During
a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay
home as much as possible to further reduce your
risk of being exposed.
Who is at
Higher Risk? Early information out of China, where COVID-19
first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting
very sick from this illness. This includes:
Older
adults
People
who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
Heart
disease
Diabetes
Lung
disease
If a COVID-19 outbreak happens in your community, it
could last for a long time. (An outbreak is when a large number of
people suddenly get sick.) Depending on how severe the outbreak is,
public health officials may recommend community actions to reduce
people’s risk of being exposed to COVID-19. These actions can slow the
spread and reduce the impact of disease.
If you are at higher risk for serious illness from
COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term
health problem, it is extra important for you to take actions to reduce
your risk of getting sick with the disease.
Get Ready for COVID-19 Now
Have
supplies on hand
Contact
your healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary
medications to have on hand in case there is an outbreak of
COVID-19 in your community and you need to stay home for a
prolonged period of time.
If
you cannot get extra medications, consider using mail-order for
medications.
Be
sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues,
etc.) to treat fever and other symptoms. Most people will be able
to recover from COVID-19 at home.
Have
enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be
prepared to stay at home for a period of time.
Take
everyday precautions
Avoid
close contact with people who are sick
Take
everyday preventive actions
Clean
your hands often
Wash
your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds,
especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or
having been in a public place.
If
soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that
contains at least 60% alcohol.
To
the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in
public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails,
handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to
cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
Wash
your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
Avoid
touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
Clean
and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine
cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables,
doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets,
sinks & cell phones)
Avoid
crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of
exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in
crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there
are people in the crowd who are sick.
Avoid
all non-essential travel including plane trips, and especially
avoid embarking on cruise ships.
If
COVID-19 is spreading in your community, take extra measures to
put distance between yourself and other people to further reduce
your risk of being exposed to this new virus.
Stay
home as much as possible.
Consider
ways of getting food brought to your house through family,
social, or commercial networks
Stay
in touch with others by phone or email. You may need to ask for
help from friends, family, neighbors, community health workers,
etc. if you become sick.
Determine
who can provide you with care if your caregiver gets sick
Watch for symptoms and emergency warning signs
Pay
attention for potential COVID-19 symptoms including, fever, cough,
and shortness of breath. If you feel like you are developing
symptoms, call your doctor.
If
you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical
attention immediately. In adults, emergency warning signs*:
Difficulty
breathing or shortness of breath
Persistent
pain or pressure in the chest
New
confusion or inability to arouse
Bluish
lips or face
*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your
medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
What to Do if You Get Sick
Stay
home and call your doctor
Call
your healthcare provider and let them know about your symptoms.
Tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help them
take care of you and keep other people from getting infected or
exposed.
Get
medical attention immediately if you have any of the emergency
warning signs listed above.
What Others can do to Support Older Adults
Community
Support for Older Adults
Community
preparedness planning for COVID-19 should include older adults and
people with disabilities, and the organizations that support them
in their communities, to ensure their needs are taken into
consideration.
Many
of these individuals live in the community, and many depend on
services and supports provided in their homes or in the community
to maintain their health and independence.
Know
what medications your loved one is taking and see if you can help
them have extra on hand.
Monitor
food and other medical supplies (oxygen, incontinence, dialysis,
wound care) needed and create a back-up plan.
Stock
up on non-perishable food items to have on hand in your home to
minimize trips to stores.
If
you care for a loved one living in a care facility, monitor the
situation, ask about the health of the other residents frequently
and know the protocol if there is an outbreak.
