Households Living in Close Quarters
If your household includes one or more people at higher risk of severe illness, all family members should act as if they are at higher risk of COVID-19 themselves. Limit errands and separate a household member who is sick. Family members should leave only when absolutely necessary to perform essential errands, including going to the grocery store, pharmacy, or medical appointments that cannot be delayed (such as infants or individuals with serious health conditions). One or two family members who are not at a higher risk should run the essential errands. When you do leave the house, wear a mask, avoid crowds, and practice social distancing.
Living in Close Quarters
Living in Shared Housing
Shared or congregate housing includes apartments, condominiums, student or faculty housing, national and state park staff housing, transitional housing, and domestic violence and abuse shelters. Shared dining, laundry facilities, stairwells, and elevators may have challenges with social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In common and shared spaces, everyone should stay at least 6 feet apart from one another. People who are sick, their roommates, and those who have higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should eat or be fed in their room, if possible, and dishes, drinking glasses, cups, or eating utensils should not be shared.
People with Certain Medical Conditions
COVID-19 is a new disease. We’re still learning about what underlying medical conditions make you more likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19. Adults of any age with the following conditions have a higher risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19
· Cancer
· Chronic kidney disease
· COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
· Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
· Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
· Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
· Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
· Sickle cell disease
· Smoking
· Type 2 diabetes mellitus
There are also additional medical conditions that might place adults of any age at an increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.
Medical Conditions at Risk