What To Do When You're Sick

When you’re feeling under the weather with a respiratory virus like COVID-19, the flu, RSV, or the common cold, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself and those around you. Knowing when to stay home, how to manage symptoms, and what precautions to take can help prevent the spread of illness—especially to those at higher risk. Here’s what you need to know to recover safely and responsibly.

When You’re Sick

If you’re sick with a respiratory virus, such as COVID-19, influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or a cold, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and others.

Symptoms of a respiratory virus can include fever, chills, fatigue (tiredness), cough, runny nose, and headache, among others

Stay Home if You're Sick

• Stay home and away from others when sick with symptoms of a respiratory virus.
  • Resources are available if you need support while staying home.
• Get treatment right away if eligible.
• You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both of these are true:
  • Your symptoms are getting better overall, AND
  • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
• Once you resume normal activities, take added precautions for the next five days.
  • If you start to feel worse or get a fever after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again and follow the steps above.

If at any point your symptoms worsen, or you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing or chest pain), seek medical care immediately.

Take Added Precautions for Five Days

Taking the steps below for the next five days can help reduce the spread of respiratory disease to others. You might still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. These steps are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including people aged 65 years and older and people with weakened immune systems.

• Take steps to improve ventilation for cleaner air at home and elsewhere.
• Wear a well fitting mask around others, especially those at high risk for severe illness.
• Keep distance from others.
• Clean and disinfect all frequently touched or high-touch surfaces daily.
• Cover coughs and sneezes and wash hands often.
• Get tested to inform your actions to prevent spread to others. This could include taking an at-home COVID-19 test before gathering with people indoors or before visiting an elderly relative.