During this Global Pandemic and the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), we want all of our self-advocates, advocates, ambassadors, volunteers and followers to know that our thoughts are with you during this trying time. We know how important it is to stay up to date on the most current and accurate information and will continue to monitor the news and CDC as closely as possible. In the meantime, we want to go ahead and briefly summarize COVID-19, the affects it could have on individuals with Down syndrome and pre-existing conditions as well as a list of CDC recommended safety tips. We will also list additional resources for you from other credible sources and will continue to update the list as needed.

About COVID-19

COVID-19, or Coronavirus, is similar to viral pneumonia and the symptoms associated with the virus are almost identical to the flu. It’s a common respiratory virus, but this strain is from Wuhan, China. While individuals who are young to middle age and healthy have a higher recovery rate should they contract the virus, the older population and individuals with pre-existing or serious chronic medical conditions are more at risk and the recovery statistics are lower. Those who are 65 and older are affected more as well as those who are immuno-compromised (ex. heart disease, diabetes, lung disease), however healthy individuals and even children can still be carriers. It’s important to remember that just because an individual has Down syndrome, they aren’t automatically more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. They’re only at risk should they also have another under-lying condition that would cause them to be immuno-compromised.

Symptoms of COVID-19

High fever
Chest congestion
Coughing
Fatigue
Shortness of breath

Get help immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Difficulty breathing and/or shortness of breath
Lips or face bluish in color
Persistent pain in the chest
Difficulty waking up, confusion, unable to function normally

Most younger individuals are asymptomatic but if they do experience symptoms you can treat it as you would a cold or flu virus. Those who test positive and are over 65 years old or are immuno-compromised will be hospitalized and treated with a symptom management care plan similar to that of pneumonia:

Oxygen
Fluid restriction (to prevent fluid build up in the lungs)
Rest
Antipyretics
Other necessary treatment regimes determined on a case by case basis.

The main complication of contracting the virus is also getting pneumonia.

The survival rate for COVID-19 is 97-99%. The media has reported a much higher death rate due to also calculating deaths that occur due to another reason while the patient may have had coronavirus at the same time.

COVID-19 cases in the United States by date of illness onset, January 12, 2020, to March 16, 2020, at 4pm ET (n=1,295)** (you can get up-to-date and accurate statistics by going to the CDC website directly)

Prevention Methods and Safety Tips:

Proper hand washing
Use sanitizer if you’re unable to wash your hands
Showering each day (especially if you’ve been in public)
Wearing new clothes each day if you’ve been in public
Avoid large crowds (maintain social distancing)
Avoid anyone who is sick
Avoid non-essential travelling
Stay home as much as possible
Have supplies on hand
Avoid touching your face
Clean and disinfect your home
Avoid touching your cell phone if you’ve been in public until you can sanitize your hands

Other tips to consider:

Stay in touch with family and friends via phone, video chat, email, etc during this time instead of visiting in person
Contact your healthcare provider if you have any questions or feel you may have symptoms
Have a plan in place for someone to help you get supplies and the food you need should you be unable to leave your house
Keep up-to-date on places that are delivering food or offering pick-up and curbside service
Stay aware and up-to-date on the current news regarding COVID-19

Resources:

While the CDC website is the leading source of information on the coronavirus, the following resources are also extremely helpful and have a lot of other information that you may find valuable.

COVID-19 and Down Syndrome: Facts, Resources and Safety Tips