Who is at risk for catching COVID-19?
Anika H. Ahmed, MD
Following the pandemic of COVID-19 as a physician, I see that great unease, fear, and confusion surround COVID-19. After the declaration of a national emergency and the institution of lock-down orders in most states, many are wondering if they could potentially contract the virus. The pattern of the pandemic has clearly shown that it does not follow any racial, gender, ethnic, or class distribution. The main people at risk are the elderly and people with any underlying chronic medical conditions. Everyone is at risk of developing either mild or severe symptoms of COVID-19 when exposed to a symptomatic or asymptomatic carrier of Coronavirus. It is important that one understand how to minimize the risk of getting sick with Coronavirus.
Elderly citizens, especially those in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, are the most at risk of showing severe symptoms if exposed to Coronavirus. That is because this demographic most often has weakened immune systems and usually has a chronic medical condition. Next in line for increased risk are people of all ages, gender, race, ethnicity, and class with underlying chronic medical conditions. Anyone can fall ill if exposed to the virus, but a young, healthy individual will usually show mild symptoms with quick, full recovery. So, the need of the hour is to have all defense mechanisms in place and remain strong. The strict lock-down in most states, isolation, and self-quarantine of potential positive cases (asymptomatic or symptomatic) are all immensely helpful in controlling the spread of COVID-19. However, no stigma should be attached to people that have tested positive and are released from hospitals, isolation, or self-quarantine. Once the infective period is over (which is usually a period of three days after being symptom free, or if no symptoms are shown, an incubation period of 14 days) the released individuals can interact with other people. They do not pose a risk to others. They should, however, continue to practice maintaining six feet social distancing and taking necessary precautions like wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, disinfecting surfaces, adopting a minimal touch policy, and avoiding touching their face, mouth, or nose. These precautions must be taken as health experts are still not sure whether the positive cases have complete immunity against COVID-19 (meaning that they have a high titer of antibodies in their blood, which fight the disease) or if they could still have a relapse. As COVID-19 is an evolving, highly infectious illness, every individual needs to follow the updated guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding COVID-19 to stay protected and healthy.