COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person-to-person in respiratory droplets from someone who is infected. People who are infected often have symptoms of illness. LEARN MORE

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. There are simple everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. These include:

• Know how it spreads.
• Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds. 
• Avoid close contact with people.
• Disinfect your home, car and personal belongings daily
• Wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth when going out in public.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should:

• Stay at home when you are sick.
• Avoid travel to areas with widespread illness from COVID-19
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

If you traveled internationally (to high-risk countries, China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan or Hong Kong) within the past 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical care. Call the office of your health care provider before you go, and tell them about your travel and your symptoms. They will give you instructions on how to get care without exposing other people to your illness. While sick, avoid contact with people, don’t go out, and delay any travel to reduce the possibility of spreading illness to others.