Advice for aspergillosis sufferers and COVID-19 risk

[Jacmidlands]

Following several discussions with NAC & ID staff we have agreed to advise anyone with aspergillosis to increase their efforts to avoid COVID-19 coronavirus.

Up until now advice has been to carry on as normal but to protect yourself by regular good quality hand washing, not touching your face and avoiding direct contact with other people. These still apply but in addition:

It is now quite clear that the virus is starting to spread in the UK in a way that means it is very difficult to predict who will be infected. Consequently decrease your risk by increasing your social spacing. Avoid groups, avoid being in close contact with other people ie within 2 metres for more than 15min, do not use public transport unless it is unavoidable indeed don't travel if you can avoid it.

publichealthmatters.blog.go...

Isolating yourself at home is very effective as a means to prevent infection, so if that reduces your anxiety it might be worth doing until the peak of infections is passed nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir...

Also assets.publishing.service.g...

Clearly NHS is going to be very stressed by this over the next few weeks. Avoid A&E unless you absolutely have to go, use 111.

[sparrowhawk]

Hi. Thank you for your advice. I have ABPA and hoping that I won’t get the Coronavirus. I am following the guidelines. However should I be prepared with some oxygen in the house in case. I am 77 and take steroids. Not sure if it is possible to have oxygen but would imagine that would be a necessity if I did catch the virus. I live in Worthing, West Sussex.

I am married and my husband who is 79 has asthma.

Keeping positive but any advice will be most helpful. I realise I do not have a very serious Aspergillosis.

At the moment I am continuing to go out and about.

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Sparrowhawk

[GAtherton Administrator Fungal Infection Trust in reply to sparrowhawk]

Keep up with advice here. aspergillosis.org/

NHS advice is that you maintain your current asthma meds and ensure that you have adequate supplies. If you get into any difficulties contact your GP or 111.

[sparrowhawk in reply to GAtherton]

Thank you very much. I am self isolating and following the medicine advice.