Coronavirus Australia: Scary new virus after-effect

There are growing concerns over a potentially deadly COVID-19 symptom, which can cause “lasting damage” long after the virus disappears.

Former neuroscientist and respected health and science reporter David Cox has revealed an alarming potential long-term symptom of COVID-19.

Writing for The Guardian, Dr Cox claimed coronavirus could leave patients with “lasting heart damage long after the initial symptoms had “dissipated”.

He reported that the worrying after-effect was first noticed by Wuhan doctors in the early days of the pandemic, who noted a significant number of coronavirus cases were admitted to intensive care wards with myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle.

Dr Cox cited several studies which showed a significant number of coronavirus patients were experiencing “cardiac injuries”.

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Registered Nurse Debbie Bhatti conducts a COVID-19 swab test. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

While not all COVID-19 sufferers will experience that particular side effect – and while many of those who do will recover – Dr Cox said cardiologists were growing increasingly worried by the fact that even those who experienced only mild virus symptoms could be “at risk of developing heart problems”.

“Cardiologists are still trying to find out exactly why some people are left with enduring heart problems despite having had an apparently mild bout of COVID-19,” Dr Cox wrote.

“The underlying mechanisms are thought to be slow and subtle changes that are quite different to those that put strain on the heart during the acute illness, especially in patients who have been hospitalised with the disease.”

Victoria has recorded nine new cases of coronavirus and no deaths today.

The new cases means metropolitan Melbourne’s rolling 14-day average has dropped again, to 11.6.

Regional Victoria’s average rose to 0.3 from 0.2 yesterday.

NSW has recorded its 10th consecutive day of zero community transmission, with just one returned traveller in hotel quarantine testing positive.

Despite the low figures, the NSW health department is still urging residents to wear masks on public transport and in ride-sharing services or other places where people cannot physically distance.