COVID-19 can potentially invade brain neurons. The immune response engendered by the virus can also impair brain function.

There exist three neuropsychiatric stages of the illness based on the degree of viral brain invasion and the immune response induced by the virus:

• A decreased response to smell due to viral invasion of olfactory epithelial cells marks one of the earliest signs of COVID-19. Loss of taste results from viral penetration of mouth epithelial cells.
• When the virus invades the bloodstream inflammation and hypercoagulation can produce fatigue, sensory loss, double vision, paralysis, unsteadiness, difficulty speaking, and stroke.
• The virus can cross the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system causing demyelination or neurodegeneration resulting in seizures confusion, delirium, coma, and death.

In a study involving patients who died from COVID-19, one in five had evidence of encephalopathy. Brain complications can both occur in those who have recovered from the respiratory syndrome and those who have had no respiratory symptoms.

In 125 reports gathered in a UK database 20% of COVID-19 patients had new-onset psychiatric syndromes. In those 20% of patients 43% were diagnosed with psychosis; 26% had a dementia-like neurocognitive disorder; and 17% were diagnosed with a mood disorders, 17%.

Based on SARS-CV-1, HIV, HSV (herpes), and SARS extrapolations we may expect COVID-19 post-illness memory problems: 20%; PTSD, 55%; depression, 39%; panic disorder, 33%; and OCD, 16%.

Based on scientific data those of us who wear masks wherever we go, keep a 5-foot distance from others, avoid touching our faces, and frequently wash our hands can avoid the stigmata associated with COVID-19.