If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, you should take steps to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community.

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.

Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick

• Stay home except to get medical care
• Seperate yourself from other people and pets in your home, this is know as home isolation
• Call ahead before visiting your doctor
• If you are sick wear a cloth covering over your nose and mouth
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Clean your hands often
• Avoid sharing personal household items
• Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday
• Monitor your symptoms
•  People with COVID-19 who have stayed home (home isolated) can stop home isolation under the following conditions:
  • 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)
      AND
    • other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved)
      AND
    • 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)
      AND
    • other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved)
      AND
    • you received two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart. Your doctor will follow CDC guidelines.

Caring for someone at home

Most people who get sick with COVID-19 will have only mild illness and should recover at home.* Care at home can help stop the spread of COVID-19 and help protect people who are at risk for getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

If you are caring for someone at home, monitor for emergency signs, prevent the spread of germs, treat symptoms, and carefully consider when to end home isolation.

*Note: Older adults and people of any age with certain serious underlying medical conditions like lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness and should seek care as soon as symptoms start.

COVID-19 spreads between people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Recent studies indicate that people who are infected but do not have symptoms likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19.

Monitor the person for worsening symptoms. Know the emergency warning signs.

• Have their healthcare provider’s contact information on hand.
• If they are getting sicker, call their healthcare provider. For medical emergencies, call 911 and notify the dispatch personnel that they have or are suspected to have COVID-19.

Prevent the spread of germs when caring for someone who is sick

• Have the person stay in one room, away from other people, including yourself, as much as possible.
  • If possible, have them use a separate bathroom.
  • Avoid sharing personal household items, like dishes, towels, and bedding
  • Have them wear a cloth face covering (that covers their nose and mouth) when they are around people, including you.
  • It the sick person can’t wear a cloth face covering, you should wear one while in the same room with them.
  • If the sick person needs to be around others (within the home, in a vehicle, or doctor’s office), they should wear a cloth face covering that covers their mouth and nose.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after interacting with the sick person. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Every day, clean all surfaces that are touched often, like counters, tabletops, and doorknobs
  • Use household cleaning sprays or wipes according to the label instructions.
• Wash laundry thoroughly.
  • If laundry is soiled, wear disposable gloves and keep the soiled items away from your body while laundering. Wash your hands immediately after removing gloves.
• Avoid having any unnecessary visitors.
• For any additional questions about their care, contact their healthcare provider or state or local health department.

Provide symptom treatment

• Make sure the sick person drinks a lot of fluids to stay hydrated and rests at home.
• Over-the-counter medicines may help with symptoms.
• For most people, symptoms last a few days and get better after a week.

When to end home isolation (staying home)

• People with COVID-19 who have stayed home (are home isolated) can stop home isolation under the following conditions:
  • If they will not have a test to determine if they are still contagious, they can leave home after these three things have happened:
    • They have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers)
      AND
    • other symptoms have improved (for example, when their cough or shortness of breath have improved)
      AND
    • at least 7 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared
  • If they will be tested to determine if they are still contagious, they can leave home after these three things have happened:
    • They no longer have a fever (without the use medicine that reduces fevers)
      AND
    • other symptoms have improved (for example, when their cough or shortness of breath have improved)
      AND
    • They received two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart. Their doctor will follow CDC guidelines.

10 things you can do to manage your health at home

If you have possible or confirmed COVID-19:

1. Stay home from work, school, and away from other public places. If you must go out, avoid using any kind of public transportation, ridesharing, or taxis.
2. Monitor your symptoms carefully. If your symptoms get worse, call your healthcare provider immediately.
3. Get rest and stay hydrated.
4. If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider ahead of time and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19.
5. For medical emergencies, call 911 and notify the dispatch personnel that you have or may have COVID-19.
   • When to Seek Medical Attention:
     • If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include*:
       • Trouble breathing
       • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
       • New confusion or inability to arouse
       • Bluish lips or face

       *This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

6. Cover your cough and sneezes.
7. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
8. As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available. If you need to be around other people in or outside of home, wear a face mask.
9. Avoid sharing personal items with other people in your household, like dishes, towels, and bedding.
10. Clean all surfaces that are touched often, like counters, tabletops, and doorknobs. Use household cleaning sprays or wipes according to the label instructions.

For any additional questions about your care, contact your healthcare provider.

There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions.

People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

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Cleaning And Disinfecting Your Home

Everyday Steps and Extra Steps When Someone Is Sick

Wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect.

Clean

• Clean surfaces using soap and water. Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.

High touch surfaces include:
Tables, doorknobs, light switches, counter tops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.

Disinfect

• Clean the area or item with soap and water or another detergent if it is dirty. Then, use a household disinfectant.
• Recommend use of EPA-registered household disinfectantexternal icon.
  Follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product.
  Many products recommend:
  • Keeping surface wet for a period of time (see product label)
  • Precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.

• Diluted household bleach solutions may also be used if appropriate for the surface. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
  Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.
  Leave solution on the surface for at least 1 minute
  To make a bleach solution, mix:
  • 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
    OR
  • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
• Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol.

More details: Complete Disinfection Guidance

Soft surfaces

For soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes

• Clean the surface using soap and water or with cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces.

• Launder items (if possible) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.

  OR

• Disinfect with an EPA-registered household disinfectant. These disinfectantsexternal icon meet EPA’s criteria for use against COVID-19.

Electronics

For electronics, such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, and remote controls.

• Consider putting a wipe-able cover on electronics
• Follow manufacturer’s instruction for cleaning and disinfecting
  • If no guidance, use alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol. Dry surface thoroughly.

Laundry

For clothing, towels, linens and other items

• Launder items according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.
• Wear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry from a person who is sick.
• Dirty laundry from a person who is sick can be washed with other people’s items.
• Do not shake dirty laundry.
• Clean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces.
• Remove gloves, and wash hands right away.

Clean hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
  • Always wash immediately after removing gloves and after contact with a person who is sick.
• Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available and hands are not visibly dirty, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.
• Additional key times to clean hands include:
  • After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After using the restroom
  • Before eating or preparing food
  • After contact with animals or pets
  • Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g. a child)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Bedroom and Bathroom

Keep separate bedroom and bathroom for a person who is sick (if possible)

• The person who is sick should stay separated from other people in the home (as much as possible).
• If you have a separate bedroom and bathroom: Only clean the area around the person who is sick when needed, such as when the area is soiled. This will help limit your contact with the person who is sick.
  • Caregivers can provide personal cleaning supplies to the person who is sick (if appropriate). Supplies include tissues, paper towels, cleaners, and EPA-registered disinfectantsexternal icon. If they feel up to it, the person who is sick can clean their own space.
• If shared bathroom: The person who is sick should clean and disinfect after each use. If this is not possible, the caregiver should wait as long as possible before cleaning and disinfecting.
• See precautions for household members and caregivers for more information.

Food

• Stay separated: The person who is sick should eat (or be fed) in their room if possible.
• Wash dishes and utensils using gloves and hot water: Handle any used dishes, cups/glasses, or silverware with gloves. Wash them with soap and hot water or in a dishwasher.
• Clean hands after taking off gloves or handling used items.

Trash

• Dedicated, lined trash can: If possible, dedicate a lined trash can for the person who is sick. Use gloves when removing garbage bags, and handling and disposing of trash. Wash hands afterwards.

More details: Complete Disinfection Guidance