HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF & OTHERS

Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines are effective and a safer way to build protection against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated and staying up-to-date are effective at reducing your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 (1).

More info on Vaccines

Wear a Mask

COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets, and masks are a tool that can protect you and others. Masks reduce the spread of these droplets to others when you talk, cough, or sneeze, as well as limit your exposure to the virus (2). It is also a great tool to protect people who are at higher risk for severe illness (3).

Keep your Distance

When possible, keep your distance from others in public spaces (i.e. grocery stores, workplaces, public transit) to lower the risk of spreading germs. It can take up to 2 weeks for a person to show COVID-19 symptoms, but they can still infect others during this time.

By keeping your distance, you are reducing the chance of getting the virus from someone else or passing it on to others (4).

Improve Air Flow

Good airflow (ventilation) helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. Favor outdoor settings for larger group gatherings, prop open doors and windows when possible, use fans to keep air moving, and change out your air filter regularly.

Test to Reduce the Spread

Testing is a helpful tool we can use to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to others. Test if you feel ill or were recently exposed to someone who tested positive. If you test positive, it is best to stay home and take care of yourself to reduce the spread to others (4).

Wash your Hands

Regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water, or hand sanitizer, to reduce the spread of germs. Germs like to hang out on surfaces, and we increase our risk of getting sick if we touch a surface with germs, then touch our eyes, nose, or mouth.

Cover Coughs and Sneezes

Covering coughs and sneezes can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses, like COVID-19 (5). When you cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze it keeps germs from traveling and potentially making others sick. Use a tissue or your elbow to cover up. Also, don’t forget to wash your hands!

Clean and Disinfect

Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, phones, and keyboards on a regular basis to reduce the spread of germs.

References
  1.     Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC. Accessed April 12, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
  2.     Science Brief: Community Use of Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 | CDC. Accessed April 12, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html
  3.     Use and Care of Masks | CDC. Accessed April 12, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html
  4.     How to Protect Yourself & Others | CDC. Accessed April 12, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
  5.     Coughing and Sneezing | Etiquette & Practice | Hygiene | Healthy Water | CDC. Accessed April 12, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/etiquette/coughing_sneezing.html