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,是傳染病的易感人群和高危易發人群,本次新冠肺炎疫情的危重癥人群中老年人居多。2020年1月28日,國家衛生健康委印發《關于做好老年人新冠肺炎疫情防控工作的通知》,要求將老年人的疫情防控作為當前的重要工作來抓,采取有效措施,切實降低老年人感染率,盡最大努力減少重癥和死亡病例。全國老齡工作委員會辦公室發布的《給老年朋友的一封信》倡議,老年人要科學防控,不要過度恐慌;盡量減少外出,做好個人防護;注重補充營養和食品衛生;合理適度鍛煉身體;主動學習相關防護知識等。

根據國家衛生健康委在2020年1月29日發布的《新型冠狀病毒防控指南(第一版)》,老年人群的主要防控措施包括:確保老人掌握預防新冠肺炎的個人防護措施、手衛生要求、衛生和健康習慣,避免共用個人物品,注意通風,落實消毒措施;倡導老人養成經常洗手的好習慣;老人出現可疑癥狀時,應自我隔離,避免與其他人員近距離接觸,由醫護人員對其健康狀況進行評估,視病情狀況送至醫療機構就診,注意及時佩戴醫用外科口罩,并避免乘坐公共交通工具;曾與可疑癥狀者有無有效防護的密切接觸者,應立即登記,并進行醫學觀察;減少不必要的聚會、聚餐等群體性活動,不安排集中用餐等。此外,若出現可疑癥狀的老人被確診為新冠肺炎,其密切接觸者應接受14天醫學觀察。病人離開后(如住院、死亡等),應及時對住所進行終末消毒。