As a professional in the in-home care or medical field, you know there is a massive amount of misinformation circulating about how to stay safe during the pandemic. Unfortunately, this has led to many people making poor decisions based on faulty information.
A big part of your effort might be to help dispel fact from fiction for your patients, as well as educate them on what is best to do to stay safe. We’ve talked about best practices when in-home care staff provide services. However, in this post, we’ll provide the basic information about who is most at risk, and the essential tips we must all take to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Who is most at risk?
There is still debate about who is most at risk from contracting COVID-19, but what the data has shown so far is that immunocompromised individuals are likely suffering greater setbacks and risk of serious complications and death.
And it makes sense. An immune system that can’t thwart off invaders increases the likelihood of compounding with additional infections on top of the first one any time these people get sick. This is why we hear about people ill from COVID-19 also fighting underlying conditions such as pneumonia.
And who are the immunocompromised? Those with pre-existing medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and simply being of an advanced age places the people involved. To be clear, COVID-19 is a new virus, so most of the population of the world has not been exposed yet, making everyone susceptible. But the reality that many of us walk around with underlying medical conditions as well (such as obesity, high blood pressure, or a smoking history) compound the threat.
It’s not a small portion of the population with these medical conditions, either. Per the Gallup’s annual Health and Healthcare survey, 33% of adults aged 65 and older reported pre-existing conditions, and well over two thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.
The effort to mitigate the virus hinges on decrease its spread. The more of us who become sick with COVID-19 spread more of the virus into the spaces where we live and work. The analogy of compounding interest applies. The sicker people in our community, the more people are exposed, creating more infected people.
Over-active inflammation
Interestingly, as the article “What Does It Mean to Be Immunocompromised? And Why Does This Increase Your Risk of Coronavirus?” over at Medical Xpress explains, the more problematic issue beyond the infection rate of COVID-19 is a less understood variation of response for those who become ill.
A portion of those infected become extremely sick, including difficulty breathing and a myriad of other symptoms. Science isn’t clear as to why the response is more dramatic for some. But the key factors seem to relate to an overactive immune system, one in hyper drive that causes extreme inflammation. As individuals weigh the threat of COVID-19 personally, they cannot be certain how they may react to the virus if they become sick. And the gamble could be deadly.
Mitigate the spread with simple actions
Since the danger of infection is serious, it is important to review and educate your clients and colleagues as to the urgency of observing the basics of staying clear of illness. Here is the short list, each with a brief justification you can use to explain to others:
- Keep your distance – Since we went into quarantine in March 2020, the experts have determined that the most significant source of spread is person-to-person. When we breathe, speak, shout or sing, we spread germs. Keeping a distance of six feet or more from others is an essential tool to stop the spread of the disease.
- Air circulation – Closed-in spaces with minimal ventilation permit the particles of virus to linger in the air longer. Stay outside with others when you can, and if inside, open some cross windows to let the fresh air in.
- Handwashing – Nothing cursory will do when it comes to washing your hands. A 20-second scrub including all fingers and in-between, plus the front and back of hands and even wrists, is most effective. Wash your hands diligently and often to avoid passing germs on to you and others.
- Masks – So much has been made of wearing masks, but the bottom line is that covering the mouth and nose when you’re out shields a significant release of germs from you to others. The mask also acts as a block for you from others as well. Wear a mask in grocery stores, shops, medical offices and anywhere you are with a large number of people, particularly when inside.
Form your habits for the future
There is no telling how long this pandemic and the associated risks will last, but the good news is that you can take simple steps immediately to reduce your risk and go on about your business—albeit with modifications. You needn’t be seen as over-nervous if you adopt good hygiene. In fact, you are being prudent and wise.
And, in time, when the pandemic risk is under control, you can maintain some of these new behaviors since they are good for you in the long run. Actions such as washing your hands, covering your mouth and nose in public settings and maintaining good ventilation whenever possible will be seen as the new normal, because we all want to do our best to stay healthy.
Bibliography
https://www.homehealthcompanions.com/?s=COVID-19+safety
https://news.gallup.com/poll/269003/households-report-preexisting-conditions.aspx
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-immunocompromised-coronavirus.html