Queen Elizabeth II Tests Positive for COVID-19: How Serious Is Coronavirus for Elders Like the 95-Year-Old Monarch? R

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 70th year of accession on February 6 this year, making her the United Kingdom's longest-reigning monarch. On February 20, Buckingham Palace has announced that the Queen has tested positive for COVID-19.

Before the Majesty contracted the virus, her son Prince Charles was reinfected with the coronavirus followed by his wife Camilla and also went into isolation. Vanity Fair reported that the prince met the Queen two days prior testing positive for the virus. Prince Charles is now fully vaccinated and boosted.

(Photo : Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II is seen at the Chichester Theatre while visiting West Sussex on November 30, 2017 in Chichester, United Kingdom.

How Bad is the Queen's COVID-19 Infection?

The New York Times reported that Queen Elizabeth was infected with the coronavirus, becoming one of the world's most prominent figures to get infected. The palace issued a few details about the Queen's condition that said she is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms.

Aside from her Majesty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson also got infected and suffered the severe type of COVID-19 around the same time that he ended up in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Buckingham Palace has worked to protect the Queen from getting exposed to the virus so she remained in Windsor Castle in early 2020 with her late husband, Prince Philip. They received a dose of the vaccine on January 2021 at Windsor Castle, although the palace did not confirm any subsequent vaccine doses.

In recent weeks, the Queen started appearing in public again after canceling several engagements last fall due to exhaustion. For now, the circumstances of the Queen's infection remained unclear.

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COVID-19 Infection and Vaccine Information for Older People

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that older adults are more likely to get infected with coronavirus and that many of them might need hospitalization, ICU, or a ventilator to help them breathe. Their risk is even higher when they are over the age of 50 and further increases in the 60s, 70s, and 80s adults. People who are older than 85 years old are the most likely to get very sick.

Moreover, older unvaccinated adults are more likely to be hospitalized or die, especially if they have certain underlying medical conditions. They need to take preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and washing hands regularly to protect themselves from getting infected.

In case older adults feel sick or think they might be exposed to someone with COVID-19, they need to get tested immediately. Contact local health providers for assistance, while those who have medical emergencies must not delay seeking care.

Meanwhile, those who are already starting to show symptoms should call the healthcare provider, get tested, and follow the necessary steps when feeling sick. For those unsure of the COVID-19 symptoms, the CDC has listed these symptoms on the coronavirus self-checker website.

Lastly, help protect friends and family members who are old by following visitation guidelines under various circumstances. People in nursing homes or long-term care facilities are more prone to the virus so it is advisable to be extra careful when visiting them.