200,000 SCOTS HAVE LONG COVID

Sufferers call for more Government help.. and more support from GPs

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

PAIR TELL OF DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF VIRUS

LONG Covid sufferers have begged health chiefs for more support as figures show more than 200,000 Scots are living with the condition.

To mark International Long Covid Day today, two victims told how their lives have been ruined after catching the virus then continuing to be ill.

John McClelland, 52, and Joanna Laidlaw, 61, had active lifestyles before contracting Covid but it is the aftermath of the virus which has ripped their lives apart.

Both are being supported by Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland's Long Covid Support Group but they believe the Scottish Government should be doing more.

For John, of Creetown, Kirkcudbrightshire, long Covid means the end of his international sports career.