Among adults, the risk for severe illness from
COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. Severe illness means that the person with
COVID-19 may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help
them breathe, or they may even die.
Risk for Severe Illness Increases with Age
As you get older, your risk for severe illness
from COVID-19 increases. For example, people in their 50s are at higher risk
for severe illness than people in their 40s. Similarly, people in their 60s or
70s are, in general, at higher risk for severe illness than people in their
50s. The greatest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 is among those aged 85
or older.
There are also other factors that can increase
your risk for severe illness, such as having underlying medical conditions. By
understanding the factors that put you at an increased risk, you can make
decisions about what kind of precautions to take in your daily life.
As you get older, your risk of being
hospitalized for COVID-19 increases. Everyone, especially older adults
and others at increased risk of severe illness, should take steps to protect themselves from
getting COVID-19.
In general, your risk of getting severely ill
from COVID-19 increases as you get older. In fact, 8 out of 10 COVID-19-related
deaths reported in the
United States have been among adults aged 65 years and older.
Reduce your risk of
getting COVID-19.
It is especially important for people at
increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and those who live with them,
to protect themselves from getting COVID-19.
The best way to protect yourself and to help
reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 is to:
·
Limit your interactions
with other people as much as possible.
·
Take precautions to prevent getting COVID-19
when you do interact with others.
If you start feeling sick and think you may have
COVID-19, get in touch with your healthcare provider within 24 hours
Venturing out into a
public setting? What to consider before you go.
As communities and businesses across the United
States are opening, you may be thinking about resuming some activities, running errands, and attending events and gatherings. There is no way
to ensure you have zero risk of infection, so it is important to
understand the risks and know how to be as safe as possible.
People at increased risk of severe illness from
COVID-19, and those who live with them, should consider their level of risk
before deciding to go out and ensure they are
taking steps to protect themselves. Consider avoiding
activities where taking protective measures may be difficult, such as
activities where social distancing can’t be maintained. Everyone should
take steps to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19 to protect themselves,
their communities, and people who are at increased risk of severe illness.
In general, the more people you interact
with, the more closely you interact with them, and the longer that interaction,
the higher your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.
·
If you decide to engage
in public activities, continue to protect yourself by practicing everyday preventive actions.
·
Keep these items on hand
and use them when venturing out: a cloth face covering, tissues, and a hand
sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if possible.
·
If possible, avoid
others who are not wearing cloth face coverings or ask others around
you to wear cloth face coverings.
Are you considering
in-person visits with family and friends? Here are some things to consider to
help make your visit as safe as possible:
When to delay or cancel a visit
·
Delay or cancel a visit
if you or your visitors have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed
to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
·
Anyone who has had close contact with a person with COVID-19
should stay home and monitor for symptoms.
In general, the more people you interact with, the more closely you
interact with them, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of
COVID-19 spread. So, think about:
·
How many people will you
interact with?
·
Can you keep 6 feet of
space between you and others?
·
Will you be outdoors or
indoors?
·
What’s the length of
time that you will be interacting with people?
Encourage social distancing during your visit
·
Visit with your friends
and family outdoors, when possible. If this is not feasible, make
sure the room or space is well-ventilated (for example, open windows or doors)
and large enough to accommodate social distancing.
·
Arrange tables and
chairs to allow for social distancing. People from the same household can be in
groups together and don’t need to be 6 feet apart from each other.
·
Consider activities
where social distancing can be maintained, like sidewalk chalk art or yard
games.
·
Try to avoid close
contact with your visitors. For example, don’t shake hands, elbow bump, or hug.
Instead wave and verbally greet them.
·
If possible, avoid
others who are not wearing cloth face coverings or ask others around you to wear
cloth face coverings.
·
Consider keeping a list
of people you visited or who visited you and when the visit occurred. This will
help with contract tracing if someone becomes sick.
Wear cloth face coverings
·
Cloth face coverings should be worn over
the nose and mouth. Cloth face coverings are especially important when it is
difficult to stay at least 6 feet apart from others or when people are indoors
to help protect each other.
·
Cloth face coverings may
slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not
know it from transmitting it to others
·
Wearing a cloth face
covering helps protects others in case you’re infected, while others wear one
to protect you should they be infected.
·
Who
should NOT use cloth face coverings: Children under age 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is
unconscious, or is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without
assistance.
Wash hands often
·
Everyone should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds
at the beginning and end of the visit and whenever you think your hands may
have become contaminated.
·
If soap and water are
not readily available, such as with outdoor visits or activities, use a hand
sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands
and rub them together until they feel dry.
·
Remind guests to wash or
sanitize their hands before serving or eating food.
·
Use single-use hand
towels or paper towels for drying hands so visitors do not share towels. Have a
no-touch trash can available for guests to use.
Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or
shared items
·
Encourage your visitors
to bring their own food and drinks.
·
Clean and disinfect commonly touched
surfaces and any shared items between use.
·
If you choose to use any
shared items that are reusable (e.g., seating covers, tablecloths, linen
napkins), wash, clean, and sanitize them after the event.
If you are thinking
about participating in an event or gathering:
If you are at increased risk for severe illness,
consider avoiding high-risk gatherings. The risk of COVID-19 spreading at
events and gatherings increases as follows:
Lowest risk: Virtual-only activities, events, and gatherings.
More risk: Smaller outdoor and in-person gatherings in which individuals from
different households remain spaced at least 6 feet apart, wear cloth face
coverings, do not share objects, and come from the same local area (e.g.,
community, town, city, or county).
Higher risk: Medium-sized in-person gatherings that are adapted to allow
individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and with attendees coming
from outside the local area.
Highest risk: Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals
to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the
local area.
Stay healthy during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Staying healthy during the pandemic is
important. Talk to your healthcare provider about whether your vaccinations and
other preventive services are up to date to help prevent you from becoming ill
with other diseases.
·
It is particularly
important for those at increased risk of severe illness, including older
adults, to receive recommended vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal
disease.
·
Remember the importance
of staying physically active and practicing healthy
habits to cope with stress.
If you have an underlying medical
condition, you should continue to follow your treatment plan:
·
Continue
your medicines and do not change
your treatment plan without talking to your healthcare provider.
·
Have
at least a 30-day supply of
prescription and non-prescription medicines. Talk to a healthcare provider, insurer, and
pharmacist about getting an extra supply (i.e., more than 30 days) of
prescription medicines, if possible, to reduce your trips to the pharmacy.
·
Do
not delay getting emergency care for your underlying medical condition because of COVID-19. Emergency departments
have contingency infection prevention plans to protect you from getting
COVID-19 if you need care.
·
Call
your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about your underlying medical conditions
or if you get sick and think that you may have COVID-19. If you need emergency
help, call 911 right away.
·
If
you don’t have a healthcare provider, contact your nearest community
health centerexternal icon or health department.
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Stress & coping
You may feel increased stress during this
pandemic. Fear and anxiety can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions.
Learn about stress and coping.
If you think you may have COVID-19 or were
exposed to COVID-19:
·
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get in touch with
your healthcare provider within 24 hours, and follow steps for when you feel sick. You can use CDC’s self-checker to help you make decisions.
·
If you or someone you
know has COVID-19 emergency warning signs (trouble breathing, persistent chest
pain, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or
face), seek emergency care immediately. Call 911.
·
If you think you might
have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider.
If you don’t have a healthcare provider, contact your nearest community
health centerexternal icon or health department.
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Symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild
symptoms to severe illness and death. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after
exposure.
In some cases, older adults and people of any
age with underlying health conditions may have symptoms that are not typically
seen in others, or they may take longer than others to develop fever and other
symptoms.
Fever symptoms
In older adults (aged 65 and older), normal body
temperature can be lower than in younger adults. For this reason, fever
temperatures can also be lower in older adults.
If you are an older adult experiencing fever or
other symptoms and want to get tested, call
your healthcare provider first. You can also visit your state or localexternal icon health department’s website
to look for the latest local information on testing. If you don’t have a
healthcare provider, contact your nearest community
health centerexternal icon or health department.
If you are caring for a patient aged 65 or
older, be aware that a single reading higher than 100°F (37.8°C), multiple
readings above 99°F (37.2°C), or a rise in temperature greater than 2°F (1.1°C)
above the patient’s normal (baseline) temperature may be a sign of infection
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Develop a care plan
A care plan summarizes your health conditions,
medicines, healthcare providers, emergency contacts, and end-of-life care
options (for example, advance directives). Complete your care plan in
consultation with your doctor, and if needed, with help from a family member or
home nurse aide.
A care plan can have benefits beyond the current
pandemic. You can update your care plan every year, or any time you have a
change in your health or medicines. Care plans can help reduce emergency room
visits and hospitalizations and improve overall medical management for people
with a chronic health condition, resulting in better quality of life.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, having a care plan
is an important part of emergency preparedness.
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Steps to reduce risk of
getting sick
There are things you can do to reduce your risk
of getting sick.
·
Keep space between
yourself and others (stay 6 feet away, which is about two arm lengths).
·
Wash your hands often.
·
Avoid touching your
eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
·
Cover coughs and sneezes
with a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Then wash your hands.
·
Take precautions as you
go about your daily life and attend events.
·
Clean and disinfect surfaces and things
you touch often.
Older adult living
facilities
If you, a family member, or friend lives in a
nursing home, assisted living facility, or other type of senior living
facility, you may be concerned about COVID-19.
To protect friends and family members in these
facilities, CDC has advised that long-term care facilities:
·
Restrict visitors,
·
Require or recommend
visitors wear cloth face coverings over their nose and
mouth, if visitors are allowed,
·
Regularly check
healthcare workers and residents for fevers and symptoms, and
·
Limit activities within
the facility to keep residents distanced from each other and safe.
Learn more about the risks among people who live
in nursing homes or long-term care facilities and
about CDC’s guidance for nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
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