Call ahead before visiting your doctor. 

• Call ahead. Many medical visits for routine 

care are being postponed or done by 

phone or telemedicine.

• If you have a medical appointment that cannot be postponed, call your 

doctor’s office. This will help the office protect themselves and 

other patients.

If you are sick, wear a cloth covering over 

your nose and mouth.

• You should wear a cloth face covering over your 

nose and mouth if you must be around other 

people or animals, including pets (even

at home).

• You don’t need to wear the cloth face covering if you are alone. 

If you can’t put on a cloth face covering (because of trouble 

breathing for example), cover your coughs and sneezes in some 

other way. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from other people. 

This will help protect the people around you.

Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical grade facemasks 

are reserved for healthcare workers and some first responders. 

You may need to make a cloth face covering using a scarf

or bandana.

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 not able to be woken

• Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical 

provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning 

to you.

Call 911 if you have a medical emergency. If you have a 

medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the operator 

that you have or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, 

put on a facemask before medical help arrives.

CS 316120-A 04/17/2020

cdc.gov/coronavirus

Prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick

Accessible version: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might 

have COVID-19, follow the steps below to help 

protect other people in your home and community.

Stay home except to get medical care. 

• Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 

have mild illness and are able to recover at 

home without medical care. Do not leave 

your home, except to get medical care. Do 

not visit public areas.

• Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated.

• Get medical care when needed. Call your doctor before 

you go to their office for care. But, if you have trouble 

breathing or other concerning symptoms, call 911 for 

immediate help.

• Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

Separate yourself from other people and 

pets in your home. 

• As much as possible, stay in a specific room and 

away from other people and pets in your 

home. Also, you should use a separate 

bathroom, if available. If you need to be around other 

people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a 

cloth face covering.

ɞ See COVID-19 and Animals if you have questions 

about pets: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-

ncov/faq.html#COVID19animals

Monitor your symptoms.

• Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever and 

cough. Trouble breathing is a more serious 

symptom that means you should get 

medical attention.

• 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.
Cover your coughs and sneezes.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when 

you cough or sneeze.

• Throw used tissues in a lined trash can.

• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 

20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your 

hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at 

least 60% alcohol.

Clean your hands often.

• 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.

• Use hand sanitizer 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 your hands

are visibly dirty.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with

unwashed hands.

Avoid sharing personal household items.

• Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, 

eating utensils, towels, or bedding with 

other people in your home.

• Wash these items thoroughly after using them with soap and 

water or put them in the dishwasher.

Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday.

• Clean and disinfect 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.

• If a caregiver or other person needs to clean and disinfect a sick 

person’s bedroom or bathroom, they should do so on an 

as-needed basis. The caregiver/other person should wear a 

mask and wait as long as possible after the sick person has 

used the bathroom.

High-touch surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, 

tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, 

tablets, and bedside tables.

• Clean and disinfect areas that may have blood, stool, or body fluids 

on them.

• Use household cleaners and disinfectants. Clean the area or item 

with soap and water or another detergent if it is dirty. Then 

use a household disinfectant.

ɞ Be sure to follow the instructions on the label to ensure 

safe and effective use of the product. Many products 

recommend keeping the surface wet for several minutes 

to ensure germs are killed. Many also recommend 

precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you 

have good ventilation during use of the product.

ɞ Most EPA-registered household disinfectants should

be effective.

How to discontinue home isolation

• People with COVID-19 who have stayed home 

(home isolated) can stop home isolation 

under the following conditions:

ɞ 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 of 

medicine that reduces fevers)

AND

§ other symptoms have improved (for example, when 

your cough or shortness of breath has improved)

AND

§ at least 7 days have passed since your symptoms

first appeared.

ɞ 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

of medicine that reduces fevers)

AND

§ other symptoms have improved (for example, when 

your cough or shortness of breath has improved)

AND

§ you received two negative tests in a row, 24 hours 

apart. Your doctor will follow CDC guidelines.

In all cases, follow the guidance of your healthcare provider and local health 

department. The decision to stop home isolation should be made 

in consultation with your healthcare provider and state and local 

health departments. Local decisions depend on

local circumstances.