‘Elderly living with working people face high Covid risk’

‘Elderly living with working people face high Covid risk’

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com  29.10.2020 

New Delhi: Elderly people living with or in close contact with people of working age may be at higher Covid-19 mortality risk, a new study published in the Lancet shows.

The study conducted by researchers in Stockholm underlines the importance of living arrangements and household composition, such as care homes, crowded housing, and mixed-age households, as well as social contacts outside the household for understanding the spread of the infectious disease.

However, doctors in India say the age group studied as part of the research is already vulnerable, whereas living with younger people also mean receiving care from the latter.

“In India, we have observed that usually if one person gets infected in a family, it leads to almost all the members getting infected. So, we strongly advise people testing positive and having elderly people living in the same household to strictly maintain physical distance and look after the older people,” says Dr Manoj Kumar Goel, director, Fortis Memorial Research Institute.

The study was conducted in 2,79,961 individuals aged 70 years or older.

The mortality rate is over 20% in people above 70 years of age, says Dr Goel.

Experts say the risk is certainly higher among people living in congested places and slums where social distancing is not practically possible for a large section of the residents, although lack of awareness and a casual attitude also add to the problem.

“The best one can do is wear masks and consult doctors even in case of minor doubt. People should not be complacent and follow every required precaution. Sharing of same plates, towels, soaps should be avoided. Lead a healthy lifestyle and work on immunity as much as possible,” Dr Navneet Sood, pulmonary consultant, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital said.

LANCET STUDY FINDS