Understanding How COVID-19 Spreads

By Jamie Shapiro | April 8, 2020 | Comments Off on Understanding How COVID-19 Spreads

Knowledge is power. That is almost certainly the case when it comes to the COVID-19 epidemic. When you are informed, you are better equipped to care for yourself and your older family member. Information can also help you to prevent the spread of the virus. To that end, it’s important that family caregivers and older adults know what the COVID-19 virus is and how it spreads. 

About COVID-19

Elderly Care Wilmette, IL:How COVID-19 Spreads

COVID-19 stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The virus is one of many different kinds of coronavirus. It was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China. You may also hear it referred to as novel coronavirus because it is a newly identified strain.  

Initially, the virus is believed to have come from an animal source. Since then, it has begun spreading from person to person. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020. Since then, the virus has spread rapidly.  

There is currently no vaccine for the virus, though doctors and scientists are working diligently on developing one. There is also no antiviral treatment for the virus, medical care can treat the symptoms.  

How the Virus Spreads 

COVID-19 primarily spreads between people who are in close contact with one another. Close contact is defined as approximately 6 feet. When a person carrying the virus coughs or sneezes, the virus is carried in the respiratory droplets that are expressed. These droplets travel through the air where they can be breathed in and enter the lungs. They may also land in the person’s mouth or nose, where they can get into the body.  

Recent studies indicate that when a person is carrying COVID-19 but does not have symptoms, they may still be able to transmit the virus to others. This is the reason it is so important for your older family member to stay a minimum of 6 feet away from other people when they go outside the house. 

How Elderly care Can Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 

Elderly care providers can be an important part of your plan for protecting your aging relative from contracting COVID-19. An elderly care provider can help the older adult to practice social distancing. Since elderly care providers can help them to run some errands, they can reduce the number of times the senior needs to leave the home. And, when the older adult does have to go outside the home, an elderly care provider can remind them to stay 6 feet from other people.  

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elderly Care in Wilmette, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

 

 

Sources 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf 

Jamie Shapiro
Latest posts by Jamie Shapiro (see all)
Posted in Elderly Care in Wilmette IL, Higher Risk for COVID-19, How COVID-19 Spreads and tagged ,