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More than 33,000 Aussies may suffer long COVID

One in three people who catch coronavirus will suffer at least one symptom of long COVID, a new study has found, which means as many as 33,000 Australians may have struggled with the mysterious, lingering effects of the virus.

The just-released study into long COVID, a phenomenon where people who have recovered from the virus remain hit with debilitating symptoms for months afterwards, is one of the most in-depth to have been conducted, involving 270,000 people in the US.

Researchers found 37 per cent of patients suffered at least one long COVID symptom three to six months after infection.

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An electron microscope image shows the spherical particles of the new coronavirus, coloured blue, from the first US case of COVID-19.

The most common symptoms were breathing problems, abdominal symptoms, fatigue, pain and anxiety or depression.

People hospitalised with coronavirus were more likely to suffer long COVID, the study found, particularly symptoms of ongoing and crushing fatigue and a condition called brain fog.

"The best way that I can describe the brain fog is just like I'm sleepwalking 24/7," Maddy Bourke told 9News earlier this month.

"It feels like I'm constantly in that dreamlike state."

Melbourne teaching student Maddy Bourke has urged young people to get vaccinated, after her prolonged fight with long COVID symptoms.

The 24-year-old teaching student from Melbourne is one of many Australians, young and old, battling long COVID and the mental and emotional toll that fight can bring.

Eight months after catching COVID-19, Ms Bourke still suffers weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath.

"It's very, very draining (and) very tiring to struggle through the days."

More than 101,000 Australians have tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, with possibly one-third experiencing long COVID according to the study's estimations.

Do you suffer from long COVID? Email follow the group on Twitter here.

Taiwan politicians brawl amid anger over COVID-19 response

Taiwan's legislature descended into a rowdy brawl after opposition politicians interrupted an important policy address and rushed the podium.

Opposition politicians pushed their way to the speaker's podium as the chamber's head, Su Tseng-chang, was opening his annual address on the government’s performance with a focus on national security and the economy.

In the ensuing melee, a few politicians were shoved to the ground and others poured out bottles of water onto their opponents.

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Premier Su Tseng-chang, in purple mask, tries to make a policy speech amid a scuffle between opposition Nationalist party and ruling Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers during a parliament session in Taipei.

Mr Tseng-chang was unable to give his speech.

The opposition politicians — members of the Nationalist party, or Kuomingtang — broke through the protective barrier formed by members of Mr Tseng-chang's own party, the ruling Democratic Progress Party, as they shouted for the speaker's resignation over his government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nationalist party has criticised the ruling administration over its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Legislators on Tuesday waved signs which called recently shortened quarantine requirements for pilots a “big breach”.

Taiwan faced a large coronavirus outbreak in May and June this year, in which more than 800 people died.

Opposition Nationalist party lawmaker Chen Yu-jen, in white shirt, is grabbed by ruling Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers as she tries to climb onto the podium during a parliament session in Taipei.

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Many had suspected the outbreak had come from pilots returning home who only had to do three-day quarantines.

The original source of the May outbreak hasn't been officially confirmed.

Last year, members of the Nationalist Party brought pig guts into the chamber and threw them around in a melee to protest Taiwan's removal of a ban on American pork products.

On YouTube, where videos of the fight were shared, many comments were supportive of the brawl.

Some praised the Kuomingtang for “becoming stronger.”