Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

Coronavirus (Covid-19) FAQ’s for people who have chronic kidney disease, are on dialysis or who have a transplant

Kidney Transplant Care and Well Being During Covid-19

Covid-19 and Staying out of the Hospital

Tips to Avoid Catching COVID-19 (coronavirus)

The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2,” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated: “COVID-19”). Coronaviruses belong to a large family of viruses common in humans and many different species of animals. Humans have never seen this strain of the virus before and have no internal defense against it.

RSN would like to share information we have gathered about the coronavirus from the CDC, Lori Hartwell RSN’s founder and president and our kidney community partners.

Know How it Spreads

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Take steps to protect yourself

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact

Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Take steps to protect others

Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.

Cover coughs and sneezes

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
Throw used tissues in the trash.
Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Wear a facemask if you are sick

If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick.
If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.

Clean and disinfect

Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

RSN founder and president Lori Hartwell has navigated adversity through-out her lifetime of living with kidney failure. She shares coping tips during the Coronavirus crisis.

Centers for Disease Control Links

ASN Podcast: Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Patients
COVID-19 is spreading rapidly worldwide, but its potential impact on the kidneys is still undetermined. A new CJASN study showed that kidney injury, assessed as hematuria, proteinuria, and acute kidney injury, was common in COVID-19 patients and was associated with poor clinical outcomes including progression to critical illness and death, which highlights the importance of urine analysis or even a dipstick test in COVID-19 patients. Listen to the CJASN Podcast on this study.

News and information from around the web

Covid-19 vaccination op ed by John P. Butler, Lori Hartwell, and Charles (Ross) Betts, MD

Harvard Business Review: That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief

Tips for Staying Well from KidneyRD.com

Download: Sign up for a free or paid account at the KidneyRD website to access tips to stay safe in English or Spanish.

11 Tips for Preparing for a Kidney Transplant during Covid-19 from the ESRD Networks

Download the PDF

Web ID C-19

Renal Support Network