COVID-19 Information & Resources

The US COPD Coalition hosted the webinar, “COVID-19: Info You Can Trust” on January 21, 2021, featuring Dr. Albert Rizzo, Chief Medical Officer for the American Lung Association. Click on this link to view the webinar: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/5824093713602547728

The following is re-printed from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 website. The US COPD Coalition encourages you to check the CDC website frequently for the latest up-to-date information.

Click on this link for COVID-19 symptoms and “self-check” guide to help you make decisions and seek appropriate medical care: Coronavirus Symptoms and Self-Checker

The Importance of Healthy Lungs during COVID-19 (A Helpful Infographic)Download

Who is at Risk of Severe Illness?

Adults of any age with certain medical conditions can be more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Severe illness means that a person with COVID-19 may need:

Hospitalization
Intensive care
A ventilator to help them breathe
Or they may even die

In addition:

Older adults are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. More than 80% of COVID-19 deaths occur in people over age 65, and more than 95% of COVID-19 deaths occur in people older than 45.
Long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put various groups of people at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19, including many racial and ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities.
- Studies have shown people from racial and ethnic minority groups are also dying from COVID-19 at younger ages. People in minority groups are often younger when they develop chronic medical conditions and may be more likely to have more than one condition.
- People with disabilities are more likely than those without disabilities to have chronic health conditions, live in congregate setting, and face more barriers to healthcare. Studies have shown that some people with certain disabilities are more likely to get COVID-19 and have worse outcomes.

If you have a medical condition, speak with your healthcare provider about steps you can take to manage your health and risks.

Preventive measures for COVID-19 (including vaccination, wearing a mask and social distancing) are important especially if you are older or have multiple or severe health conditions. You can learn about CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, including how medical conditions and other factors inform recommendations, here.