Coronavirus: How do we help those at risk?
TV’s Doctor Hilary Jones – who has a 93-year-old mum himself – gives his advice on the best ways to help keep the elderly safe from Coronavirus...
Last week it was officially declared a ‘pandemic’
– a new disease for which people have no immunity, spreading around the world beyond expectation.
And while experts are still discovering things about Covid-19 – the technical name for Coronavirus – there’s no doubt that this is much more serious and deadly than flu. It’s particularly dangerous for older people – with death rates rising significantly for every decade of age after 50.
Doctor Hilary Jones. spoke exclusively to best and explained: ‘It’s more important for the over-70s to take precautions.’
Dr Hilary says those below 70 who are fit and healthy with no underlying health conditions are fine to go out and about – while taking the advice to wash hands regularly and avoid touching their faces.
But he believes it’s now time for the older generation to avoid contact with large groups of strangers – and adopt ‘social distancing’.
‘They shouldn’t be queuing in the post office, they should avoid gatherings and events with lots of people, because this virus is going to spread in the wider population quite quickly.
‘It doesn’t mean not going out – for example, if they want to go to the corner shop where there’s probably just one other person in there, and can keep out of close contact, that’s OK.
‘Close contact is defined as being within two metres of someone for 15 minutes or more. Crowded public transport, for example, is a significant risk.’
Supermarkets are best to be avoided, too: ‘If someone’s got helpful neighbours or relatives who can do their shopping for them, or they can get it online, that would be sensible.’
He makes a good point about deliveries: ‘A delivery man may be making tens of deliveries a day. Hopefully taking their own precautions, but you can’t guarantee that.
‘So, it’s best to ask them to leave your delivery on the doorstep, take in the package when they’ve gone, unwrap what you need and then wash your hands thoroughly.’
The virus usually lives for just a few hours, but can survive on some hard surfaces for up to five days: ‘The more people are touching things, the greater the risk – if you go to an ATM, for example; these are the times when you need to wash your hands or use sanitiser.’
What about visiting elderly people? ‘It’s fine to visit – unless a family member has travelled from any of those countries with many cases.
‘ You have to wait 14 days to know you haven’t got it. If someone has symptoms – fever, dry cough or even a dry cold – they should not visit.
‘As children under 10 often don’t have much in the way of symptoms, but can still carry it, it’s best to keep a distance.
‘As long as they don’t have symptoms or are in a school where there have been no cases, they can visit but don’t hugs or kiss grandma. Keep at least two metres away.’
Scrupulous hand washing is the key to minimising risk, he says – as is stringent hygiene. ‘Use bleach on surfaces where you can. Experts are anticipating a peak at the end of April or early May. The peak will last for six to eight weeks and recede. Hopefully by the end of the year we’ll be looking at an effective vaccine.’