Difficulty breathing is a symptom of coronavirus infection, and it may linger for months afterwards, according to some patient reports. Lung scarring (aka pulmonary fibrosis) is known to lead to difficulty breathing, and some doctors have already noted its occurrence in COVID-19 patients. According to one radiologist who spoke to Vox, such scarring is likely to occur more frequently in older people and those with preexisting conditions, such as asthma or hypertension.
Image Source: Getty / PixelCatchers