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The coronavirus pandemic is causing a lot of uncertainty around the world and the case is not any different for people affected by or living with HIV.
There could be fears that COVID-19 is worse in people who are living with HIV. However, WHO clarifies that people living with HIV and are on effective treatment are at no higher risk of getting COVID-19, neither are they likely to develop severe symptoms of COVID-19 if they are managing their HIV well.
Here are some quick facts by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about HIV and COVID-19 you should know:
If you are living with HIV and you are on effective antiretroviral treatments (ART), you are not at an increased risk of contracting or developing severe symptoms of COVID-19 If you are living with HIV and you are not on treatment or virally suppressed, you may be at a higher risk and you may need to urgently speak to your healthcare professional for more information on how to stay healthy Older people living with HIV and those with underlying health conditions need to take extra precaution to prevent contracting COVID-19 It is recommended that you have at a 30 days’ supply of ART at home and if possible, get enough for three months If you are living with HIV and you have a compromised immune system, you need to be extra cautious to prevent infection. Those with compromised immune system include those with low CD4 count, high viral load and those with a recent opportunistic infection.To prevent COVID-19 infections, WHO advises people living with HIV to:
Wash their hands frequently with soap and water Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers Avoid touching their faces as that is a way of introducing the virus into the body Avoid anybody who is feeling unwell Cover nose and mouth with clean tissue when sneezing or coughingFor more tips on COVID-19 for people living with HIV, other than ensuring that they adhere to their antiretroviral treatment, they are also advised to:
Stock up on their ARTs, ideally enough for three months Ensure their pneumococcal vaccines and other vaccinations are up to date Know how to get in touch with a healthcare facility in case they feel unwell Eat well and exercise as best as they can while also looking after their mental healthWho do you wish would run for president?
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