Coronavirus Prevention and Underlying Health Conditions Updates

During the week of March 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health departments made updates to the following guidelines that apply to people with lupus:

30 Days to Slow the Spread

As of April 1, 2020, the CDC is recommending 30 more days (through April 30) of social (physical) distancing and other measures to prevent the transmission of the virus. If you have a serious underlying health condition the CDC recommends that you stay home and away from other people as much as possible.

Stay Home Orders

Many states have also issued “stay home” or “shelter in place” orders based on the situation in that state.These orders place restrictions on what businesses can be open and on how public places such as parks can be used. Please check with your state government website or local health department for the best information for where you live.

Research Confirms People with Underlying Health Conditions at Higher Risk

Recent analysis has confirmed that people with underlying health conditions are at greater risk for developing serious illness from the coronavirus. The CDC looked at data on people who were confirmed to have both coronavirus and at least one underlying health condition. When the data was analyzed it showed that people with an underlying health condition were more likely to be hospitalized. They were also more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit.

People with serious underlying health conditions include those with diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, or who are immunocompromised.

Lupus is a serious chronic health condition that puts people at higher risk for infections and at higher risk for serious illness from the coronavirus. Read more about what you can do to protect yourself from the coronavirus.