In March 2024 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated COVID-19 guidance. This updated guidance unites and streamlines recommendations for dealing with a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV.

The updated recommendations continue to protect those most at risk for severe illness from COVID, flu, and RSV.  While every respiratory virus does not act the same, adopting a unified approach makes recommendations easier to understand and thus more likely to be followed.

People often don’t know which virus they have, and data indicate that many people don’t test.

• CDC’s first recommendation for people who get sick with a respiratory virus is simple: Stay home and away from others.

•  It suggests returning to normal activities when symptoms have been getting better overall for 24 hours, and if a fever was present, it has been gone for 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication.

• Once people resume normal activities, they are encouraged to take precaution for the next 5 days to curb disease spread, such as:
  • Taking more steps for cleaner air,
  • Enhancing hygiene practices,
  • Wearing a well-fitting mask,
  • Keeping a distance from others, and/or
  • Getting testing to inform your actions to prevent spread to others.
  • Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including those over 65 and people with weakened immune systems.

• This update is intended for a general audience and community settings. CDC offers separate guidance for healthcare settings. CDC’s guidance for health care settings is not changing.

Resources:

CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance 

PAXCESS Free or Discounted COVID-19 Treatment

COVID Treatment Information

8/12/2024