I think it's important to recognize that the pandemic isn't over. It's not nearly over. With all the new waves and variants, long COVID continues. More people are joining our groups. When is this going to end? I think it's really urgent to understand the fast nature of how we need to get on top of this while we can. It's just compiling. The numbers are growing. This is an urgent situation that needs to be brought to the top of the criteria. People are really suffering here.
We don't want to see this happening to more people. We need to understand what is happening. We need to help our researchers, again, funding their efforts in perhaps different ways from what we're used to. It's very frustrating for researchers to get their studies up and running and then there are setbacks in terms of getting their budgets or whatever needs to get going. Everything is just taking such a long time to get rolling. We just really need to get on top of this.
Canada really lagged in recognizing this. The first recognition of long COVID was in July of 2021 with Dr. Tam's announcement that there was such an outcome. I think we really need to step up on this illness. Other countries have made significant contributions to dealing with the necessary issues and supporting with funds. Billions of dollars in the States have been allotted to research and funding for long COVID.
As well, recognizing it as a disability would give people access. I think that's a critical thing. People are really suffering. They can't go back to work. They don't have access to food or to the basic necessities of life. I think that's something you need to rectify right away.