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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidelines

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How to Protect Yourself & Others

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Older adults and people with certain underlying conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

 

Three Important Ways to Slow the Spread

  • Wear a mask to protect yourself and others and stop the spread of COVID-19.

  • Stay at least 6 feet (about two arm lengths) from others who don’t live with you.

  • Avoid crowds. The more people you contact, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19.

 

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Wear a mask over your nose and mouth:

  • Masks help prevent you from getting or spreading the virus.

  • You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.

  • Everyone should wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are challenging to maintain.

    • Masks should not be placed on young children under age two, anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance.

  • Do NOT use a mask meant for a healthcare worker. Surgical masks and N95 respirators are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders.

  • Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The mask is not a substitute for social distancing.

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Stay 6 feet away from others:

  • Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

    • If possible, maintain 6 feet between the sick person and other household members.

  • Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.

    • Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus.

    • Stay at least 6 feet (about two arms’ length) from other people.

    • Keeping distance from others is especially important for people at higher risk of getting very sick.

 

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Avoid crowds:

  • Being in crowds like restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theaters puts you at higher risk for COVID-19.

Avoid poorly ventilated spaces

  • Avoid indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors as much as possible. If possible, if indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors.

 

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Wash your hands often:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place or blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

  • It’s essential to wash:

    • Before eating or preparing food

    • Before touching your face

    • After using the restroom

    • After leaving a public place

    • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

    • After handling your mask

    • After changing a diaper

    • After caring for someone sick

    • After touching animals or pets

  • 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.

 

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Cover coughs and sneezes:

  • Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.

  • 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.

 

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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 before disinfection.

  • Then, use a household disinfectant.

 

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Monitor Your Health Daily:

  • Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other signs of COVID-19.

    • It is essential if you are running critical errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be challenging to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.

  • Take your temperature if symptoms develop.

    • Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.

 

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Protect Your Health This Flu Season:

Flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will likely spread this fall and winter. Healthcare systems could be overwhelmed treating patients with flu and patients with COVID-19. This means that getting a flu vaccine during 2020-2021 is more critical than ever.

While getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, there are many essential benefits, such as:

  1. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.

  2. Getting a flu vaccine can also save healthcare resources for patients with COVID-19.

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