Startling Discovery: COVID-19 Virus Can Stay in the Body More Than a Year After Infection.

New research from UC San Francisco has found that COVID-19 can remain in the blood and tissue of some patients for over a year after infection, offering insights into the development of long COVID symptoms. The studies led by Michael Peluso reveal COVID antigens persisting in the blood for up to 14 months and in tissue samples for over two years, suggesting a possible link to long-term health effects.

The COVID-19 virus can persist in the blood and tissue of patients for more than a year after the acute phase of the illness has ended, according to new research from UC San Francisco that offers potential clues to why some people develop long COVID.