Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 at Work

1. Protecting Yourself and Preventing Respiratory Infection at Work

2. Stay at home if you are sick. The CDC recommends that workers who have a fever and respiratory symptoms stay at home until 24 hours after their fever ends (100 degrees Fahrenheit [37.8 degrees Celsius] or lower), without the use of medication.

3. Not everyone who has the flu or other respiratory virus will have a high fever. Other symptoms could include a runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.

4. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.

5. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes.

6. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your upper sleeve(s). Throw tissues into a "no-touch" wastebasket.

7. Clean your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.

8. When using soap and water, rub soapy hands together for at least 20 seconds, rinse hands with water, and dry completely.

9. Some people sing "Happy Birthday" twice to ensure they wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. You can also sing the chorus to the Bee Gees Stayin' Alive, Toto's Africa, or any 20-second jingle.

10. If soap and water are not available, use of an alcohol-based hand rub is a helpful interim measure until hand washing is possible. When using an alcohol-based hand rub, apply liquid to palm of hand, cover all surfaces of the hands with the liquid, and rub hands together until dry.

11. Keep frequently touched common surfaces (e.g., phones, PPE, computer equipment, etc.) clean.

12. Try not to use a coworker's phone, desk, office, computer, or other work tools and equipment. If you must use a coworker’s equipment, consider cleaning it first with a disinfectant.

13. Avoid shaking hands with others during flu season.

14. Avoid coming in close contact with family members, coworkers, and others who may be ill.

15. Stay in shape. Eat a healthy diet. Get plenty of rest, exercise, and relaxation.

16. Speak with your doctor and find out if you are in a high risk category for seasonal flu, COVID-19, or other respiratory infections.

17. Get your flu vaccine (unless it is contraindicated by your doctor). Vaccination is the most important way to prevent the spread of the flu.

18. Question for the group: What should I do if I get sick?

19. Stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible except to seek medical care.

20. Those with COVID-19 should self-isolate if symptoms are mild but monitor their symptoms and seek medical care if their symptoms worsen, according to the CDC.

21. That means don't go to the jobsite, office, school or public areas, and avoid using public transportation or ride-sharing services.

22. Some people are at high risk of developing serious flu complications (children, pregnant women, older adults, people with pre-existing health conditions).

23. It’s possible for otherwise healthy people to develop severe illness, so anyone concerned about their illness should consult their medical provider.

24. Question for the group: How long can a sick person spread the flu to others?

25. People with flu are most contagious in the first 3 to 4 days after their illness begins.

26. People with COVID-19 may be contagious prior to the onset of symptoms and while they are symptomatic. Monitor the CDC for more information.

27. Some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.

28. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others with flu viruses for an even longer time.

29. Question for the group: What should you do when someone around you is sick?

30. Choose only one caregiver to take care of sick family members.

31. Keep the person with flu in a separate sick room if you can. Limit contact other than the caregiver.

32. If the sick person must leave the room, ask them to wear a facemask or use a tissue to cover coughs and sneezes.

33. Keep the air clean. Open a window in the sick room or use a fan to keep fresh air flowing

34. Clean and disinfect the sick room each day.

35. Wash laundry with normal laundry soap and dry on a hot setting. Keep dirty laundry away from your face and body. Wash your hands right after touching dirty laundry.

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