COVID-19 Response

I wanted to reach out to our community given the concerns about how infection may impact children with disabilities and chronic illnesses.  As parents, caregivers, and clinicians, we want to support our community by disseminating useful information in order to support your efforts in caring for your child/family and loved ones.  With that, current information suggests that children are unlikely to become severely ill with COVID-19 infection.  But, children with underlying, chronic health conditions may be at higher risk, especially those that impact the heart, lungs or ability to fight infection.  Some general recommendations include:

• Medications: continue with prescribed medications as maintaining health of underlying chronic conditions is the best strategy to avoid complications associated with COVID-19 infection.  Also, preventing unnecessary trips to the emergency room or hospital will decrease exposure to others who are ill.  It’s also a good idea to have at least a two week supply of medications on hand. 
• Scheduled doctor visits: if your child is well and without fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, runny nose), keep your regularly scheduled appointments. 
• Schools: districts are making decisions regarding school closure with their local public health departments and community as an overall strategy to reduce spread.  Look to your schools for further guidance.
• Travel: current recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control include avoiding non-essential air travel and cruise ships for “high” risk patients as measure to avoid exposure.
• Preparation: as you’ve seen in the news, public health measures to reduce the chance of spread of infection have included cancellation of events with large crowds.  Simple measures you can take to help prevent possible infection include:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, going to the bathroom, before and after preparing food. 
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid sharing bath towels and kitchen towels to prevent spread of germs.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick except to get medical care.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean/disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects (e.g. countertops, door knobs, handles, tables).
  • Wear a cloth face covering in public settings especially where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
• Illness: if your child does get sick with symptoms of a cold but it is not an emergency, stay home and give your clinician a call for advice and further instruction.  Most children are not sick enough to need hospitalization or emergency department care. 
• Talk to your children as they may also be worried.  Some suggestions are provided in the following link: https://www.chla.org/blog/health-and-safety-tips/how-talk-kids-about-coronavirus.
• Important sources of information about COVID-19:
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/faq.html;  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/coping.html.
  • Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/
  • California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
  • Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: https://www.chla.org/blog/hospital-news/covid-19-information-parents-and-visitors
  • California Department of Developmental Services: https://dds.ca.gov/
    • Coronavirus: https://www.dds.ca.gov/corona-virus-information-and-resources/
    • Frequently Asked Questions for families: https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID19_FAQ_Individuals-Families_03252020.pdf
    • Frequently Asked Questions for Vendors and Service Providers: https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID19_FAQ_Providers_03252020.pdf
• Tips for Managing Stressful Situations-a tool to help providers better understand how you communicate, what upsets you, what relaxes you and how you have fun! (English); (Spanish)
• Lastly, remember to take time and care of yourself.  Getting enough sleep and rest is another important step we can all take to ensure health.

Sincerely,

Larry Yin, MD, MSPH

Director, USC UCEDD