. Rose calls for expanding wastewater surveillance to include protozoan diseases like cyclospora, along with other pathogens that may thrive in sewage.

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 11/08/2026

A summer COVID-19 wave is still rising in the U.S., according to data through late July. Increases in disease spread are most pronounced in the South and West, but all regions have growing outbreaks. thesicktimes.org/2026/08/11/n...

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for August 11, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "high" (represented with orange) and significantly increasing (represented with a directly up arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "very low*" (lighter yellow) and significantly increasing; and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and significantly increasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 08/08/2026

Today, on #SevereMEAwarenessDay, we're sharing the introduction and two excerpts from the new book, “What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Like?” These excepted essays were written by Madelleine Muller. thesicktimes.org/2026/08/08/t...

ID: Graphic showing the cover of the book, 'What Is Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Like?' on the left and a black and white photo of writer Madelleine Muller on the right. The book cover features dark blue boxes with white text over an abstract painting in shades of blue, green, yellow, and white. Other text on the cover notes that the book was created by the WIMEL writers with a foreword and other contributions by Bateman Horne Center. In the photo of Madelleine, the writer is resting and wearing sunglasses and earplugs. The text reads, “The Sick Times. “This exhaustion is cellular”: Excerpts from the new book ‘What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Like?’ By Madelleine Muller.”

Then there’s the ME pain of exhaustion. This is not something an able-bodied person will ever have felt, even at their most exhausted. This exhaustion is cellular, and it feels like every cell is cramping, vibrating, and hungry at the same time.

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