Prevention and Control for the Elderly
The elderly with weak immune function are susceptible and high-risk groups of infectious diseases, and they are the majority of the severe and critical cases among the COVID-19 patients.
On January 28, the NHC issued a notice on epidemic prevention and control among the elderly, requiring effective measures to reduce the infection rate, severe cases and deaths. The Office of the National Working Committee on Aging published a letter calling for the senior citizens to take scientific measures against the disease and not to panic; reduce outdoor activities and have personal protection; balance nutrition and ensure food hygiene; exercise moderately; and take protective tips.
According to the Prevention and Control Protocol for Novel Coronavirus (1st Edition), the main prevention and control measures for the elderly included:
* Learn necessary personal protective ways against the disease, keep hands clean, and maintain hygiene and health habits;
* Avoid sharing personal items, keep ventilation, and take disinfection measures;
* Wash hand frequently;
* Take self-quarantine and avoid close contact with others in case of suspicious symptoms, and ask the medical staff assess their health status and send them to medical institution for treatment depending on the condition;
* Wear surgical masks and avoid taking public transportation when going to hospital;
* Anyone who has taken no effective protection when having close contact with someone with suspicious symptoms should be registered immediately and put under medical observation;
* Reduce unnecessary gatherings, dinner parties and other group activities, and avoid collective dining.
If the elderly with suspicious symptoms are diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, their close contacts need to receive 14 days of medical observation. After the patient leave (such as hospitalization and death), the residence must be disinfected in time.
老年人防控
老年人免疫功能弱,是传染病的易感人群和高危易发人群,本次新冠肺炎疫情的危重症人群中老年人居多。2020年1月28日,国家卫生健康委印发《关于做好老年人新冠肺炎疫情防控工作的通知》,要求将老年人的疫情防控作为当前的重要工作来抓,采取有效措施,切实降低老年人感染率,尽最大努力减少重症和死亡病例。全国老龄工作委员会办公室发布的《给老年朋友的一封信》倡议,老年人要科学防控,不要过度恐慌;尽量减少外出,做好个人防护;注重补充营养和食品卫生;合理适度锻炼身体;主动学习相关防护知识等。
根据国家卫生健康委在2020年1月29日发布的《新型冠状病毒防控指南(第一版)》,老年人群的主要防控措施包括:确保老人掌握预防新冠肺炎的个人防护措施、手卫生要求、卫生和健康习惯,避免共用个人物品,注意通风,落实消毒措施;倡导老人养成经常洗手的好习惯;老人出现可疑症状时,应自我隔离,避免与其他人员近距离接触,由医护人员对其健康状况进行评估,视病情状况送至医疗机构就诊,注意及时佩戴医用外科口罩,并避免乘坐公共交通工具;曾与可疑症状者有无有效防护的密切接触者,应立即登记,并进行医学观察;减少不必要的聚会、聚餐等群体性活动,不安排集中用餐等。此外,若出现可疑症状的老人被确诊为新冠肺炎,其密切接触者应接受14天医学观察。病人离开后(如住院、死亡等),应及时对住所进行终末消毒。