You’re safest at home. During times of the COVID-19 pandemic or of reduced air quality due to smog or forest fires, staying home is best for lung patients to avoid unnecessary risk.
Keep a safe distance. Maintaining physical distance of at least six feet (2 meters) from other people is best, whether inside or outside of your home.
Avoid exposure to people who are sick. Stay home if you feel unwell. Call 8-1-1 or your healthcare provider if you have unusual symptoms.
Clean and disinfect surfaces. High-touch surfaces may have droplets on them. Disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home and workplace. In public, avoid touching them when possible and use a tissue or sleeve instead.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Doing so allows the germs on your hands to reach moist, porous surface tissue where the germs can enter your body and cause infection.
Cough in your elbow and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze. Immediately dispose of tissue and wash your hands.
Wash your hands often. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you are unable to wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 70% alcohol.
If you develop urgent COVID-19 symptoms, call 9-1-1. Urgent symptoms are significant difficulty breathing, gasping, chest pain or pressure, a new confusion or difficulty waking up. When you call 9-1-1, tell the emergency responder that you may have COVID-19 and are at high risk for complications given you have underlying respiratory conditions.