Hi Eileen, have you seen any specific recommendations for those of us on >10mg per day prednisone and >60 years of age in what to do to reduce the risks of contracting this new virus? It may well differ per country, but does steroid use automatically mean patients are immunocompromised? Prednisone isn't a direct immunosuppressant. Many thanks Heron
Correction : Prednisone is an immunosuppressant
I think it is more likely that age is of more significance then whether you are on pred or not. Patients on DMARDs and other medications are at even more risk than their age suggests.
But the bottom line is that the best protection is to avoid other people and wash your hands with hot water and soap for 20 secs several times a day - especially before leaving the house and after coming in. While out you use hand sanitiser and avoid touching your face and keep a minimum distance of 1m from other people - which automatically rules out shaking hands and hugs. Minimise the time you spend outside unless it is a deserted rural area and if you can, don’t use public transport.
That is basically what we are told here in Italy where the situation in some places is dire. Since it was applied, together with all shops except those selling food and chemists being shut and we were restricted to our locations of residence the numbers of new cases has started to slow - there is always a lag.
As can be seen from the survey published this morning in the UK where 25% of those interviewed have not changed their habits at all we can’t rely on others to protect us, it is up to us to do our best. If other selfish people don’t believe the warnings we have to take responsibility for ourselves. Here in Italy they are having to ration ICU beds because there are too many patients who need them - if you are over 65 and even more so if already sick then you are at the bottom of the waiting list. That is going to happen everywhere - there isn’t a healthcare system in the world that could cope, because even if they have access to ventilators they don’t have enough trained critical care nurses to staff them. Our medical staff are not magically protected from catching it and at the peak there will be even fewer as they have to go off sick.
#I’mstayingathome
Everything Eileen says is what we’ve been told to do in Canada. And people who have been out of the country now have to self-isolate for 14 days. Large gatherings of all kinds are being cancelled. The largest of our city’s farmers markets closed this weekend, although our smaller one where I go was open - but restricted to only 100 people in the space at any time, including the vendors. Really it’s all about social distancing, so make sure your home has lots of what you need in it, not just food supplies but your medication, cleaning supplies (if the hoarders and profiteers have left anything) and things to do - like books, hobby supplies, etc.
Heron82, I cut my ski season short, not going in any closed areas. My wife and I started to stock up on food several weeks ago so we do not need to go to grocery store. We have the virus in Santa Fe where we do some of our shopping. Staying at home the best we can. 
Denmark is closing in on Italy, and of cause I follow the Italian situation. How ever I do think that we are rationed with news here. Do you have any knowledge on what is underlying disease? Any autoimmune disease is an underlying disease or? The lung disease does that include asthma, and the diabetes and hypertension patients is that well controlled patients as well. Er have no information on this as the epidemic is closing down the country. We do not even know if it is the elderly AND already ill or it is elderly OR already ill from something else. The demography from Italy is not public or I can’t find it. Be well and safe.
No-one really knows, it is so new. All the deaths in my region have been elderly - as in over 80 and with comorbidities - cancer is common, until today when it was a 68 year old with previous medical history. There has been a 48 year old paramedic died yesterday but they didn’t say any more. But medical staff do seem to get it worse - they are exposed to a very high viral load with being with so many patients.
There are some very good posts on the HU forum from the last few days that will answer some of your questions.