PEOPLE AT INCREASED RISK FOR SEVERE ILLNESS
The risk for more severe illness with COVID-19 increases with age and is higher for people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions. People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility are also at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
If you are in one of these groups, take these extra precautions in addition to general prevention measures.
- Continue your medications and do not change your treatment plan without talking to your health care provider.
- Have at least a two-week supply of prescription and non-prescription medications. Consider having your medications delivered.
- Talk to your health care provider about whether your vaccinations are up-to-date.
- Do not delay getting emergency care for any underlying medical condition because of COVID-19.
- Call your health care provider if you have concerns about underlying medical conditions or if you get sick and think that you may have COVID-19.
Find support if you are affected by asthma, lung disease, diabetes, smoking or tobacco or heart disease.
PEOPLE WHO MAY BE More Affected by COVID-19 Than Others
Opportunities for better health begin in our families, neighborhoods, schools and jobs. Things like lack of access to medical care, healthy food or quality housing, are inequities that can make people more at risk for getting COVID-19 or having a more severe illness. Read more from the CDC about:
- Black, Indigenous and People of Color
- People experiencing homelessness
- People living in rural communities
- People with disabilities
- People with developmental and behavioral disorders
- People who use drugs or have substance use disorder
SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO MAY Be More Affected by COVID-19 Than Others
- Caring for people with disabilities
- Caring for people with developmental and behavioral disorders
- Caregivers of people living with dementia
- Nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- Newly resettled refugee populations
PEOPLE WHO are pregnant
Based on what we know now, pregnant people might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people. Additionally, pregnant people with COVID-19 might be at increased risk of other adverse outcomes, such as preterm birth (delivering the baby earlier than 37 weeks). Therefore, it is especially important for pregnant people, and those who live with them, to protect themselves from getting COVID-19.
We don’t know for sure if mothers with COVID-19 can spread the virus to babies through their breast milk, but the current evidence suggests that this isn’t likely.
Read more from the CDC about people who are pregnant or breastfeeding