Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - How to Protect Yourself &
Others
Get Vaccinated and stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines
·
COVID-19
vaccines are effective at preventing you from getting sick. COVID-19
vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness,
hospitalizations, and death.
·
Getting vaccinated is the best way to slow the spread of
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
·
CDC recommends that everyone who is eligible stay
up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, including people
with weakened immune systems.
Wear a mask
·
Everyone ages 2 years and older should properly wear a well-fitting
mask indoors in public in areas of substantial or
high community transmission, regardless of vaccination status.
·
You might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of
community transmission, if you or someone in your household is at
increased risk for severe disease or has a weakened
immune system, or if someone in your household is not up
to date on their COVID-19 vaccines or not eligible to receive COVID-19
vaccines.
·
Improve how well your mask protects you,
and learn about how to choose
a mask to protect yourself and others.
·
In general, people do not need to wear masks when outdoors. In
areas of substantial
or high transmission, people might choose to wear a mask outdoors when in
sustained close
contact with other people, particularly if:
o
They or someone they
live with has a weakened
immune system or is at increased
risk for severe disease.
o
They are not up
to date on COVID-19 vaccines or live with someone who is not up to
date on COVID-19 vaccines.
·
People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken
their immune system may not be fully protected even if they are up to
date on their COVID-19 vaccines. They should continue to take all precautions
recommended for unvaccinated people, including properly wearing a well-fitted
mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
·
For more information, see COVID-19
Vaccines for Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised People
·
Wearing
a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains,
and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the
United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports
and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a
conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a
bus).
Stay 6 feet away from others
·
Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are
sick, if possible. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person
who is sick and other household members. If you are taking care of someone who
is sick, make sure you properly wear a well-fitting
mask and follow other steps to protect yourself.
·
Indoors in public: If you are not up
to date on COVID-19 vaccines, stay at least 6 feet away from other people,
especially if you are at higher
risk of getting very sick with COVID-19.
Avoid poorly ventilated spaces and crowds
·
If indoors, bring
in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible.
·
If you are at increased
risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, avoid crowded places and
indoor spaces that do not have fresh air from the outdoors.
Test to prevent spread to others
·
You can choose from many different types
of tests.
·
Tests for SARS-CoV-2(the
virus that causes COVID-19) tell you if
you have an infection at the time of the test. This type of test is
called a viral test because it looks for viral infection.
·
Regardless of the test type you select, a positive
test result means that you have an infection and should isolate and
inform your close
contacts to avoid spreading disease to others.
·
Over-the-counter self-tests are
viral tests that can be used at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce
rapid results. Anyone can use self-tests, regardless of their vaccination
status or whether they have symptoms.
·
COVID-19 self-tests are
one of many risk-reduction measures, along with vaccination, masking, and
physical distancing, that protect you and others by reducing the chances of
spreading COVID-19.
·
Wash
your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose,
coughing, or sneezing.
·
It’s especially important to wash your hands:
o
Before eating or
preparing food
o
Before touching your
face
o
After using the restroom
o
After leaving a public
place
o
After blowing your nose,
coughing, or sneezing
o
After handling your mask
o
After changing a diaper
o
After caring for someone
sick
o
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.
Cover coughs and sneezes
·
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.
·
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.
·
Clean high touch surfaces regularly or as needed and after
you have visitors in your home. This includes tables, doorknobs, light
switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and
sinks.
·
If someone is sick or has tested positive for
COVID-19, disinfect frequently
touched surfaces.
·
Use a household disinfectant product from EPA’s
List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon according
to manufacturer’s labeled directions.
·
If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or
soap and water.
Monitor your health daily
·
Be alert for symptoms:
o
Watch for fever, cough,
shortness of breath, or other
symptoms of COVID-19.
o
Take your temperature if symptoms
develop.
o
Don’t take your
temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that
could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
o
Follow CDC
guidance if symptoms develop.
·
Monitoring symptoms is especially important if you are running
errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be
difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.
Follow recommendations for quarantine
·
If you come into close
contact with someone with COVID-19: follow CDC’s recommendations
for quarantine.
Follow recommendations for isolation
·
If you test
positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms:
follow CDC’s recommendations
for isolation.
Take precautions when you travel
·
Follow CDC’s recommendations
for domestic and international travel.
Additional Resources
For
more information, see:
·
Families
with vaccinated and unvaccinated members
·
Improve
How Your Mask Protects You
·
Information for specific groups of people (link: COVID-19
Information for Specific Groups of People | CDC)
Help protect yourself and others
pdf icon[PDF - 263 KB, 1 page]
Related Pages