It is important that people with chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) bring their ailment under control as this will impact on the outcome if they are exposed to COVID-19.
Dr Kenneth Connell sounded this warning during Thursday’s COVID-19 management update which focussed on Operation Seek and Save, the house-to-house initiative to track COVID-19 and dengue in the community.
The majority of people who succumbed to the illness had underlying illness, mainly from the group of NCDs.
Connell, Deputy Dean of Internationalisation & Recruitment, Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies, said dengue and COVID-19 had similar symptoms and this could cause some confusion. He encouraged Barbadians to cooperate with the students conducting the questionnaire.
He said if you have an NCD and have not seen your doctor recently, it is important to do so. If you have high blood pressure or high blood sugar, record the levels, and in conjunction with your doctor, have a plan to control the illness. He said it was important to take medication and get some exercise. This also applies to those who may be overweight or obese.
Connell said the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the region’s vulnerability to the viral illness because of the high prevalence of NCDs.
He said everyone should act as if they have the illness until proven otherwise and protect themselves by wearing masks, washing hands and observing the recommended physical distance. (SAT)
