'Long Covid may force me to sell my home'
A woman from Worcester's calling on the Chancellor to offer sufferers more support, as our investigation into the long term effects of coronavirus continues...
Nic Mitchell believes she was one of the first people in the UK to catch coronavirus after falling ill on holiday in January.
Before that, she was walking her dogs a few miles every day and riding a motorcycle around the Cotswolds.
Now she's unable to get out of bed and can't maintain the flats she rents out, which is her main source of income.
"It makes me very angry that I worked so hard and paid so many taxes" Nic says. "Now I need help and I'm completely vulnerable. I'm physically too ill to walk to work to contribute to the economy and all I want is a little bit of help".
Nic can't get access to Universal Credit because she owns more than one property, which the Government considers savings. She's also unable to access the Chancellor's support schemes because the money she normally makes from rent isn't considered trade income and won't be covered by the Treasury.
"What am I supposed to do, sell the flats?" Nic asks. "I can hardly talk about it without crying. I love this place, I've spent so much time making it beautiful and I never thought I'd get into a situation where I might have to lose it."
A treasury spokesperson says ÂŁ9 billion has been made available in extra welfare support and that statutory sick pay has been extended to those who are ill from Covid-19.
What is Long Covid?
Long Covid is the name that's been given to prolong coronavirus symptoms. It's estimated that around 60,000 people in the UK are suffering from the condition.
Not much is known about it as very little research has been done. We discovered that GPs in the West Midlands are unable to treat it because there's no medical guidance.
Scientists at Oxford University have found symptoms can last for two or three months and can trigger depression in some people.
A study also found abnormalities in multiple organs and persistent inflammation in survivors.
The Health Secretary told MPs on Monday that there's growing evidence of the debilitating consequences of Long Covid.
Guidelines on treatment are being put together by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.