By April 24, The World Health Organization reported 2,626,321 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 181,938 deaths.

 The vast majority of people who are getting infection with COVID-19 are recovering fully with no lasting effects. Very severe infections or those that require ventilation in the intensive care unit can have effects on the lungs and muscles due to both the coronavirus and the effects of being in intensive care. This will only affect a small percentage of patients who get the infection (1). Nevertheless, while most people recover from pneumonia without any lasting lung damage, the pneumonia associated with COVID-19 may be severe. Even after the disease has passed, lung injury may result in breathing difficulties that might take months to improve (2). Some physicians observe severe lung damage even in asymptomatic patients (3).

Moreover, virus attacks the 1-beta chain of hemoglobin. The attack will cause less and less hemoglobin that can carry oxygen and carbon dioxide (4).

Appropriate lung and gas transportation functions is a cornerstone of our sport. Please follow all medical and social recommendations about prevention of COVID-19. Consequences of viral pneumonia may jeopardize your ability to go in for freediving for long period of time.

We wish you stay safe and healthy.

DISCLAIMER: The text below is the review of the information that is publicly available. AIDA International isn’t responsible for assessment and/ or ranking of scientific evidence of presented data. An individual should follow the recommendations of local authorities and treating physician(s).

References

1. European Lung Foundation. https://www.europeanlung.org/en/QA-covid-19
2. Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/what-coronavirus-does-to-the-lungs
3. https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/04/24/divers-face-long-term-health-impact-from-covid-19/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=1a2d6800807be1a2e0750e164a6669a92cad1292-1587817174-0-ARiLgspWIceOyy-RKJuDOfsc03LiHDd2XS37hJcDNCAogMUaC1_4wWArlsn6F9tLfcf8unMwCr0YZaL-U_dHrPtdtB0VbtS0VWSWkJU3VoCowrrwCouPDZ02kLJmq4KBXQ7Zirjfiv_leSRnxiOaoaqSdlqR2sOjzYp3KKQXPdlP9esGoHwKcv-7xq8SMkrDstiQdtEmVu4Q0r_DP-uq4DBFzKNYcbLL7jp51zJlz3sD-piPTaowGQbkwC2z_Jd-yxihr0fSwkywqkraledEHiy4NiNgVDgoAkEX-85DeJAG6pALmh3GsLkvMjglpswGl49fS9HSLAsnPsmeQr5TydoheMwO3hlhOb7djx_0JHFW
4. Wenzhong, L., Hualan L. COVID-19: Attacks the 1-Beta Chain of Hemoglobin and Captures the Porphyrin to Inhibit Human Heme Metabolism. https://chemrxiv.org/articles/COVID-19_Disease_ORF8_and_Surface_Glycoprotein_Inhibit_Heme_Metabolism_by_Binding_to_Porphyrin/11938173