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International Long Covid Awareness Month — March 2026
March marks International Long Covid Awareness Month, with 15 March recognised globally as Long Covid Awareness Day.
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An international press release issued this week highlights awareness activities taking place across patient groups, clinicians, researchers and advocacy organisations worldwide. The campaign seeks to promote informed discussion around the ongoing impact of Long Covid, research priorities and prevention.
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Reflection and Evidence
As part of Long Covid Awareness Day, we also encourage space for reflection.
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What practical changes would make your workplace safer and more sustainable for staff living with or at risk of Long Covid?
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Awareness is most meaningful when it informs constructive action. This month’s research summary explores return-to-work challenges and the importance of sustainable, flexible workplace support — reinforcing that prevention and occupational health planning must sit alongside recognition and solidarity.
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Covid-19 is preventable —
clean air is a safety standard, not a luxury
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One of the most important messages as we approach Long Covid Awareness Day that is at the heart of our Safe Air 4 All campaign is simple:
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Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses are airborne
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— and airborne infection is preventable.
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We would never accept unsafe drinking water in hospitals. We would never tolerate contaminated food. Yet we continue to accept poorly ventilated indoor air in healthcare settings.
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Indoor air quality deserves the same attention. Scientific understanding of airborne transmission has evolved, and we now know that SARS-CoV-2 spreads through the air we share.
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Our 2026–2028 Safe Air 4 All strategy sets out a clear vision: a healthcare system where airborne infection risks are actively controlled and reduced through evidence-based measures — where clean air as standard is the norm, not the exception.
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Why this matters
Preventing infection is not only clinically important; it is economically and socially responsible. It is far more cost-effective than treating its consequences. Every avoided infection:
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- Reduces the risk of Long Covid
- Protects healthcare workers from repeated exposure
- Cuts sickness absence
- Protects vulnerable patients
- Reduces pressure on the NHS
Improving ventilation and air quality forms part of a layered approach to infection prevention that reflects current scientific understanding.
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Long Covid is not always an unavoidable aftermath — reducing infection risk reduces the likelihood of long-term harm.
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We know what works
- Recognition that Covid-19 is airborne
- Adequate ventilation
- HEPA filtration where needed
- CO₂ monitoring to identify poorly ventilated spaces
- Access to appropriate respiratory protective equipment (FFP2/FFP3 or PAPRs)
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These are practical, achievable, evidence-based safety controls. Prevention is about applying established safety principles consistently and proportionately.
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Reframing the conversation
Our campaign is working to reposition airborne infection as a preventable occupational safety risk, not an inevitable winter inconvenience. Safe indoor air should become as expected as clean water and safe food in healthcare settings.
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Healthcare workers deserve evidence-based protection. Patients deserve safe environments. And prevention is far cheaper – financially and socially – than the long-term burden of repeated infections and chronic illness.
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Covid is not “just something we have to live with”. Unsafe air is a systems failure – and systems can be fixed.
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At SHH-UK, we will continue to campaign for policy change, enforceable indoor air quality standards, and practical tools that empower staff and patients to ask:
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“What is the air quality here?”
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Because prevention is possible — and safe air saves lives.
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Marking 15th March — Long Covid Awareness Pins
To mark Long Covid Awareness Day, SHH-UK is offering Long Covid Awareness pins.
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Wearing a pin is a simple but visible way to:
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- Show solidarity with colleagues living with Long Covid
- Keep Long Covid visible in our workplaces
- Encourage informed conversations about prevention and safer healthcare environments
Every pin purchased helps fund SHH-UK’s ongoing work — including peer support groups, information resources, and our evidence-informed campaigns to improve infection prevention and indoor air standards.
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Pins cost £7 each or £23 for four.
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Thank you for standing alongside healthcare workers living with the long-term impacts of Covid-19.
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Media call-out: healthcare workers with Long Covid
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The Module 3 report of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry — focusing on the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems and workers — is due to be published on 18 March.
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In the lead-up to publication, journalists are expected to seek interviews with healthcare workers affected by Covid-19 and Long Covid.
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SHH-UK is compiling a list of healthcare professionals living with Long Covid who would be willing to speak to the media. This list may also be shared with Long Covid SOS, who were core participants for Module 3, to help coordinate media engagement and ensure healthcare worker perspectives are represented.
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If you would like to be included, please email info@shh-uk.org by 10 March and provide:
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- Your contact details
- A one-sentence summary of your Long Covid experience
- Your location (e.g. London, Newcastle, Swansea)
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There is no obligation to speak to the media if contacted. This simply enables us and our partners to connect journalists with individuals who have expressed interest. We will only share your details with journalists after confirming your consent at the time. Healthcare worker voices are central to understanding the long-term impact of the pandemic, and informed participation helps ensure those experiences are heard accurately and responsibly.
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Volunteer With SHH-UK – opportunities now live on reach
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As Supporting Healthcare Heroes UK continues to grow, so does our need for skilled, values-driven volunteers to help us deliver our 2026–2028 strategy — including peer support, dissemination of information, fundraising, and our #SafeAir4All campaign.
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We currently have a few volunteer vacancies advertised on Reach Volunteering. These roles offer an opportunity to contribute to meaningful, evidence-informed work that supports healthcare workers living with Long Covid and campaigns for safer healthcare environments
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We are currently looking for:
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- Someone to lead our volunteer engagement
- People to join our social media team
- Additional moderators for our online support groups (particularly those able to volunteer in the evenings)
If you are interested, please visit Reach Volunteering and search for Supporting Healthcare Heroes UK, or contact us at info@shh-uk.org directly for more information
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To apply or learn more, click Volunteer with SHH-UK
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Together, we can protect those who cared for us.
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Peer support groups
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SHH-UK peer support groups provide a safe, confidential space for healthcare workers living with Long Covid to connect, share experiences, and support one another. These groups are peer support and do not replace medical or occupational health
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Our new online support group meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 11am. The first meeting took place on Tuesday 24th February.
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You can join the next meeting on Tuesday 10th March (and future meetings) by clicking here.
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This group doesn't have a formal agenda and welcomes all types of healthcare workers living with Long Covid. As this group is new, it is being shaped by its members, with the support of Amatur-Rahmaan, Amber and Gonenc (SHH-UK volunteers). New members welcome.
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The Cognitive Dysfunction support group meets once a quarter. This group is a safe online space for healthcare workers affected by cognitive challenges to connect, share and feel understood.
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You can join the next meeting, on Tuesday 5th May at 11am, by clicking here.
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Dee, Alison and Sian (SHH-UK volunteers) will be there to welcome you.
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Coming soon! We are planning a new evening peer support group, specifically for healthcare workers who are back at work, or planning a return to work (whether it's the same job, something similar or a completely different job). More details to follow in the next newsletter and on social media.
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We can send you an email reminder, the day before our peer support group meetings. If you'd like a reminder or have any questions, please email supportgroup@shh-uk.org.
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Don't miss our AGM
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Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Wednesday 11th March from 3-5pm. Invitations have already been sent to all volunteers and trustees – please let us know if you haven’t received yours.If you would like to join us to hear more about what we’ve achieved over the past year, and our plans for the year ahead, we’d be delighted to have you with us.
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Meet the volunteer
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Damilola
I'm Damilola (Dammy) Yusuf, a passionate operations and customer service leader with over 17 years of experience across banking support, analytics and back-office administration.
Recently relocated to the UK, I am eager to channel my skills toward creating meaningful change in my new community.
My background in optimizing service delivery and leading operational improvements positions me well to contribute to SHH-UK’s goals of driving greater impact.
I plan to support SHH‑UK by helping strengthen administrative systems, improve communications and insights and contribute to programs that raise awareness and build stronger support networks for healthcare heroes nationwide.
My goal is to help SHH‑UK grow its influence and effectiveness, ensuring that every initiative delivers greater value to the healthcare community and I am committed to supporting the organization with precision, empathy and a strong focus on excellence.
Thank you
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