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As an impact of the coronavirus, I will be blogging more frequently for the foreseeable future. Today, I am sharing notes which I took during a teleconference about the coronavirus on March 19. A link to the recording, from the organization which moderated the event, is also included before my notes.
Meeting Date: March 19, 2020
Topic: coronavirus town hall
Presenters from: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Administration for Community Living and Federal Trade Commission.
Moderated by: American Association of Retired Persons.
Prevention and Protection
CDC: Social distancing was cited as crucial, along with staying informed. Delivery services and online shopping for essentials can be helpful for social distancing.
Testing is most relevant for people who develop coronavirus symptoms, primarily respiratory symptoms. A health care provider determines if coronavirus testing is needed. Emergency services are only relevant if one has more severe symptoms. Testing is covered by Medicare Part B when a health care provider orders it. Medicaid coverage is determined by individual states.
ACL: Medical facilities should have up-to-date patient contact information. For people who can communicate verbally, check in with family. If someone cannot verbalize, it is still recommended to communicate with the person at scheduled times. Residential facilities have a responsibility to keep the resident’s family informed.
For family members living at home, Aging and Disability resource center in the state can provide resources. It is important to also not be overstressed.
Discussion:
If a person is over 65, pneumonia vaccine will not protect against coronavirus. Washing hands for 20 seconds using soap is recommended. Eldercare: 1-800-677-1116.
Fraud and Scams
Per the FTC representative, FTC has already taken action against companies which claim to offer products to treat or prevent coronavirus. It is false advertising, per the FTC. Scam treatments typically are from obscure web sites.
Federal Trade Commission coronavirus resources
The FTC is seeing corona phishing emails (malware or fake warnings) and charity solicitation scams.
Some robocalls are corona-related scams. Some scammers sell undelivered goods, meaning orders are made and nothing is delivered.
Question for blog readers:
I hope my notes above and the linked-to resources are of benefit. What are you doing to remain safe during this pandemic? Please leave a comment using the “Leave a Reply” form below. I will be back next week with another article.
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