What does COVID-19 mean for people living with lung disease?
If you have a chronic lung disease, you are more likely to experience severe illness and additional complications from COVID-19 infection. It's very important that you are up-to-date with your COVID-19 and other recommended vaccinations, and take precautions to lower your risk of infection.
Paxlovid for high-risk individuals
Paxlovid can be taken to prevent severe illness, hospitalization or even death from COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk. Paxlovid prevents mild to moderate symptoms from getting worse by stopping the virus from multiplying. It should be taken within five days of symptom onset. For more information on Paxlovid, speak to your doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist.
Other measures you can take to lower your risk of infection
- Making sure you have adequate supplies and medications
- Practice social distancing by keeping away from others who are sick (6 feet is recommended)
- Wash hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds. When unable to wash hands with soap and water, use an alcohol-based sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid non-essential travel
- If there is an outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to avoid exposure
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
If you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or believe you have otherwise been exposed to COVID-19 or are confirmed to have this infection, stay home and contact your respirologist and primary care provider for advice right away.
Call your respirologist and primary care provider if you have recently travelled from an area that has known cases of COVID-19