Coronavirus Tips: Prevention and Safety for Everyday Life

Is COVID-19 still a pandemic all these years later? It depends on who you ask. Regardless, it’s important to prevent this nasty respiratory infection from spreading — and to protect yourself against complications.

Pulmonary and critical care physician Joseph Khabbaza, MD, shares advice for keeping yourself and your loved ones healthy.

Preventing COVID-19

Now that the lockdown days are long behind us, you can choose the precautions you take against COVID-19. The only question is, how much risk are you comfortable with? Here are some simple ways to stay COVID-free.

Get vaccinated (and boosted)

Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters is one of the best ways to reduce your chances of getting sick. If you do catch the virus, being vaccinated may help prevent complications and minimize the severity of the illness.

“Like the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccines are updated every year to reflect the variants of the virus that are circulating at the moment,” Dr. Khabbaza explains. “It’s like you’re reminding your immune system how to defend against the virus, while also preparing it to be exposed to new mutations.”

Just had COVID-19? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends waiting 90 days before your next jab.

Wash your hands

“Wash your hands thoroughly with soap throughout the day, especially after returning home,” Dr. Khabbaza urges. “Lather your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds to get them fully clean. Hand hygiene sounds simple, but it’s extremely valuable for minimizing the spread of all viruses.”

Dr. Khabbaza also recommends keeping a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you when you’re out and about so you can keep clean when you don’t have immediate access to a bathroom.

Practice good respiratory hygiene

“If you need to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue or use your elbow to minimize the spread of respiratory droplets,” Dr. Khabbaza advises. “Then, throw out the tissue and wash your hands.”

Keep air flowing

Viral particles don’t build up as much in well-ventilated spaces, so turn on your air conditioning to keep air flowing. That reduces your odds of being exposed to COVID-19, along with everything from indoor allergens to air pollution.

Don’t have AC? Open windows, run fans or invest in an air purifier instead.

Test yourself

If you don’t feel well or think you were exposed to the virus, Dr. Khabbaza recommends taking an at-home COVID test.

“If you test positive and you’re within the first five days of symptoms, you are a candidate for an antiviral treatment,” he explains. “That treatment will help reduce the severity of the illness.”

Fun fact: There’s now a two-for-one home test that also checks for the flu!

Wear a mask when needed

Consider masking if you:

• Have COVID: Every time you exhale (and cough), you send virus-laden droplets into the air around you. Aside from staying home, masking is the best way to avoid spreading the virus.
• Are at high risk for complications: Masking provides an extra layer of protection if you or someone you love is vulnerable to severe complications based on age, health status, vaccination status or disabilities.
• Are caring for somebody who’s sick: If you live with someone who’s ill (or you’re their primary caregiver), masking could keep the virus from punishing your good deed.
• You have an event coming up: Are you looking forward to meeting your newborn niece or going on that big vacation you’ve been planning all year? Masking for a couple of weeks ahead of time is a practical way to keep COVID-19 from messing up your plans.
• The virus is surging: You can get COVID-19 at any time. But you’re most likely to get it during respiratory season or when a new subvariant is surging in your area.
• You’re in a high-risk setting: Concerts, conferences, football games, airplanes — whenever lots of people are crammed into tight spaces, your chances of getting sick go up. So, it’s helpful to know about COVID-19 levels in your community.
• You’re pregnant: Having COVID-19 while you’re pregnant can raise the risk of complications, both for you and the fetus.

COVID-19 care

You took every precaution, but you still got sick. Now what? Here’s what Dr. Khabazza recommends.

Stay home or social distance

The days of quarantine and isolation guidelines are behind us. But the CDC still recommends staying home when you have COVID-19. You can return to your daily activities once you’ve met two conditions for 24 hours straight:

• Your symptoms have been getting better
• You’ve been fever-free without medication

If you aren’t able to take time off and stay home, wear a mask and social distance to protect the people around you.

Take over-the-counter medications

If you’ve got a mild case of COVID-19, you can often treat your symptoms at home with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, like:

• Pain relievers
• Nasal decongestants
• Expectorants
• Cough suppressants

If you have chronic conditions or take prescription medications, speak with your provider before starting an OTC treatment. They’ll check that your medication choices and dosages are safe.

Consider prescription medications

If your symptoms are making you miserable — or you’re at high risk for complications — contact a provider and ask about COVID-19 therapies.

“Medications like Paxlovid®, Veklury® and Lagevrio™ have to be prescribed within five days of your symptoms starting. So, don’t wait too long to call your primary care office,” Dr. Khabbaza says.

If you’re severely ill, your provider may consider other prescription medications, like monoclonal antibodies.

Support your immune system

COVID-19 isn’t a public health emergency anymore. But it’s still a serious upper respiratory infection. And it’s important to give your immune system the energy it needs to defend you against the virus. That means:

• Getting lots of extra sleep
• Managing stress
• Staying hydrated

Depending on the type and severity of your symptoms, it may be OK to do some light exercise. Just don’t push yourself too hard.

See your provider if symptoms linger

It’s not unusual for a respiratory infection to overstay its welcome. But if you’re still feeling crummy after two or three weeks, visit your provider. You might be dealing with long COVID.

In that situation, Dr. Khabbaza says that you may need medication, pulmonary rehabilitation or physical therapy to make a full recovery.