The worldwide spread of COVID‐19 is alarming to all of us and has created an enormous public health and clinical crisis. Emerging data indicate that COVID‐19 is a particular risk for older persons, particularly those with multimorbidity. Recent reports of COVID‐19 infections indicate that both community‐dwelling older persons as well as those residing in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other congregate living settings are at high risk.
The editors of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) want to make sure our readers are aware of resources for clinicians and our patients1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 that provide superb guidance.
As this outbreak progresses, JAGS will monitor events and provide periodic updates focused on older persons as needed.
REFERENCES
- 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. Accessed March 6, 2020.
- 2. American Geriatrics Society . About the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). https://www.americangeriatrics.org/covid19. Accessed March 6, 2020.
- 3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services , Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in nursing homes (REVISED), ref: QSO‐20‐14‐NH. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-14-nh-revised.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2020.
- 4. The Society for Post‐Acute and Long Term Care Medicine . COVID‐19 in PALTC settings. February 28, 2020. https://paltc.org/COVID-19. Accessed March 6, 2020.
- 5. Sharfstein JM, Becker SJ, Mello MM. Diagnostic testing for the novel coronavirus. JAMA. 10.1001/jama.2020.3864. Accessed March 9, 2020. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Keeping workplaces, homes, schools, or commercial establishments safe. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/workplace-school-and-home-guidance.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2020.