Prevention and Treatment

Protect Yourself and Others

A few simple steps can greatly reduce your chances of being exposed and exposing others to COVID-19, the illness caused by SARS-CoV-2. Everyone should:

• Practice good hygiene: cover coughs and sneezes, don't touch your face, and wash hands often
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home
• Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from others not in your household
• Use face masks when in public
• Clean and disinfect frequently used items and touched surfaces often
• Consider the COVID-19 vaccine

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to it. Learn more on How to Protect Yourself and Others from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Faces of COVID

On November 27, the day after Thanksgiving, the day before he would have watched the Iron Bowl, Pippa Abston's father, Philip Coulter, died from COVID-19. Watch her video and read her story.

Prevention Resources

General Prevention Tips

• Download the GuideSafe Exposure Notifications App
• What You Should Know About COVID-19 to Protect Yourself and Others English | Spanish
• Smart Shopping Flyer: English | Spanish

Social Distancing

• Keeping Your Distance to Slow the Spread (CDC)
• Social Distancing: Red, Yellow and Green Flyer: Spanish
• Tips for Coping with Social Distancing and Quarantine from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Video: How COVID-19 Can Spread in a Community (CDC)

Hand Hygiene

• Wash Your Hands Poster: Spanish
• Wash Your Hands Poster: English | French | Spanish
• Video: What You Need to Know About Handwashing (CDC)
• Video: Stop the Spread of Germs (CDC)

Cleaning and Disinfecting

• Cleaning and Disinfecting in Public Places
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility (CDC)
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home (CDC)
• Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-COV-2 (EPA)

Gloves and Face Coverings

• DIY Cloth Face Covering Instructions: Spanish
• How to Properly Remove Gloves
• Important Information About Your Cloth Face Coverings (Flyer) (CDC)
• Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19 (CDC)
• Wearing a Face Covering in the Summer (Flyer)

Risk and Benefits of Everyday Activities

Things to consider before taking part in social activities:

Inside or Out?
Outdoor activities pose less risk than the same activities indoors.

How Many?
The smaller the group size and the larger the space, the lower the risk.

Is It Worth It?
If something doesn't add value but does add risk, reconsider.

Extra Risk?
People with extra risks of serious illness from COVID-19 should aim to limit social interactions as much as they can.

Treatment

Pharmacologic management of patients with COVID-19 is based on the severity of the disease. Two monoclonal antibody regimens: bamlanivimab/etesevimab and casirivimab/imdevimab have received emergency use authorization for the outpatient treatment of mild to moderate coronarvirus disease in persons 12 years of age and older, weighing at least 40 kg, having a positive COVID-19 test, and who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. In addition, remdesivir is approved for hospitalized patients who require minimal supplemental oxygen.

• Take medications to relieve pain and fever
• Continue your regular medicines prescribed by your doctor unless instructed otherwise
• Use a room humidifier or take a hot shower to help ease a sore throat and cough
• If you are mildly sick, drink plenty of fluids, stay home, and get plenty of rest
• Call your physician if you are considered at-risk and have worsening symptoms

Page last updated: April 9, 2021