Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Prevention

Canceling travel and other outings

Stay informed about COVID-19 in your area. Follow local instructions about being in public. Be aware of events in your community that may be postponed or canceled, such as school and sporting events. You may be advised not to attend public gatherings. 

You will be advised to stay at least 6 feet from others as much as possible. This is called "social distancing." You may be advised to stay at home and isolate yourself as much as possible if COVID-19 is in your area. You may hear terms such as "self isolate, "quarantine," “stay at home,” and “shelter in place.”

The CDC advises that people should not travel to areas where there are COVID-19 outbreaks right now for any reason that is not urgent. For the most current CDC travel advisories, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers. Don’t go on cruises or do non-essential travel right now. 

When you are at home

• Wash your hands often. Use soap and clean, running water for at least 20 seconds.

• If you don't have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often. Make sure it has at least 60% alcohol.

• Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth unless you have clean hands.

• Don’t kiss someone who is sick.

• If you need to cough or sneeze, do it into a tissue. Then throw the tissue into the trash. If you don't have tissues, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow.

• When possible, don't touch "high-touch" shared surfaces such as doorknobs and handles, cabinet handles, and light switches.

• Clean frequently-touched home surfaces often with disinfectant. This includes desk surfaces, printers, phones, kitchen counters, tables, fridge door handle, bathroom surfaces, and any soiled surface. Closely follow disinfectant label instructions. Go to the CDC’s detailed cleaning website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/cleaning-disinfection.html.

• Check your home supplies. Consider keeping a 2-week supply of medicines, food, and other needed household items.

• Make a plan for childcare, work, and ways to stay in touch with others. Know who will help you if you get sick.

• Don't be around people who are sick.

• There is no evidence right now that animals spread SARS-CoV-2. But it's always a good idea to wash your hands after touching any animals. Don't touch animals that may be sick.

• Don’t share eating or drinking utensils with sick people.

If you leave home

• Stay at least 6 feet away from all people. This is called "social distancing."

• When possible, don't touch "high-touch" public surfaces such as doorknobs and handles, cabinet handles, and light switches. If you touch these surfaces, try to clean them first with a disinfecting wipe. Or touch them using a tissue or paper towel.

• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often. Make sure it has at least 60% alcohol.

• Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth unless you have clean hands.

• If you need to cough or sneeze, do it into a tissue. Then throw the tissue into the trash. If you don't have tissues, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow.

• Don't attend public gatherings if possible. If you do attend public gatherings, follow social distancing rules. Don't share food or personal items such as water bottles.

• The CDC advises wearing a cloth face mask in public. During a public health emergency, medical face masks may be reserved for healthcare workers. You may need to make a cloth face mask of your own. You can do this using a bandana, T-shirt, or other cloth. The CDC has instructions on how to make a mask. Wear the mask so that it covers both your nose and mouth.

• The CDC advises all people over age 2 to wear cloth face masks in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when it's hard to socially distance. For example, wear a mask in populated places such as public transit, public protests and marches, and crowded stores, bars, and restaurants. Cloth masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 form spreading the virus to others. Cloth masks are most likely to reduce COVID-19 spread when masks are widely used by people who are out in the public.

• Certain people should not wear a face mask. This includes:

  • Children younger than 2 years old

  • Anyone with a health, developmental, or mental health condition that can be made worse by wearing a mask

  • Anyone who is unconscious or unable to remove the face covering without help. See the CDC's guidance on who should not wear a face mask.

If you are at a work site

• If you feel sick in any way, go home and stay home.

• Tell your supervisor if you are well but live with someone who has COVID-19.

• Stay at least 6 feet away from all people.

• Don't shake hands with anyone.

• Don't attend in-person meetings, or limit how many you attend. Meet over phone or video if possible.

• Don't use other people's desks, phones, equipment, or offices, if possible.

• Wash your hands often. Use soap and clean, running water for at least 20 seconds.

• If you don't have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often. Make sure it has at least 60% alcohol.

• Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth unless you have clean hands.

• The CDC advises wearing a cloth face mask in public. During a public health emergency, medical face masks may be reserved for healthcare workers. You may need to make a cloth face mask of your own. You can do this using a bandana, T-shirt, or other cloth. The CDC has instructions on how to make a mask. Wear the mask so that it covers both your nose and mouth. Follow the CDC's advice listed earlier.

• When possible, don't touch "high-touch" public surfaces such as doorknobs and handles, cabinet handles, and light switches. If you touch these surfaces, clean them first with a disinfecting wipe. Or touch them using a tissue or paper towel.

• Use office kitchens one person at a time.

• Consider not having office coffee or tea, or group foods.

• Don’t have meals in groups.

• Clean work surfaces often with disinfectant. This includes desk surfaces, photocopier, printer, phones, kitchen counters, fridge door handle, bathroom surfaces, and others.

• Don’t touch other people’s personal work tools, such as phones, keyboards, pens, and other items.

• Don’t touch other people’s eating or drinking utensils.

• If you need to cough or sneeze, do it into a tissue. Then throw the tissue into the trash. If you don't have tissues, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow.

If you have been exposed to a person with COVID-19

If you've been exposed within that last 14 days to someone who is suspected of having COVID-19 or has tested positive for it:

• Call your healthcare provider and follow all instructions. Your activities and where you go likely will be restricted for up to 2 weeks. Check your community's instructions about activity restrictions. You may be directed to stay home, or "self-isolate."

• Take your temperature every morning and evening for at least 14 days. This is to check for fever. Keep a record of the readings.

• Watch for symptoms of the virus like cough or trouble breathing. Call your provider if you have symptoms. Call your provider first before going to any clinic or hospital. See the CDC's symptom checker.

• Stay home if you are sick for any reason.

• Your limits are different if you've had COVID-19 in the last 3 months but are fully recovered without symptoms and you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. If you are symptom-free, you don't need to quarantine or be retested. The CDC doesn't recommend retesting unless you have symptoms of COVID-19 and your new symptoms can't be linked to another illness. Contact your healthcare provider if you have any questions. If you develop symptoms, stay home. If you had COVID-19 more than 3 months ago and have been exposed again, treat it like you've never had COVID-19 and stay home, limit your contact with others, call your provider, and monitor for symptoms.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider if you think you have COVID-19 symptoms. These can include fever, cough, and trouble breathing. They may also include body aches, headache, chills or repeated shaking with chills, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, or diarrhea. Don’t go to a healthcare facility before speaking to a healthcare provider.

Last modified date: 8/24/2020