Current guidance for COVID
We know a lot more today than we did in 2020 about keeping ourselves healthy and reducing our risk of contracting COVID. Like the flu, colds, and other respiratory illnesses, COVID is here to stay, and most people will be infected multiple times during their lifetimes. However, there are precautions you can take to reduce your risk of catching COVID and/or to minimize the severity of symptoms. Some current COVID-19 prevention actions from the CDC are based on hospital admission levels (high, medium, low) and others are good health practices for any time.
Prevention
Coronaviruses like the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and COVID-19 are airborne viruses that spread through droplets that are breathed in or land on your eyes, nose, or mouth, or are transferred from a contaminated surface. Here are some things you can do to reduce your risk of contracting or spreading COVID.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after going to the bathroom, eating, being in public spaces, coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Stay at home when you are sick
- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or sleeve
- Avoid crowded places when possible
- Regularly clean and disinfect touched objects
- Improve ventilation in your home
- Eat a balanced diet, exercise, and maintain a healthy weight
Masks
High-quality, properly-fitted face masks that are worn properly and regularly can help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses like the flu and COVID.
The CDC’s current mask guidelines are based on the COVID-19 hospital admission levels (high, medium, low) but mask wearing is always recommended when you’re sick and around others and/or if you’re at high risk for complications.
Masks and respirators provide different levels of protection and you can improve a mask’s efficacy by ensuring you are wearing it properly.
Special considerations regarding masks:
For certain groups of people and/or specific circumstances, wearing a mask may not be feasible, and adaptations and alternatives can be considered. Consult your healthcare provider for further guidance.
COVID-19 Vaccines
All individuals 6 months and older are eligible to receive COVID-19 primary vaccines, and ages 6 years and older are eligible for a booster. Staying up to date with your COVID vaccines may help prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death, especially in high-risk groups. As researchers and experts continue to learn more about COVID, new variants, vaccines, and mitigation measures, policies and recommendations will be adapted accordingly. Here are the current COVID-19 vaccine recommendations from the CDC for Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen.
Recommendations for children ages 6 months to 5 years
- Children ages 6 months to 5 years are eligible for the updated Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and recommendations vary based on age and whether or not a child got the original vaccine.
Recommendations for everyone ages 6 years and older
- Get one updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (regardless of whether you’ve received any original COVID-19 vaccines).
- Novavax is an option for people 12 and older who are unable or choose not to get an updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
Additional booster recommendations for people in higher-risk groups
- People ages 65 years and older may get one additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine 4 or more months after the first updated COVID-19 vaccine.
- People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get one additional dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine 2 or more months after the last updated COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider about additional updated doses.
Testing for COVID
If you have COVID, cold, or flu symptoms, staying home to rest until you feel better is the best way to recover faster and avoid spreading illness to someone else. If you’d like to take a COVID test, there are two types: at-home antigen tests are available online, and at pharmacies and retail stores. You can also take a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test with a healthcare provider or at a testing location. Some insurance plans cover COVID tests. If yours does not, you can find no-cost COVID testing locations near you if needed.
More Info:
Below are CDC recommendations for testing for COVID:
- If you have COVID symptoms, test immediately.
- If you do not have symptoms but have been exposed, wait 5 days from the exposure date before testing.
Positive COVID test
A positive COVID test indicates you have a current infection or recently had an infection and should take precautions to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some studies indicate that you are most contagious during the first five days after exposure. The CDC guidance outlined applies to anyone who tests positive—vaccinated, unvaccinated, and/or previously infected—as neither vaccines nor prior infections prevent transmission.
- Stay home for at least 5 days or until your symptoms improve (see CDC guidelines for recommendations on timing in specific circumstances)
- Wear a high-quality mask when around others (at home or in public)
- Improve ventilation in your home by opening doors and windows and/or using fans and air ventilation and filtration systems
- Avoid contact with people who have a higher risk of developing severe COVID symptoms
- Monitor your symptoms and follow healthcare provider instructions
- Practice good hygiene and cleaning, and avoid sharing household items
Treatment for COVID
Most COVID cases clear on their own with mild symptoms and over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage symptoms. For most people, there’s no need to see a doctor unless symptoms become severe.
However, for people who have a higher risk of developing severe COVID symptoms that require hospitalization, medications are available (with a prescription from a healthcare provider) to prevent or treat severe cases. Most treatments are most effective during the early stages of a COVID infection so getting a timely diagnosis is important.
More Info:
When to Seek Medical Care
Most people experiencing mild or moderate COVID symptoms do not need to see a doctor. For those at higher risk of contracting a severe case, talk to your healthcare provider about recommended medications, treatments, and/or methods for monitoring symptoms.
More Info:
If you have any of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical attention:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
Long COVID
Individuals who experience persistent symptoms and unexplained health problems after an acute COVID illness may have Long COVID. Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you are experiencing any of these post-COVID conditions.
- General symptoms (fever, tiredness or fatigue, worsening symptoms after physical or mental effort, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath)
- Respiratory/heart symptoms (cough, chest pain, fast-beating heart)
- Neurological symptoms (headache, sleep problems, dizziness and lightheadedness, change in smell or taste)
- Digestive symptoms (diarrhea, stomach pain)
- Other symptoms (joint or muscle pain, rash, changes in menstrual cycle)