Whether you’re ill with COVID-19, or think you may have it, take the steps below to help protect other people in your home and community.

Stay home

People who have a mild COVID-19 condition will recover at home. Do not leave, except to seek medical attention. Should not pay a visit to public places.

You must live in a designated “sick room” as much as possible, preferably away from other people in your house. If available, use a separate toilet.

If you have a medical appointment, call your physician’s office or emergency room to inform them you have COVID-19 or could have it. This will help the office and other patients protect themselves.

If you are sick: You should wear a facemask while you are with others and when joining the office of a health care provider.
If possible, put on a facemask before you enter the building. If you can’t put on a facemask, try to keep a safe distance from other people (at least 6 feet away). This will help protect the people in the office or waiting room.
If you are caring for others: If the person who is sick is not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live in the home should stay in a different room. When caregivers enter the room of the sick person, they should wear a facemask. Visitors, other than caregivers, are not recommended.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Throw used tissues in a lined trash can.
Instantly wash your hands with at least 20 seconds of soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 % alcohol to clean your hands.

Wash your hands often with soap and 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.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
Soap and water are the best option, especially if hands are visibly dirty.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in your home.
After using these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and water.

Routinely clean high-touch surfaces in your “sick room” and bathroom. Let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas, but not your bedroom and bathroom.
High-touch surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.

Seek medical attention, but call first: Seek medical care right away if your illness is worsening (for example, if you have difficulty breathing).
Follow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department: Your local health authorities will give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information.

If you will not have a test to determine if you are still contagious, you can leave home after these three things have happened:

You have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers)
Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved)
At least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared

If you will be tested to determine if you are still contagious, you can leave home after these three things have happened:

You no longer have a fever (without the use medicine that reduces fevers)
Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved)
You received two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart.

Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases