My Family Has Covid 19 What Should I Do

Physical distancing, masks, vaccines , and other preventive measures

Getting vaccinated and boosted is the best way to reduce your risk of symptoms, peculiarly becoming severely ill, if you get COVID-19. Simply right along with vaccination are steps you can accept to both avoid getting infected and help prevent spreading the virus to others. They include wearing your mask when you lot need to, avoiding crowds, and maintaining physical distance.

Visit our Coronavirus Resource Center for more than information on coronavirus and COVID-xix.

What can I do to protect myself and others from COVID-19?

The following actions help prevent the spread of COVID-xix, as well as other coronaviruses and influenza.

Wear a face up mask in public indoor spaces.
Maintain at to the lowest degree half-dozen feet of distance between yourself and others.
Avoid large gatherings.
Socialize outdoors.
Get vaccinated and boosted as shortly as you lot are eligible.
Avoid shut contact with people who are ill.
Minimize touching your optics, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are ill.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean frequently touched objects and surfaces regularly.
Launder your hands oftentimes with lather and water.

How does coronavirus spread?

The coronavirus spreads mainly from person to person. A person infected with coronavirus — even one with no symptoms — may emit aerosols when they talk or breathe. Aerosols are infectious viral particles that tin can bladder or drift effectually in the air for up to three hours. Another person tin can breathe in these aerosols and go infected with the coronavirus.

When people are in close contact with one another, droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes may country in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby, or perchance be inhaled into their lungs.

Transmission is less likely to happen outdoors, where air currents scatter and dilute the virus, than in a home, office, or other confined infinite with limited air circulation.

The chance of spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects is considered to be extremely low. According to the CDC, each contact with a contaminated surface has less than a 1 in 10,000 chance of causing an infection.

The virus may be shed in saliva, semen, and feces; whether it is shed in vaginal fluids isn't known. Kissing tin transmit the virus. Transmission of the virus through feces, or during vaginal or anal intercourse or oral sexual activity, appears to be extremely unlikely at this time.

Should I clothing a face mask?

The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through viral particles that bladder in the air or through droplets containing virus. Even people who are infected but do not accept symptoms, or have not yet developed symptoms, can infect others. Masks reduce the amount of virus nosotros exhale in and breathe out. Combined with the vaccines and boosters, masks provide a one-two dial that reduces the take a chance of spread. Masks also provide protection for the wearer, even those who are fully vaccinated.

Equally the latest COVID surge relaxes its grip in the United states of america, many states, towns, and schools are removing their indoor mask mandates. The CDC too issued updated guidelines, tying mask use recommendations to levels of the virus in a given customs. COVID levels may be categorized as depression, medium, or loftier, and are calculated past looking at hospital beds existence used past COVID patients, COVID-related infirmary admissions, and the full number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. You can click here to bank check the COVID level in your county.

According to the new CDC guidelines, everyone should mask indoors in public when COVID levels are high. People who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness are encouraged to mask indoors when COVID levels are medium. When community levels are depression, individuals can determine whether to mask indoors based on their individual risks and preferences.

Hither are some points to consider equally y'all decide whether you and your family unit should continue masking indoors.

We're still in the midst of a pandemic. As of late February 2022, there are nearly 2,500 COVID deaths per day in the U.s..
Your decision should reflect your personal health risks: if you or a member of your family is at increased risk for infection or severe COVID illness, or if you are unvaccinated, proceed masking indoors.
Masking policies can't always go on upwardly with the virus. When COVID cases are loftier, consider masking indoors regardless of whether there's a mask mandate in identify.
Your decision to mask indoors may change over time, and you lot may return to wearing a mask indoors later on a period of not masking indoors.
Masking reduces the risk of spread to vulnerable populations: young children who are not yet eligible for vaccines, people with weakened immune systems, older adults who are at increased risk for severe illness, and others who are unvaccinated.
Masks don't only help to flatten the curve; they also help to forbid surges from happening in the first place.

A loftier-quality, well-fitting mask provides skillful protection even if people effectually you are unmasked. Loftier quality KN95, KF94, and N95 masks have the tightest fit and the all-time filtration. Make sure your mask completely covers your nose and mouth, and fits snugly against the sides of your face without leaving whatever gaps.

Transmission is much less likely to occur outdoors, and masks are not needed in well-nigh outdoor settings.

What kind of mask should I article of clothing?

Omicron is the most contagious variant we have come across yet, and then high-quality, well-fitting masks are more important than e'er. This is true for everyone, and even more than then for anyone who is unvaccinated, at increased risk for severe illness, or caring for someone with COVID-19.

Non all masks are created equal. Loftier quality KN95, KF94, and N95 masks have the tightest fit and the all-time filtration. Surgical masks are besides effective at filtering out small viral particles. You can wear a cloth mask on top of a surgical mask to ameliorate the fit. Or, yous tin adjust a surgical mask for a tighter fit using a method called "knotting and tucking." To knot and constrict a surgical mask, knot the ear loops of a 3-ply face up mask where they bring together the border of the mask, and so fold and tuck the unneeded material nether the edges. For video instructions on how to knot and constrict a surgical mask, click here. Avoid single-layer fabric masks, which may non be up to the task.

When it comes to fit, brand sure your mask completely covers your olfactory organ and oral fissure and fits snugly against the sides of your confront without leaving any gaps.

The CDC has data on how to better the fit of your mask.

The WHO offers videos and illustrations on when and how to apply a mask.

What do I need to know about washing my easily effectively?

Launder your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and after handling anything that's come from outside your abode.

If soap and h2o are not readily available, use an alcohol-based mitt sanitizer with at to the lowest degree 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry out.
Always wash hands with lather and water if easily are visibly muddied.
The CDC'due south handwashing website has detailed instructions and a video about constructive handwashing procedures.

What is concrete distancing and why is it important?

The COVID-19 virus primarily spreads when one person breathes in droplets or aerosols that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes.

Concrete distancing refers to actions taken to stop or slow down the spread of a contagious disease. For an individual, it refers to maintaining enough distance (six anxiety or more) betwixt yourself and another person to avoid getting infected or infecting someone else. Directives to piece of work from home, and canceling in-person meetings and larger events assistance enforce physical distancing at a community level.

If I want to visit friends and family, does it thing whether we meet indoors or outdoors?

You are meliorate off meeting friends and family outdoors. We know that coronavirus spreads when someone breathes in virus that an infected person emits through coughs or sneezes, or when they talk or breathe. Enquiry has shown that in a bars, laboratory setting, droplets containing viral particles can remain afloat for eight to 14 minutes. Smaller infectious viral particles, called aerosols, tin can drift around in the air even longer.

What precautions tin can I take when grocery shopping?

In the grocery shop, maintain at to the lowest degree six feet of altitude between yourself and other shoppers. Wipe ofttimes touched surfaces like grocery carts or basket handles with disinfectant wipes. Avert touching your face. Wearing a mask helps remind you not to touch your confront and farther reduces spread of the virus. Utilize hand sanitizer before leaving the store. Wash your hands as soon as y'all get home.

If you are older than 65 or at increased run a risk for whatsoever reason, try to limit trips to the grocery store. Enquire a neighbor or friend to pick upwards groceries and leave them exterior your house. Or have groceries delivered to your home.

Is information technology safe to travel once I'm vaccinated? What if I'm not vaccinated?

Equally a general dominion, travel can increase your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19, especially if you are not vaccinated. Guidance from the CDC rstates that anyone traveling past public transportation, including plane, train, or bus, must be masked while traveling, and while in airports and train and omnibus stations. Requirements for vaccination and COVID-19 testing may vary by carrier, geographic location, and your vaccination status.

In addition to wearing a well-plumbing equipment mask, all travelers should maintain a physical distance of six feet from others, avoid crowds, and wash hands oftentimes. Anyone who is sick or who has tested positive for COVID-19 should not travel by public transportation if at all possible.

Stay current on travel advisories from regulatory agencies.

Can a person who has been infected with coronavirus get infected once more?

The immune organisation responds to COVID-nineteen infection past stimulating white blood cells called lymphocytes to form antibodies that fight the infection. These antibodies and lymphocytes retain a temporary protective upshot confronting reinfection. But it is just temporary. In that location take been many confirmed cases of reinfection with COVID-19. In other words, a person got sick with COVID-19, recovered, and then became infected again.

This has been especially truthful as the coronavirus has mutated into COVID-19 variants. There was a rise in reinfections with the Delta variant, and an explosive increase in the reinfection rate due to the Omicron variant. Omicron has about 50 mutations, including more than thirty mutations on the fasten protein, the region of the virus that our allowed systems recognize after previous infection. Considering of this, Omicron is more capable than previous variants of evading our immune defenses and causing reinfection.

Nosotros have learned that vaccination plus a booster dose strengthens the natural allowed response, even in those who have been previously infected, and farther reduces the adventure of reinfection. Although breakthrough infections afterward vaccination are as well more common with Omicron than previous variants, vaccination continues to protect well against severe affliction.

The bottom line? Get vaccinated and additional, whether or non you've already had COVID-xix.

Will a pneumococcal vaccine help protect me confronting coronavirus?

Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Hemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, only assistance protect people from these specific bacterial infections. They practise not protect confronting any coronavirus pneumonia, including pneumonia that may be part of COVID-19. However, even though these vaccines do not specifically protect against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, they are highly recommended to protect against other respiratory illnesses.

Can my pet infect me with the virus that causes COVID-19?

The risk of pets such as dogs or cats spreading the COVID-19 virus to humans is low. However, pets can spread other infections that cause illness, includingE. coli andSalmonella, so wash your hands thoroughly with soap and h2o after interacting with pets.

Can people infect pets with the COVID-19 virus?

The virus that causes COVID-19 does appear to spread from people to pets, co-ordinate to the FDA, though this is uncommon. Research has plant that cats and ferrets are more likely to become infected than dogs.

If you become sick with COVID-19, it's best to restrict contact with your pets, just like you would around other people. This means you lot should forgo petting, snuggling, existence kissed or licked, and sharing food or bedding with your pet until yous are feeling better. When possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick. If you must care for your pet while you are sick, launder your hands before and after you interact with your pets and vesture a face mask.

What can I do to go on my allowed system strong?

Your immune arrangement is your body'southward defense system. When a harmful invader — like a cold or influenza virus, or the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 — gets into your trunk, your immune system mounts an assail. Known every bit an immune response, this assault is a sequence of events that involves diverse cells and unfolds over time.

Following general health guidelines is the best step yous can have toward keeping your immune system strong and salubrious. Every part of your torso, including your allowed system, functions better when protected from environmental assaults and bolstered by good for you-living strategies such equally these:

Don't fume or vape.
Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Take a multivitamin if yous suspect that you may not be getting all the nutrients you need through your nutrition.
Exercise regularly.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Control your stress level.
Command your blood pressure.
If you drink alcohol, drink merely in moderation (no more than 1 to two drinks a day for men, no more than than one a day for women).
Get enough sleep.
Have steps to avoid infection, such every bit washing your hands frequently and trying non to affect your hands to your face, since harmful germs can enter through your optics, nose, and oral fissure.

Does vitamin D protect against COVID-19?

At that place is no bear witness that taking high-dose vitamin D protects you against getting infected with this coronavirus. In addition, if you are infected, it does non foreclose a more astringent illness.

However, most studies looking at people hospitalized with COVID-19 found that having an abnormally low vitamin D blood level was associated with a worse outcome, including death, compared to patients with a normal blood level. These studies are observational only, meaning they just show a link between low vitamin D levels and a higher risk of severe illness. This does non mean that the low level caused the worse outcome.

The best advice regarding COVID-19 is similar to what is recommended to maintain bone wellness – making sure you become plenty vitamin D to see standard requirements.

Our bodies make vitamin D when exposed to sunshine. 5 to 10 minutes of sun exposure on some or most days of the week to the arms, legs, or back without sunscreen volition enable you to make enough of the vitamin. Good nutrient sources of vitamin D include fat fish (such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon), foods fortified with vitamin D (such every bit dairy products, soy milk, and cereals), cheese, and egg yolks.

The recommended dietary dose of vitamin D is 600 IU each solar day for adults seventy and younger, and 800 IU each 24-hour interval for adults over 70. For adults, the risk of harmful furnishings increases higher up iv,000 IU per 24-hour interval.

Should I get to the doctor or dentist for nonurgent appointments?

Many medical and dental practices have instituted comprehensive safety measures to help protect you, the doctor and office staff, and other patients. If yous feel anxious well-nigh visiting in person, call the practise.

Many medico's offices are increasingly providing telehealth services. This may mean appointments past phone telephone call, or virtual visits using a video chat service. Ask to schedule a telehealth engagement with your doctor for a new or ongoing nonurgent matter. If, after speaking to you, your doctor would like to run across you in person, he or she will let y'all know.

What if your appointments are not urgent only also don't fall into the low-risk category? For case, if you have been advised to take periodic scans after cancer remission, if your doctor sees you regularly to monitor for a condition for which y'all're at increased risk, or if your handling varies based on your almost recent test results? In these and similar cases, telephone call your doc for advice.

Should I postpone my constituent surgery?

The availability of constituent surgeries and procedures throughout the U.s.a. is very fluid, and may reflect the number of cases and infection rate in a given area. If COVID-19 cases are ascension in your expanse, it'southward quite possible that you already accept been canceled or rescheduled past the hospital or medical center in which you are scheduled to take the procedure. If not, you should consider postponing any procedure that can wait.

That being said, keep in heed that "elective" is a relative term. For instance, you lot may not take needed firsthand surgery for sciatica caused by a herniated disc. But the pain may be so severe that you lot would not be able to endure postponing the surgery for weeks or perhaps months. In that case, yous and your doctor should make a shared conclusion about proceeding.

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Visit our Coronavirus Resource Center for more information on coronavirus and COVID-19.

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the appointment of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should e'er be used as a substitute for direct medical communication from your medico or other qualified clinician.

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Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/preventing-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus