It's common to get sick from respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), especially in the fall and winter. On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the respiratory virus guidance.
Protect Yourself from Getting Sick:
- Vaccines: The most important thing you can do to protect yourself from COVID-19, flu, and RSV is to stay up to date on your recommended vaccines. Even when vaccines don't prevent infection, they often tame these viruses, reducing severity, and preventing their worst outcomes, like hospitalization and death.
- Practicing good hygiene by covering your coughs and sneezes
- Washing or sanitizing your hands often
- Cleaning frequently touched surfaces
- Taking steps for cleaner air can help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. This can mean bringing in fresh outside air by opening a window, purifying indoor air, or having outdoor social activities.
If You Get Sick:
Symptoms of a respiratory virus can include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Headache
Even if you practice these core prevention strategies, you may still catch a virus and develop respiratory symptoms. If that happens, the updated Guidance recommends two actions:
Step 1: Stay at home: Stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after your symptoms are getting better overall, and you have not had a fever (and you are not using fever-reducing medication).
Step 2: Resume normal activities and take added precautions for five days:
- Increasing room ventilation
- Cover coughs and sneezes and wash hands often
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others, especially those at high risk for severe illness (CDC and the Virginia Department of Health encourage wearing a mask, but BCPS does not require it)
- Keep distance from others
- Clean and disinfect all frequently touched or high-touched surfaces
- Get tested to inform your actions to prevent spread to others
For more information about respiratory viruses, how to prevent getting sick, or what to do if you are sick, visit the Virginia Department of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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