text: Rapid implementation of a cohort for the study of post acute sequelae of SARS CoV 2 infection COVID 19 As the coronavirus disease 2019 COVID 19 pandemic continues and millions remain vulnerable to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 SARS CoV 2 attention has turned to characterizing post acute sequelae of SARS CoV 2 infection PASC From April 21 to December 31 2020 we assembled a cohort of consecutive volunteers who a had documented history of SARS CoV 2 RNA positivity b were 2 weeks past onset of COVID 19 symptoms or if asymptomatic first test for SARS CoV 2 and c were able to travel to our site in San Francisco Participants learned about the study by being identified on medical center based registries and being notified or by responding to advertisements At 4 month intervals we asked participants about physical symptoms that were new or worse compared to the period prior to COVID 19 mental health symptoms and quality of life We described 4 time periods 1 acute illness 0 3 weeks 2 early recovery 3 10 weeks 3 late recovery 1 12 20 weeks and 4 late recovery 2 28 36 weeks Blood and oral specimens were collected at each visit We have to date enrolled 179 adults During acute SARS CoV 2 infection 10 had been asymptomatic 125 symptomatic but not hospitalized and 44 symptomatic and hospitalized In the acute phase the most common symptoms were fatigue fever myalgia cough and anosmia dysgeusia During the post acute phase fatigue shortness of breath concentration problems headaches trouble sleeping and anosmia dysgeusia were the most commonly reported symptoms but a variety of others were endorsed by at least some participants Some experienced symptoms of depression anxiety and post traumatic stress as well as difficulties with ambulation and performance of usual activities The median visual analogue scale value rating of general health was lower at 4 and 8 months 80 interquartile range IQR 70 90 and 80 IQR 75 90 compared to prior to COVID 19 85 IQR 75 90 Biospecimens were collected at nearly 600 participant visits Among a cohort of participants enrolled in the post acute phase of SARS CoV 2 infection we found many with persistent physical symptoms through 8 months following onset of COVID 19 with an impact on self rated overall health The presence of participants with and without symptoms and ample biological specimens will facilitate study of PASC pathogenesis Similar evaluations in a population representative sample will be needed to estimate the population level prevalence of PASC 