If any of these apply to you, you are at higher risk for having more severe symptoms if you get sick. This does not mean you have a greater chance of getting infected, but if you do, you may get more seriously ill.
If one or more of these things apply to you, the need to take precautions is higher:
- I am 65 years old or older.
- I have heart disease (such as congestive heart failure, or a history of heart attack or stroke).
- I have high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
- I am diabetic or have problems with my blood sugar.
- I have kidney disease or liver disease.
- I have chronic lung disease (such as COPD/emphysema, or moderate or severe asthma), or have had a recent case of pneumonia.
- I am severely obese (with a body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher).
- I am pregnant or may soon become pregnant.
- I have a chronic condition that lowers my ability to fight infections (e.g. HIV, organ transplant).
- I am taking medications that can lower my ability to fight infections (examples include anti-rejection drugs, and certain medicines for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis).
- I have cancer or have been treated for cancer with drugs that lower my ability to fight infection.
Updated April 5, 2020
In addition, persons who have traveled to areas where COVID-19 is circulating should consider themselves at risk of having been exposed.
Thomas A. Glass, Ph.D. 