Steps You Can Take To Reduce Coronavirus Exposure To At-Risk Demographics
We must come together as Americans to fight and ultimately beat the spread of COVID-19. As our nation’s doctors, scientists, first responders, and communities continue to study and battle COVID-19, we cannot ignore that this virus disproportionately impacts the elderly in our communities.
According to the CDC, older adults and those with serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease are at higher risk from Coronavirus.
As a result of these facts, our county public health departments recommend that at-risk populations stay in their homes to avoid exposure and that communities put in place social distancing practices to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus.
These social distancing practices may need to last for a few weeks to a few months. Preparing for social distancing for these long periods can be a daunting task for the most vulnerable among us.
While younger people may not feel that they are at risk, it is important to recognize the role we all play in keeping our communities healthy. Those who adhere to the social mitigation and social distancing habits recommended by the CDC greatly reduce their own risk of exposure and/or infecting others.
Our local county health departments are a great resource during this time. By visiting their websites, you can find best practices and also information on what to do should you become sick.
County Health Departments:
You can also contact the New York State Department of Health’s 24/7 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.
While the next few months may be challenging, together the North Country can greatly reduce the risk of a Coronavirus outbreak and in doing so help protect the elderly and vulnerable in our communities.
The information below is courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.
If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should:
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
- Stay home if possible.
- When you absolutely must go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
- Avoid crowds as much as possible.
- Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
- During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.
- Ensure you have essential supplies.
If a COVID-19 outbreak happens in your community, it could last for a long time. 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.
How to prepare 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.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Take everyday preventive actions:
- 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.
- Have a plan for if you get sick.
- Consult with your health care provider for more information about monitoring your health for symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
- 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 to 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.
- If you are not sick enough to be hospitalized, you can recover at home. Follow CDC instructions for how to take care of yourself at home.
- Know when to get emergency help.
- Get medical attention immediately if you have any of the emergency warning signs listed above.
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.
- Long-term care facilities should be vigilant to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19.
Family and Caregiver Support
- 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.
- Ensure seniors have non-perishable food items to have on hand in their homes 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.