Prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick

Accessible version: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention
follow the steps below to care for yourself and to help protect Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone
other people in your home and community. is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical
care immediately:
• Trouble breathing
Stay home except to get medical care. • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have • New confusion
mild illness and are able to recover at home • Bluish lips or face
without medical care. Do not leave your home, • Inability to wake or stay awake
except to get medical care. Do not visit
public areas. *This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical
• Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over- provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning
the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you to you.
feel better.
• Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility:
care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who
any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is has or may have COVID-19.
an emergency.
• Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
Call ahead before visiting your doctor.
• Call ahead. Many medical visits for routine
Separate yourself from other people and pets care are being postponed or done by phone
in your home. or telemedicine.
• As much as possible, stay in a specific • If you have a medical appointment that
room and away from other people and pets cannot be postponed, call your doctor’s
in your home. Also, you should use a separate office, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19.
bathroom, if available. If you need to be around
other people or animals in or outside of the home,
wear a mask.
ɞ See COVID-19 and Animals if you have questions about
If you are sick, wear a mask over your nose
pets: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq. and mouth.
html#COVID19animals. • You should wear a mask over your nose
ɞ Additional guidance is available for those living in close and mouth if you must be around other
quarters. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-hj ncov/ people or animals, including pets (even
daily-life-coping/living-in-close-quarters.html) and shared at home).
housing (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
daily-life-coping/shared-housing/index.html). • You don’t need to wear the mask if you are alone. If you can’t
put on a mask (because of trouble breathing for example),
cover your coughs and sneezes in some other way. Try to stay at
Monitor your symptoms. least 6 feet away from other people. This will help protect the
• Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, people around you.
cough, and shortness of breath but
• Masks should not be placed on young children under age 2 years,
other symptoms may be present as well.
anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is not able to
• Follow care instructions from your remove the mask without help.
healthcare provider and local health department. Your
local health authorities will give instructions on checking your Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical grade facemasks are
symptoms and reporting information. reserved for healthcare workers and some first responders. You may
need to make a mask using a scarf or bandana.

cdc.gov/coronavirus
CS 316120-A 08/11/2020
Cover your coughs and sneezes. • Clean and disinfect areas that may have blood, stool, or body
fluids on them.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue
when you cough or sneeze. • Use household cleaners and disinfectants. Clean the area or
item with soap and water or another detergent if it is dirty. Then
• Throw used tissues in a lined trash can. use a household disinfectant.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least ɞ Be sure to follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe
20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands and effective use of the product. Many products recommend
with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least keeping the surface wet for several minutes to ensure germs
60% alcohol. are killed. Many also recommend precautions such as wearing
gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use
of the product.
Clean your hands often. ɞ Most EPA-registered household disinfectants should
• Wash your hands often with soap and be effective.
water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially
important after blowing your nose, coughing,
or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before
eating or preparing food. When You Can be Around Others After You Had or
Likely Had COVID-19
• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering When you can be around others (end home
all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they isolation) depends on different factors for
feel dry. different situations.

• Soap and water are the best option, especially if your hands • I think or know I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms
are visibly dirty.
ɞ You can be with others after
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with § 24 hours with no fever
unwashed hands.
AND

§ Symptoms improved
Avoid sharing personal household items. AND
• Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups,
eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other § 10 days since symptoms first appeared
people in your home. ɞ Depending on your healthcare provider’s advice and
availability of testing, you might get tested to see if you still
• Wash these items thoroughly after using have COVID-19. If you will be tested, you can be around others
them with soap and water or put them in the dishwasher. when you have no fever, symptoms have improved, and
you receive two negative test results in a row, at least
24 hours apart.
Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday.
• I tested positive for COVID-19 but had no symptoms
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your
“sick room” and bathroom. Let someone else ɞ If you continue to have no symptoms, you can be with
clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas, others after:
but not your bedroom and bathroom.
§ 10 days have passed since test
• If a caregiver or other person needs to clean and ɞ Depending on your healthcare provider’s advice and
disinfect a sick person’s bedroom or bathroom, they availability of testing, you might get tested to see if you still
should do so on an as-needed basis. The caregiver/other have COVID-19. If you will be tested, you can be around others
person should wear a mask and wait as long as possible after you receive two negative test results in a row, at least
after the sick person has used the bathroom. 24 hours apart.
ɞ If you develop symptoms after testing positive, follow the
High-touch surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, guidance above for “I think or know I had COVID, and I
tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, had symptoms.”
tablets, and bedside tables.

cdc.gov/coronavirus