In 2020, sick leave among people in employment was at its lowest-ever level, according to the Office for National Statistics. One possible reason for this is that many people were on furlough while those working from home due to the pandemic could do so from under blankets despite feeling unwell.

But things are different in 2022. The IPPR report found that the past two years of Covid have worsened regional inequality, with Wales, Scotland and every region in the north of England and the Midlands having higher long Covid incidences than the UK average.

Levelling up: why are 2.5 million adults off work due to poor health?