What You Need To Know If You Are At Higher Risk For Severe Illness From COVID-19
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Last updated: March 22, 2021
What You Need To Know If
You Are At Higher Risk For
Severe Illness From COVID-19
For people with chronic medical conditions
Read this brochure to learn:
what is COVID-19
who is at high risk
what are the symptoms of COVID-19
how to reduce your risk of COVID-19
what to do if you have symptoms or are exposed to someone with
COVID-19What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus first detected in late 2019.
Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause infections like the common
cold, bronchitis, pneumonia and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
People with chronic medical conditions are at higher risk of developing severe
symptoms and health problems from COVID-19 that can result in death.
Who is at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19?
People over 60 years of age.
Cancer patients who:
have lung cancer.
have cancers of the blood or bone marrow like leukemia or
lymphoma.
are being treated with chemotherapy, immunotherapy or other
treatments that weaken the immune system.
People taking immunosuppressant medicines (medicines that suppress or
weaken the immune system).
People with diabetes.
People with heart disease.
People who have had a solid organ transplant, for example, a heart or
liver transplant.
People with severe respiratory (breathing) conditions including cystic
fibrosis, high spinal cord injuries, severe asthma and severe chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
People with rare diseases that increase the risk of infections such as
homozygous sickle cell.
Created and approved by Cancer Education, UHN IPAC and UHN Patient Education; Reviewed by UHN Patient Partners
Last updated: March 22, 2021 2What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include new or worsening:
fever
chills
cough
difficulty breathing
sore throat
runny nose
loss of taste or smell
headaches
muscle aches
nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
difficulty swallowing
Symptoms more common in children and older adults also include:
feeling confused or disoriented
sleeping more than usual
feeling dizzy, weak or falling
Call 911 if you are having difficulty breathing.
Call Telehealth Ontario at 1 866 797 0000 at any time of day if you need medical
help. Call 911 in an emergency.
Tell the 911 operator or the emergency help line that you may have COVID-19
and are at high risk for severe illness.
Created and approved by Cancer Education, UHN IPAC and UHN Patient Education; Reviewed by UHN Patient Partners
Last updated: March 22, 2021 3How to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19
Stay home and self-isolate as much as possible
People over the age of 70 and those at higher risk should stay home and avoid
contact with other people (self-isolate) as much as possible.
As much as possible, only leave your home for medical appointments.
For example:
Ask a friend, neighbour or family member to bring you supplies.
Find services that can deliver food or medicines to you.
Arrange to have supplies left outside your door to reduce contact
with other people. Wash your hands after unpacking your items.
Plan carefully to reduce the need to leave your home. For example:
Stock up on the supplies you would need if you had to stay home
for a few weeks, such as groceries, pet food and cleaning
products.
Ask your health care team if you can change your medical
appointments to virtual visits. During a virtual visit, you speak
with your care team using a phone, smartphone, tablet or
computer.
Ask your health care provider to prescribe extra medicine in case
you need to stay home for a long time. Having extra medicine
means you avoid going to a pharmacy as often.
Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical
supplies (for example, tissues) to treat a fever and other
symptoms in case you get sick.
Avoid contact with people outside your household. For example:
Do not use public transit, taxis or rideshare. If you must use
public transit, avoid traveling during when it is busy.
Created and approved by Cancer Education, UHN IPAC and UHN Patient Education; Reviewed by UHN Patient Partners
Last updated: March 22, 2021 4 If possible, do not go to work, school or any other public place.
Only have visitors you must see in your home, such as care
providers.
Do grocery shopping when there are fewer people in the store or
order online for delivery or curbside pick-up.
Stay at least 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people.
Wear a mask and take extra care when you must be around people
you don’t live with
Wear a reusable or disposable mask that covers your nose, mouth and
chin if you leave your home for any reason.
Wash your hands before and after putting on or removing your mask.
Use the ear loops or ties to put on and take off your mask.
Do not touch the outside of your mask while you are wearing or
removing it.
Wash your reusable mask between each use.
Put disposable masks in the garbage after each use.
Do not reuse disposable masks.
When you must be in shared indoor spaces with people you do not live
with:
Wear a mask that covers you nose, mouth and chin. Ask other
people in the area to wear a mask.
Keep doors and windows open when possible to bring fresh air
into the space.
Do not use fans in shared indoor spaces. Fans can spread germs
around the room.
Created and approved by Cancer Education, UHN IPAC and UHN Patient Education; Reviewed by UHN Patient Partners
Last updated: March 22, 2021 5Wash your hands often
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or
use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Wash your hands:
before eating or touching your face
before and after putting on or taking off a face mask
after using the bathroom
after coughing or sneezing
after entering your home
after touching surfaces commonly touched by others (for example,
handrails in public spaces)
Get a COVID-19 vaccine
Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible.
COVID-19 vaccines prevent you from getting seriously ill if you get a
COVID-19 infection.
They do not stop you from spreading COVID-19 to other people. You
must continue to wear a mask, stay 2 metres (6 feet) from other people
and self-isolate after getting the vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccines available in Ontario have been through the same safety
checks as other vaccines or medicines we use in Canada. Speak with your
doctor or care team about the risks and benefits if you are unsure if a COVID-19
vaccine is safe or effective for your specific situation.
For more information about the vaccine and who is eligible, visit:
Toronto Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine page
(https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-
others/covid-19-vaccines)
Created and approved by Cancer Education, UHN IPAC and UHN Patient Education; Reviewed by UHN Patient Partners
Last updated: March 22, 2021 6 Ontario Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine page
(https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-vaccines-ontario)
Stay away from people who are sick or who have travelled recently
As much as possible, avoid people who:
are self-isolating because they were exposed to someone with COVID-19,
even if the person does not have symptoms.
are sick, especially with a respiratory illness.
have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days.
Download the COVID Alert App if you have a smartphone
Download and install the COVID Alert app to your smartphone to help prevent
the spread of COVID-19.
The COVID Alert app sends an exposure alert to app users who have been
near an app user who tested positive for COVID-19.
If you test positive for COVID-19, the app can send an exposure alert to all
the app users you were near.
The app does not collect your personal health information or share it
with other app users.
Note: You may want to turn off the app when you are in a hospital and
protected from others who are already known to have COVID-19. Remember to
turn the app back on when you are outside the hospital.
Find more information about the app and how it works at COVID Alert app
(https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covidalert).
Created and approved by Cancer Education, UHN IPAC and UHN Patient Education; Reviewed by UHN Patient Partners
Last updated: March 22, 2021 7Speak with loved ones and friends about how they can help protect
you
Remind them of how important it is to:
stay 2 metres (6 feet) from people they don’t live with.
wash their hands often.
stay at home as much as possible, even as public health lifts restrictions.
not to visit you indoors if they do not live with you.
If visiting outdoors, ask everyone to wear a mask and to stay 2
metres (6 feet) apart. Do not share food or drinks.
Family members and friends might find it hard not to visit or help. Remind them
that phone and video calls can work just as well to stay connected.
Other precautions
Sneeze or cough into your sleeve or use a tissue and throw it away after
each use. Then wash your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. You could get COVID-19 if you
touch a surface that has the virus on it.
Clean and disinfect surfaces. Be sure to clean surfaces that people touch
a lot, such as doorknobs, phones, light switches and keyboards.
Plan what you will do if you become sick. Have a list of people who you
can call for help with chores and errands.
What do I do if I have symptoms or may have been
exposed to someone with COVID-19?
If you have symptoms or may have been exposed to COVID-19:
1. Self-isolate as soon as you notice symptoms.
Created and approved by Cancer Education, UHN IPAC and UHN Patient Education; Reviewed by UHN Patient Partners
Last updated: March 22, 2021 82. Call your primary care provider, your local public health unit or Telehealth
Ontario at 1 866 797 0000.
3. Get tested at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre
(https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-what-you-should-
do/covid-19-have-symptoms-or-been-exposed/covid-19-assessment-
centres/).
Important: It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear after being
exposed to a person with COVID-19.
Call 911 if you are having difficulty breathing.
For more information
Information about COVID-19 is changing quickly. For the most up-to-date
information:
call Telehealth Ontario: 1 866 797 000
for information about your care at UHN Hospitals visit the UHN COVID-19
webpage (https://www.uhn.ca/covid19)
for general information visit the Ontario COVID-19 webpage
(https://covid-19.ontario.ca)
for the latest reliable information on your health, visit COVID-19
Resources for Patients and Families
(https://guides.hsict.library.utoronto.ca/covid19patientlibrary)
For more information or to provide feedback on this document, please email
UHN Patient Education & Engagement (pfep@uhn.ca).
Created and approved by Cancer Education, UHN IPAC and UHN Patient Education; Reviewed by UHN Patient Partners
Last updated: March 22, 2021 9You can also read
