Among the COVID-19 long-haulers: Iowa Rep. Amy Nielsen, who says it's 'like you have the flu for two

Among the COVID-19 long-haulers: Iowa Rep. Amy Nielsen, who says it's 'like you have the flu for two months'


Two months after testing positive for coronavirus, Iowa state Rep. Amy Nielsen still has difficulty breathing. She frequently feels lightheaded. And, occasionally, she experiences "horrible headaches."

The Democrat from North Liberty tested positive on Jan. 30, just weeks into Iowa's legislative session. And what she initially expected to be a few weeks of illness has now stretched into two months. Nielsen is one of six people who have reported coronavirus positive tests in the Iowa House of Representatives this year. One more positive case was reported in the Iowa Senate on Monday.

Those who work in the Iowa Capitol are not required to disclose if they have tested positive for coronavirus or if they've had close contact with someone else who tested positive.

Nielsen said in a phone interview last week that she's feeling quite a bit better — maybe 75% of normal. But those lingering symptoms are like "feeling like you have the flu for two months," she said. Nielsen said in a phone interview last week that she's feeling quite a bit better — maybe 75% of normal. But those lingering symptoms are like "feeling like you have the flu for two months," she said.

Read more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/30/iowa-rep-amy-nielsen-still-has-covid-19-symptoms-two-months-after-testing-positive-state-capitol/7002252002/