Above the Age of 60? Here Are Some Essential Tips To Stay Safe and Protect Yourself and Loved Ones from Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus outbreak has become a pandemic, according to World Health Organisation (WHO), and governments across the world are taking measures to curb it. Personally, there is a lot we can do as individuals to ensure that we don't get infected or spread it to others. The virus can infect anyone, regardless of age. But there are certain groups that are more vulnerable than others. For instance, those above 60 are at a higher risk as well as those with certain ailments or pre-exisiting health conditions, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Those with chronic conditions like heart diseases, diabetes, and lung diseases are at a higher risk. Someone who falls in both these categories face a higher risk than others. If you do fall into any of these categories, then it is important for you to take extra care. With age our immune system weakens, Dr. Samir Sinha, director of Geriatrics for the Sinai Health System and the University Health Network in Toronto, told CNN. 

Those over the age of 80 need to exercise a lot more caution since a report has shown that fatality goes up in adults over 80. Published in the medical journal JAMA, a report that examined more than 72,000 Chinese coronavirus patients found that while the overall fatality rate was 2.3%, when it came to those above the age of 80, it was 15%. 

The CDC recommends stocking up on basic supplies and social distancing, i.e. maintaining space between yourself and others. Here are some more recommendations by the CDC: 

1. When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact, and wash your hands often.
2. Avoid crowds as much as possible.
3. Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
4. During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.

If you see that coronavirus is spreading in your community rather quickly and more people are being tested positive, then you need to take further precautions like avoiding going out of the house at all costs. CDC recommends that you "consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks." 

Also, if you do get sick, it is best to have a plan in place. You can start off by staying in touch with your healthcare provider and seeking more information about monitoring symptoms that could suggest an infection. It is also best to stay in touch with people over phone or email, since it is possible that you might need their help in the next few weeks. One of the most important parts would be to figure out who can be your caregiver and find a replacement if your caregiver gets sick, too. 

To be able to monitor yourself well, it's important to know the symptoms, which include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor. If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately.

In adults, emergency warning signs include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, and bluish lips or face. 

References: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhigh-risk%2Fhigh-risk-complications.html

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/12/health/what-60-older-need-to-know-coronavirus-wellness-trnd/index.html

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2762130

Disclaimer: Information about COVID-19 is swiftly changing, and Women Working is committed to providing the most recent and verified updates in our articles and reportage. However, considering the frequency in developments, some of the information/data in this article may have changed since the time of publication. Therefore, we encourage you to also regularly check online resources from local public health departments, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization.