COVID-19: Insights into long-term manifestations and lockdown impacts

•Non-respiratory symptoms are common in acute and post-acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including many aspects of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).•CVDs are still the leading cause of deaths globally.•Sufficient levels of regular physical activity (PA) are crucial for cardiovascular health, healthy bodyweight, and good mental health.•Regular PA reduces the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.•New techniques such as fitness tracking apps and wearables, online sports classes, tele-rehabilitations or simple training at home according to special exercise plans are promising tools to achieve regular PA in difficult situations such as lockdowns. Coronaviruses are pathogens thought to primarily affect the respiratory tracts of humans. The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019 was also marked mainly by its symptoms of respiratory illness, which were named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since its initial discovery, many other symptoms have been linked to acute SARS-CoV-2 infections as well as to the long-term outcomes of COVID-19 patients. Among these symptoms are different categories of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which continue to be the main cause of death worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that 17.9 million people die from CVDs each year, accounting for ∼32% of all deaths globally. Physical inactivity is one of the most important behavioral risk factors for CVDs. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected CVDs as well as the physical activity in different ways. Here, we provide an overview of the current status as well as future challenges and possible solutions. [Display omitted]