As the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a large impact on Americans across the country, one glimmer of hope that we can all hang on to is the fact that we’ve learned much about the virus over the course of the past few months. Scientists have discovered common ways that the virus is spread, as well as ways for us all to help stay safe and stop the spread.

One other important element that we’ve discovered, however, is that certain populations are more vulnerable to the disease, including the potential need for hospitalization, intensive care, ventilator use or even death.1 As we continue to battle this virus into the winter and holiday months, here are a few things to keep in mind, particularly as it relates to your vulnerability with regard to COVID-19.

Which Populations Are Most At Risk

Although no one would hope to contract COVID-19, we’ve learned over the past few months that certain segments of the population are more at risk for serious illness when exposed to the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the following groups should practice extreme caution to avoid exposure:

  • Older adults: Although people who are 85 and older have the greatest risk for severe illness from contracting COVID-19, each age group is at a higher risk for complications than the one before it. That means that someone in their 60s or 70s, for example, would likely be at a higher risk than someone in their 40s or 50s (barring additional health factors, like those listed below).
  • People with certain underlying medical conditions: As we come to learn more COVID-19, the CDC has added to its list of underlying medical conditions that may increase risk for severe illness for groups that fall into the following categories, or have the following medical issues:
    • Cancer
    • Chronic kidney disease
    • Obesity
    • Pregnancy
    • Heart conditions like heart failure, cardiomyopathies or coronary artery disease
    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    • Sickle cell disease
    • Type 2 diabetes mellitus
    • Smokers
    • Are in an immunocompromised state due to a solid organ transplant

While the above list of issues almost always puts a person at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, the CDC includes additional medical issues — like asthma, cystic fibrosis, hypertension and Type 1 diabetes mellitus — as potentially increasing a person’s risk for serious illness, as well. For an up-to-date list on medical conditions that could cause serious complications due to COVID-19, consult with the CDC website.

How vulnerable populations can stay safe

As the months of dealing with COVID-19 track on, healthcare organizations have continuously updated their recommendations for safety precautions. Staying up-to-date on the latest findings is the best way to safeguard against contracting the virus, which is especially important for those people in the most vulnerable populations.

Some common recommendations from the CDC2 to avoid risk of exposure include:

  1. Limit interactions with people who live outside of your home: The best way to avoid contracting the disease is to avoid contact with the people outside of your home as much as possible. This could mean taking advantage of some of the newer options that have cropped up in light of the pandemic, like ordering your groceries online for pickup, or at least having someone else do your grocery shopping for you.
  2. Wash your hands frequently: It’s especially important to wash your hands after leaving a public area, after using the bathroom and before eating or touching your face. Use soap and water, and wash for at least 20 seconds every time you lather up. When soap and water aren’t readily available, keep hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol on hand to use in a pinch.
  3. Keep your home clean: For as much as you avoid outside interaction, the outside world can make its way in, whether through groceries, packages or other means. Use an EPA-registered household disinfectant to clean and disinfect the surfaces that you touch daily, like tables, light switches, phones, toilets and sinks.
  4. Follow appropriate safety precautions when interaction can’t be avoided: It might not be entirely possible to avoid other people completely, and when that’s the case, it’s important to follow the guidelines for safe contact. This is especially true since we now know that people can carry the COVID-19 virus — and spread it — without having any symptoms themselves. While there’s no way to completely avoid contracting the illness when you’re in proximity with other people, some of the best safety measures include:
    1. Stay six feet apart from other people who don’t live in your household
    2. Avoid indoor settings whenever possible
    3. Don’t interact with anyone who feels sick
    4. Wear a mask whenever you’re around people. They are an effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19 that occurs through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person talks, breathes, coughs or sneezes.

With the following precautions in place, people in the most vulnerable populations can rest assured that they’re doing everything they can to stay as healthy as possible. One important thing to keep in mind is that for most of the people in the vulnerable population — the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, for example — staying on top of routine healthcare needs will also be essential. Although traveling to a doctor’s office may not be the safest option these days (since it potentially increases a vulnerable person’s exposure to the virus), telehealth visits are a great option to help you keep your important appointments, all from the safety of your own home. Discuss with your doctor today what your options are for virtual health visits.