Virologist Malinnikova: long-term COVID-19 can be compared to herpes 
Long-term COVID-19 should be considered a chronic disease that the virus has been circulating in the human body for a long time. This was stated by Elena Malinnikova, head of the Department of Virology of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education, she is quoted by TASS.
The virologist said that there are cases when the virus persists for more than 12 months, and compared it with herpes, which can lead ourselves in this way.
“In some cases, there is a transition of the disease from an acute phase to a chronic one, and we understand that the virus has not gone away and can be latent in certain cells and, after some time, come out again. We have seen and know this in herpes, “Malinnikova said.
Earlier it was reported that a Russian woman with reduced immunity was ill with COVID-19 for six months, as a result, 18 new mutations of the coronavirus developed in her body. We are talking about a 47-year-old patient with malignant lymphoma. She contracted the coronavirus in April 2020 at the hospital while undergoing a course of chemotherapy. Until September 9th, her tests showed a positive result for the infection.