Long term may be a better description than permanent. But we don't know and won't know for a while what long term complications are caused. Look at HIV, you get a cold and then nothing maybe for years, then everything falls to pieces. It may not be as severe as HIV and it may be more severe than pneumonia. Why do you want to take that risk when you can avoid it with some simple precautions? If it turns out that these aren't permanent then you can go and catch it next year, no need to rush in now is there.
> Even after the disease has passed, lung injury may result in breathing difficulties that might take months to improve.
You know what that's called? Pneumonia! All pneumonias cause that type of injury and take months to recover from.