Protect Yourself Against Covid-19: An infection with this virus can lead to coronavirus disease 19, or COVID-19.
Here are the medical facts to help us understand how to best protect ourselves and others.
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze
- If you are wearing a mask: You can cough or sneeze into your mask. Put on a new, clean mask as soon as possible and wash your hands.
- If you are not wearing a mask:
- 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.
Stay 6 feet away from others
- Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
- Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
Get Vaccinated
- Authorized COVID-19 vaccines can help protect you from COVID-19.
- You should get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you.
- Once you are fully vaccinated, you may be able to start doing some things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.
Monitor your health daily
- 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.
- Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces
- Being in crowds like in restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theaters puts you at higher risk for COVID-19.
- Avoid indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors as much as possible.
- If indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible.
- Wash your hands frequently and carefully.
- Avoid touching your face
- Stop shaking hands and hugging people — for now
- Don’t share personal items
- Clean and disinfect surfaces
- Take physical (social) distancing seriously
- Do not gather in groups
- Avoid eating or drinking in public places
- Self-quarantine if sick