How to Reduce your risk of getting COVID-19
It is especially important for
people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and those who live
with them, to protect themselves from getting COVID-19.
The best way to protect yourself
and to help reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 is to:
- Limit your interactions with
other people as much as possible.
- Take precautions to prevent
getting COVID-19 when you do interact with others.
If you start feeling sick and
think you may have COVID-19, call 105 ,or visit nearby specialized hospitals
What to consider before being around other people
There is no way to ensure you have
zero risk of infection, so it is important to understand the risks
and know how to be as safe as possible if or when you do resume
some activities, run
errands, or attend events
and gatherings.
People at increased risk of
severe illness from COVID-19, and those who live with them, should consider
their level of risk before deciding
to go out and ensure they are taking steps to protect
themselves. Consider avoiding activities where taking protective measures
may be difficult, such as activities where social
distancing can’t be maintained. Everyone should take steps to prevent getting and
spreading COVID-19 to protect themselves, their
communities, and people who are at increased risk of severe illness.
In general, the more people you interact
with, the more closely you interact with them, and the longer that interaction,
the higher your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.
- If you decide to engage in
public activities, continue to protect yourself by practicing everyday preventive actions.
- Keep these items on hand and
use them when venturing out: a mask, tissues, and a hand sanitizer with at
least 60% alcohol, if possible.
- If possible, avoid others who
are not wearing masks or
ask others around you to wear masks.
Are you considering in-person visits with family and friends? Here
are some things to consider to help make personal and
social activities as safe as possible:
When to delay or cancel a visit
- Delay or cancel a visit if you
or your visitors have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with
COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
- Anyone who has had close contact with a person with COVID-19 should stay home and monitor for symptoms.
In general, the more people you
interact with, the more closely you interact with them, and the longer that
interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.
So, think
about:
- How many people will you
interact with?
- Can you keep at least 6 feet of
space between you and others?
- Will you be outdoors or
indoors?
- What’s the length of time that
you will be interacting with people?
Encourage social distancing
- Limit the number of people you
interact with and ensure you keep safe distances (at least 6 feet) between
you when possible and if not in the same household.
- Visit with your friends and
family outdoors,
when possible. If this is not feasible, make sure the room or space is
well-ventilated (for example, open windows or doors) and large enough to
accommodate social distancing.
- Arrange tables and chairs to
allow for social distancing. People from the same household can be in
groups together and don’t need to be 6 feet apart from each other.
- Consider activities where
social distancing can be maintained, like sidewalk chalk art or yard
games.
- Try to avoid close contact with
your visitors. For example, don’t shake hands, elbow bump, or hug. Instead
wave and verbally greet them.
- If possible, avoid others who
are not wearing masks or ask others around you to wear masks.
- Consider keeping a list of
people you visited or who visited you and when the visit occurred. This
will help with contact tracing if someone becomes sick.
- Limit the time you have close
contact with visitors to less than 15-20 minutes as much as possible.
Wear masks
Masks prevent people from
getting and spreading the virus, especially those who may not know they have
it.
- Masks should
be worn over the nose and mouth. Masks are especially important to help
protect each other when it is difficult to stay at least 6 feet apart from
others or when people are indoors.
- Masks prevent people from
getting and spreading the virus.
- CDC recognizes that wearing
masks may not be possible in every situation or for some people such as
children. Some older adults with cognitive, sensory, or behavioral issues
might find wearing a mask difficult. Adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible to
increase the feasibility of wearing a mask or to reduce the risk of
spreading COVID-19 if it is not possible to wear one. These adults need to
take extra precautions when interacting with others. Additionally, some
people may rely on reading lips or facial expressions during social
interactions. This can be difficult when others are wearing masks that
cover large portions of their face.
- Who should NOT use masks: Children under age 2 or anyone who has trouble
breathing, is unconscious, or is incapacitated or otherwise unable to
remove the mask without assistance.
Wash hands often
- Everyone should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at
the beginning and end of the visit and whenever you think your hands may
have become contaminated.
- If soap and water are not
readily available, such as with outdoor visits or activities, use a hand
sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your
hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Remind guests to wash or
sanitize their hands before serving or eating food.
- Use single-use hand towels or
paper towels for drying hands so visitors do not share towels. Have a
no-touch trash can available for guests to use.
Limit contact with commonly
touched surfaces or shared items
- Encourage your visitors to
bring their own food and drinks.
- Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and any shared items
between use.
- If you choose to use any shared
items that are reusable (e.g., seating covers, tablecloths, linen
napkins), wash, clean, and sanitize them after the event.
If you are thinking about participating in an event or gathering:
If you are at increased risk for
severe illness, consider avoiding high-risk gatherings. Here are things to
consider for personal
and social activities.
Stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic
Staying healthy during the
pandemic is important. Talk to your healthcare provider about whether your
vaccinations and other preventive services are up to date to help prevent you
from becoming ill with other diseases.
- It is particularly important
for those at increased risk of severe illness, including older adults, to
receive recommended vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal
disease.
- Talk with your healthcare
provider about maintaining preventive services like cancer screenings during the pandemic.
- Remember the importance of
staying physically active and practicing healthy habits to cope with stress.
- Ask your healthcare provider
about telemedicine or remote healthcare visits, and know when to go to the emergency department.
- If you have a medical
emergency, do not delay seeking emergency care.
If you have an underlying medical condition, you should
continue to follow your treatment plan:
- Continue your medicines and do not change your treatment plan without
talking to your healthcare provider.
- Have at least a 30-day supply of prescription and non-prescription
medicines. Talk to your doctor
, insurer, and pharmacist about getting an extra supply (i.e.,
more than 30 days) of prescription medicines, if possible, to reduce your trips
to the pharmacy.
- Do not delay getting emergency
care for your underlying medical condition because of COVID-19. Emergency departments have
contingency infection prevention plans to protect you from getting
COVID-19 if you need care.
- Call your healthcare provider
if you have any concerns about
your underlying medical conditions or if you get sick and think that you
may have COVID-19. If you need emergency help, call 105 right away.
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