People at high risk of serious COVID-19 illness

Older adults and persons who have severe chronic medical conditions seem to be at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness.

Early data suggest older people are twice as likely to have serious COVID-19 illness. This may be because:

• As people age, their immune systems change, making it harder for their body to fight off diseases and infection.
• Many older adults are also more likely to have underlying health conditions that make it harder to cope with and recover from illness.

If you are at increased risk for COVID-19 complications due to age or a severe underlying medical condition, it is especially important for you to take action to reduce your risk of exposure.

Actions are listed here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html