Latest CDC Coronavirus Recommendations

The CDC is identifying groups of people that are at a heightened risk: those that live in a community that is experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19, those over the age of 60, and those that have underlying health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease. Patients over 80 that have these conditions are at an even greater risk. The most recent recommendations from the CDC advise these individuals to take extra precautions to help protect themselves.

These precautions include:

1. Have enough supplies on hand of your medications or other medical supplies

   you may need.

2. Stock up on enough household items and groceries so that you will be prepared

   to stay home for a period of time.

3. Avoid crowds, particularly those in poorly ventilated spaces.

4. If you do go out in public, avoid others who are sick, limit close contact with

   others, and wash your hands often.

5. Avoid non-essential air travel or cruises.

6. If there is an outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to

   further reduce your risk of being exposed.

Most infectious disease experts feel the above precautions will need to be followed for the next couple of months, perhaps longer. Most also believe that as the trajectory of the outbreak continues, many people in the US at some point in time, either this year or next, will be exposed to the virus, and many may become sick.

As it seems certain the number of cases here will continue to increase, we feel most people should be moving towards following the above precautions. This is becoming known as social distancing or a mitigation strategy. This will slow down the rate of the epidemic and even though many people may still become infected, it will not overwhelm the healthcare system. Remember that if we follow the numbers here that have occurred in other parts of the world, 80% of cases will be mild.