Posted on: 10 March 2020
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for adult social care and health, said:
“We’re aware that older adults and people with underlying health conditions and their carers may be concerned about Coronavirus and how it might affect them.
“We’d like to reassure you that together with our public health and NHS colleagues, we are working closely with national agencies to respond to the developing situation.
“We’re also working with independent and voluntary sector care providers to ensure as little disruption to their services as possible.
“Please continue to follow national guidance about steps that we can all take to minimise the spread of Coronavirus, including regular and thorough hand washing to prevent avoidable cross-contamination, and to use disposable tissues when coughing or sneezing to help ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it‘.
“In the meantime, if you have elderly relatives or friends who you think may be concerned, please remember to give them a call to check they’re OK.”
Back to Coronavirus advice in Devon.
My mum is 59 and has c.o.p.d in the later stage, she is very concerned about getting it. There is only me who lives with her and i am washing hands frequently when to and from work or shopping etc and i do try to keep my distance from others. However i need to reassure her as listen to the news is making matters worse
Hi Abbie. it sounds like you are doing all the right things, and I agree that listening to the news can make some people even more anxious. I have found the following link to information on Age UK’s website
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/coronavirus/, which includes responses to ‘worrying about someone else’, or ‘feeling anxious’. (The latter has a useful link to the charity Mind). Hope this helps. Mike
I am 56 have underlying medical conditions and Asthma since childhood
Am worried I want to wear a mask to shop but no one else is? Should I, this is causing me severe anxiety please help
Hi Holly, these commonly asked questions address mask wearing https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/ , and there’s similar advice in this link too https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/common-questions/ Thanks.