P.E.I. woman who's still suffering questions COVID-19 'recovery' numbers

Rosie Shaw feels groggy and tired most days. She sometimes sleeps for 16 hours in a row,and still needs a nap the same day.It's been this way ever since she tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan.3.

"There are lingering symptoms for sure," Shaw saidfrom her home in Johnston's River, P.E.I.

According to P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Office,Shaw is deemed recovered.

Guidelines from theCPHOstate that acase is deemed recovered if it has been seven days (if fully vaccinated) since symptoms began, or 10 days if not fully vaccinated.

But Shawdoesn't like that terminology. She would like to see the province doa more thorough followupto checkon people who have tested positive, and how they are actually recovered.

Unpredictable fatigue

Shaw said herfatigue is unpredictable, and a real contrast to her energy levelspre-COVID-19 in fact,people used to describe her as "hyper."

Shesaid her heart also races at times, and she feels uneasy or wobbly.

She bought a heart-rate and oxygen-level monitorand said it does giveher some reassurancewhen she's not feeling well.

"I worry this is a forever situation," she said.

No longer considered contagious

In astatement emailedto CBCNews, P.E.I.'s CPHOsaid in part,"Recoveries posted to the web are based on time since symptom onset or diagnosis if asymptomatic.The intent is to capture individuals who are no longer considered contagious."

"As with other viral infections, symptoms of COVID-19 may linger beyond the period of infectiousness."

Officials explain that the active case tracking is key to gauging the impact of COVID-19 in P.E.I.

'Nobody's calling to check'

Knowing her own situation has ledShaw to questionreports about so-called recovered cases.

The province regularly reports recovery numbers when it announces case numbers.

"I don't even know why they're reporting it. It doesn't seem useful to mebecause it doesn't mean anything right now," she said.

Shaw said for her the word "recovered" implies someone is healthy, back to their pre-COVID-19state.

"Nobody's calling to check if you are recovered," Shaw said.She said they are just "assumptions" based on testing.

Shawsaidit bugs her that real recoveries arenot tracked better.

She said sheknows the health-care system is stretched,but wondersif volunteers could be used to call patients,or if they could fill out a self-reporting formonce they complete isolation.

Response on social media

Shaw posted about her experience on Twitter and said she heard from others who are also suffering.

"There are people who had COVID a month ago who are still not over it," she said.

She worriesabout herself and others, especially anyone who is unvaccinated.

"I had my booster, I was triple vaxxed and still got it," she said.

Long COVIDa possibility

The email from CPHOalso points outsymptomsof long COVIDcan occur in some people.

Common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breathand cognitive dysfunction.

The email states: "Research reviewed by the Public Health Agency of Canada as part of a living systematic review showed 56 per centofindividuals who have had COVID-19 reported thepresence of one or more symptoms 12 weeks after diagnosis."

Public Health officialsencourage Islanderswho have persistent symptoms of COVID-19 to seek medical care.