COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Understanding of COVID-19, also called coronavirus, 2019-ncov, SARS-CoV-2, novel coronavirus, and more, is rapidly increasing. Older adults are at particular risk for serious illness and those 50 and older, particularly with multiple comorbidities, are at higher risk of dying if infected.

The GSA COVID-19 Task Force is monitoring the outbreak and will share resources as they are developed. The best source of information on current cases and guidance for healthcare professionals is the CDC website.

• Check out A COVID-19 DECISION AID: How Do I Choose When to Interact with People or Take Part in Activities Outside My Home During the Pandemic? (Also available in PDF format in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin.)
• View and share GSA's new infographic, Understanding Ageism and COVID-19 (Also available in Spanish)
• See GSA's new fact sheet, Aging and Immunity: Why Older Adults Are Highly Susceptible to Diseases Like COVID-19 (Also available in Spanish)
• Learn about Distancing: Physical Separation Without Social Isolation from the GSA National Adult Vaccination Program Workgroup (Also available in Spanish)
• Hear from GSA CEO James Appleby on navigating the weeks ahead in his recent blog
• Apply reframing aging principles to communications: This two-page tips guide illustrates the importance of how we talk to — and about — each other. Effective and inclusive communication is especially important during a time of genuine crisis. Check it out and sign up for a regular newsletter from the FrameWorks Institute, GSA’s strategic partner in the Reframing Aging Initiative.
• Contribute to the dialog: You can use the GSA Connect Community on COVID-19 to share your insights with others and for posting questions.