Respiratory Illness

Stay home and away from others, including people you live with, if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed below that aren’t better explained by another cause, like seasonal allergies. 

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache
• And other common symptoms, like sneezing, sore throat, chills, wheezing, chest discomfort, fatigue (tiredness), muscle or body aches, weakness, new loss of taste or smell, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Consider antiviral treatments soon after your symptoms start. For some respiratory illnesses, there are treatments to help prevent you from becoming seriously ill or dying. 

• See the CDC’s page on Treatment of Respiratory Viruses for more information on types of treatment. 
• Talk with your doctor to see if one of these treatments are right for you. 
• If you have COVID, you must begin the antiviral treatment within five days of your symptoms starting for it to be effective. Talk to your doctor or learn more about other options to see if this is right for you. 

You may leave your home and resume your normal activities if both the following are true:

1. You have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and
2. Your symptoms are getting better overall.

See the CDC’s page on Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick for examples. 

Even once you resume your activities, you may still be able to get others sick.

To avoid getting others sick, take these steps for 5 days after you resume your normal activities: 

• Wear a well-fitting mask when around others.
• Physically distance yourself from people as much as possible.
• Consider testing for respiratory viruses. A positive COVID-19 test may mean it’s more likely you could spread the virus to others.
• Avoid being around people who have an increased risk of developing severe illness, like family members with cancer or people in a nursing home.

Read other ways to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. 

If you have a weakened immune system

If you have a weakened immune system, you may be able to spread the virus to others for a longer period of time. Take this into consideration when choosing which precautions to use and how long to use them after returning to normal activities. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about your individual situation.