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2 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PROCLAMATION <br /> LONG COVID AWARENESS MONTH - MARCH 2O26 <br /> Whereas, Long COVID is a systemic and often debilitating and disabling long-term <br /> outcome of an acute COVID - 19 infection; and <br /> Whereas, Long COVID has the potential to worsen pre-existing health conditions and can <br /> even cause death months to years after an acute COVID - 19 infection; and <br /> Whereas, there are more than 200 documented Long COVID symptoms, which can vary <br /> from person to person and can include fatigue, cognitive impairment, muscle orjoint pain, <br /> shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sleep difficulties, mood changes, and damage to <br /> organ systems and tissue; and <br /> Whereas, Long COVID can trigger other infection-associated chronic conditions such as <br /> postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and other forms of dysautonomia, mast cell <br /> activation syndrome, fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, <br /> and many others; and <br /> Whereas, there is no single diagnostic test or protocol to confirm a Long COVID <br /> diagnosis; and <br /> Whereas, many providers are unprepared to identify, diagnose, or treat Long COVID due <br /> to a lack of education and information, and some providers refrain from making a Long <br /> COVID diagnosis at all; and <br /> Whereas, millions of U.S. adults and children have been affected by Long COVID <br /> according to the Centers for Disease Control, and Long COVID disproportionately affects <br /> racial and ethnic minorities, women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with <br /> lower incomes; and <br /> Whereas, there are no approved cures for Long COVID, and most of the treatments <br /> involve addressing individual symptoms using established therapies; and <br /> Whereas, investing in Long COVID research and promoting the development of treatment <br /> and diagnostic tools remain priorities to improve the quality of life for those impacted by <br /> Long COVID; <br /> NOW THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby <br /> proclaim March 2026 as Long COVID Awareness Month and retroactively designate <br /> March 15, 2026, as "Long COVID Awareness Day" in Orange County, recognizing <br /> patients and their families and caregivers who are affected by Long COVID. <br /> This the 17th day of March, 2026. <br /> Jean Hamilton, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />