The news regarding the coronavirus continues to evolve, as we learn more about how it attacks the body, the symptoms it causes, the varying rates of infection among different groups, and the levels of risk associated with certain activities. At this point, we know this virus is quite different from seasonal influenza: It’s as much a vascular disease as a respiratory disease, it seems to have mutated into being more infectious but not necessarily more lethal, and virtually any part of the body, from blood vessels to the brain, could be affected. Even “mild” cases (those not requiring hospitalization) can leave patients with long-term, significant side-effects, and those with underlying chronic illness (especially those who are older with weakened immune systems) are perhaps most at risk for serious consequences. 

Despite our still-evolving understanding of COVID-19, there are points of consensus that have emerged: Because the virus is transmitted through aerosolized droplets expelled by an infected person, wearing a mask is essential for lessening the risk of either you becoming infected or you infecting someone else (and remember, even asymptomatic people merely talking or exhaling seem capable of spreading the virus). We also now know that indoor close contact with others (especially in poorly ventilated settings) is much riskier than outdoor, socially-distanced gatherings. And we continue to know that your odds of being infected and experiencing serious or severe symptoms come from a combination of factors such as your location, sex, and pre-existing health conditions- but that older age is likely the biggest factor when it comes to risk. In fact, brand new reporting out of England found that “patients older than 80 were at least 20 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than those in their 50s, and hundreds of times more likely to die than those below the age of 40.” If you’re curious about calculating your own personal risk when it comes to COVID-19, pull out your lucky charm and click here.

Despite our deepening understanding of the threat COVID-19 poses to older adults, there continue to be research findings that older adults may be no more cautious than younger adults when it comes to such infection-control precautions as handwashing or quarantining when feeling ill. While age is the most important factor when it comes to predicting the odds of surviving COVID-19, older adults just don’t seem to be any more disciplined in trying to protect themselves than their younger counterparts. A recent post by Kaiser Health News journalist Judith Graham may shed some light on this. As she found, many seniors are struggling to adjust to what the “new normal” may be for their lives, including their anger over “wasting” their limited time left or grief over the loss of their former lives. Even 79-year-old Tony Fauci, our coronavirus guru, acknowledges the adjustments he’s had to make to limit his risk of catching coronavirus. As he recently admitted, “I’m 79 years old. I am not getting on a plane..no metro, no public transportation. I’m in a high-risk group and I don’t want to play around.” The bottom line? Age and underlying health status continue to be critical factors when it comes to the risks posed by the coronavirus, and the more you expose yourself to the virus (through unmasked close contact with others) the more you are playing Russian roulette with your health and life.