Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the guidance information for COVID-19 updated?

COVID-19 information was updated to provide streamlined guidance built on effective strategies so that more people take action to prevent respiratory disease. The goals are to:

• Provide practical recommendations that are clear and actionable
• Streamline guidance across common respiratory virus illnesses
• Highlight strategies that effectively reduce risk
• Balance current, post-emergency risks with other health and societal needs

Drivers Behind Change:

• Effective vaccines and treatment and widely available: Each cut the risk of severe disease in half
• Broad immunity: >98% of US population now has some protective immunity form vaccination, prior infection, or both, BUT this subscription needs to be renewed with updated vaccines
• Other effective tools: masks, hygiene, steps for cleaner air, tests

Results from Drivers:

• Fewer hospitalizations: Weekly hospital admissions down >75% from Jan 2022 peak; now in range of flu; 95% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 not up to date on vaccine
• Fewer deaths: COVID-19 went from the 3rd leading cause of death in 2021 to 10th in 2023
• Fewer cases of other complications: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and Long COVID are now also less common

What is the current guidance information for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19?

The new respiratory guidance includes core and additional prevention strategies.

• See attached Respiratory Virus Guidance Snapshot (Can we use this on the website?)
• Core prevention strategies:
  • Immunizations
  • Hygiene
  • Steps for cleaner air
  • Treatment
  • Stay home and prevent spread
• Additional prevention strategies (not actively recommended at any particular time but suggesting to layer as needed):
  • Masks
  • Distancing
  • Tests
• Layering additional prevention strategies on core prevention strategies can be helpful when:
  • Respiratory viruses are causing a lot of illness in your community
  • You or those around you have risk factors for severe illness
  • You or those around you were recently exposed, are sick, or are recovering

What do I do if I think I have a virus?

Have respiratory virus symptoms that aren’t better explained by another cause?*

1. Stay home and away from others
   1. When, for 24 hours, both your symptoms are improving overall and you haven’t had a fever (without fever-reducing medicine), you can move to the next step.
2. Resume normal activities taking precaution for the next 5 days
   1. such as taking additional steps for cleaner air and/or hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.

Test positive for a respiratory virus but you have no symptoms?*

1. Take precaution for the next 5 days
   1. such as taking additional steps for cleaner air and/or hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.

*Healthcare personnel are to follow CDC Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with COVID-19 or exposure to COVID-19