COVID-19: Tracy's Guide for Families

Q: What special precautions are recommended for the hearing-impaired and vision-impaired? 💁 Tracy:  Follow news and updates on the pandemic by using screen peek (for the vision-impaired), speech-to-text (for the hearing-impaired) and other technological means. Use public facilities and stores during special opening hours for people with disabilities. Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Stock up about 2 weeks’supply of necessities, such as food, cleaning supplies, and medicines. Reduce shopping trips and other such outside trips. Talk to your doctors about your special needs and your medication needs, and ask them about the changes needed. Plan for emergencies, in case your caretakers may not be able to come on a regular basis. Find other alternative caretakers if possible. In case you have any symptoms, contact your doctors and local healthcare facilities, and arrange for any needed transportation. 💁 Tracy’s travel advice for the hearing-impaired

Q: How to take care of patients with chronic diseases? 💁 Tracy: Patients with chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, chronic kidney diseases, cancers, and diabetes, etc, are at a higher risk of infection or develop severe symptoms. They should take extra precautions and minimize possible exposure to the virus as much as possible. In addition, they need to regularly monitor their blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, blood oxygenation level and other important indicators during their stay at home to observe changes in their health. Consult" What should I do if I am at greater risk for infection or if members of my household have this risk? " to learn about symptoms of COVID-19. In case of acute exacerbation of chronic illnesses or possible signs and symptoms of COVID-19, contact a doctor ASAP. Patients with hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases without contraindications