How can you protect yourself and those you love from this virus? Here are some steps we can all take.

Get Vaccinated

• Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you.

Wear a Mask

• Everyone two years and older should wear a mask in public.
• Masks should be worn, in addition to staying at least six feet apart, especially around people who don’t live with you.
• If someone in your household is infected, people in the household should take precautions, including wearing masks, to avoid spreading it to others.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before putting on your mask.
• Wear your mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
• Fit the mask snugly against the sides of your face, slipping the loops over your ears or tying the strings behind your head.
• If you have to continually adjust your mask, it doesn’t fit properly, and you need to find a different mask type or brand.
• Make sure you can breathe easily.

Stay Six Feet Away from Others

• Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If possible, maintain six feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
• Outside your home: Put six feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
• Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.

Avoid Crowds and Poorly Ventilated Spaces

• Being in crowds like in restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theaters puts you at higher risk for COVID-19.
• As much as possible, avoid indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors.
• If indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible.

 Wash Your Hands Often

• Wash your hands frequently 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:
  • Before eating or preparing food
  • Before touching your face
  • After using the restroom
  • After leaving a public place
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After handling your mask
  • After changing a diaper
  • After caring for someone sick
  • 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

• Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• 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 and Disinfect

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. Then, use a household disinfectant. 

Monitor Your Health Daily

• Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath and other symptoms.  
• Take your temperature if symptoms develop. Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
• Monitor your oxygen level using a pulse oximeter. A reading of 97% or higher is considered healthy.