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Coronavirus: What Older Adults Need to Know

Published

4 years ago

March 5, 2020

The novel coronavirus is at the top of everyone’s news these days. While it’s important not to panic, it does make sense to stay informed and follow basic tips to protect yourself and those around you.

The good news is that the risk of getting coronavirus in the U.S. is currently low. However, like with the seasonal flu, older adults and those with chronic health conditions are at higher risk of being impacted if the illness does spread.

“This does appear to affect seniors worse than people as a whole,” said William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. But there isn’t enough data on the spectrum of severity, he said. “We tend to see more severe cases and not less severe cases. Hopefully, that will become clearer in the next few weeks,” he said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is monitoring the situation closely and is the best source of information. The CDC is urging individuals to stay calm and “share facts,” not fear. Among the CDC’s advice are these common-sense tips:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

It’s also important to remember that we are still in the middle of the seasonal flu season, which impacts older adults every year. According to the CDC, it’s estimated that 70-85% of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people aged 65 and over.

While there is no vaccine for the coronavirus, it’s never too late for individuals to get their annual flu shot. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how you can protect yourself and those around you.