Cough Etiquette: How NOT To Get Other People Sick

It’s been a few years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but if there’s anything it taught us, it’s how easily germs spread and how important it is to practice good hand hygiene and cough etiquette. Each of us has a role to play in protecting those around us, especially if we know we’re sick.

When you’ve got a bug — whether it’s allergies, the common cold or something else, here’s what you need about coughing or sneezing around other people.

What is cough etiquette?

“Cough etiquette” is how you act when you’re out in the world with a cough, sniffle or sneeze. It’s all about the actions you take to keep your germs from spreading to people around you.

Why, exactly, is it so important?

“When you cough into the air, you can actually send germs as far as 3 to 6 feet in front of you,” explains infectious disease specialist Frank Esper, MD. “And if you cough into your hands, you could transfer germs from place to place when you touch something else.”

How to follow good cough etiquette

So, what does cough etiquette entail? Dr. Esper shares some guidelines for when you’re out in public or even at home with family.

1. Wear a face mask

You may feel like your days of masking are behind you, but they’re still one of the best ways to protect the people around you.

“Face masks reduce the rate of your respiratory droplets going out into the open air and reaching and infecting others,” Dr. Esper explains. “This protects both yourself and those around you.”

2. Cover your mouth

If you’re not wearing a mask, use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose every single time you cough or sneeze. Resort to coughing into your elbow if a tissue isn’t available.

“Never cough into your hands or open air,” Dr. Esper urges, “and always turn your face away from people around you when coughing or sneezing.”

3. Wash your hands

Serious respiratory viruses are commonly spread by germs on your hands that can lurk even if your hands seem clean, so it’s important to wash your hands often. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% to 95% alcohol.

4. Don’t touch your face

Viruses are also spread by touching your face after touching contaminated surfaces. Never touch your mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands. If you do, immediately wash your hands before touching anything else.

5. Keep your hands to yourself

Refrain from shaking hands, kissing, hugging, sharing food or utensils or otherwise making contact and spreading germs when you’re sick.

“In general, steer clear of others, especially those who are considered high-risk,” Dr. Esper advises.

6. Clean up after yourself

Ever leave your tissues lying around at home? Cut the habit and place used tissues into a trash can immediately. And when you’re sick, sanitize surfaces you may have coughed on or touched with germy hands.

7. Stay home when you’re sick

If you’re feeling under the weather, the most important thing you can do is stay home and avoid carrying your germs to school, work or anywhere else.

Not sure if you’re sick?

With so many symptoms in common, it can be hard to tell the difference between illnesses like colds, the flu, RSV and COVID-19. Plus, depending on what you’re dealing with, it can take up to a week for symptoms to appear.

If you’re starting to experience symptoms like coughing, sore throat and achy muscles, the best thing to do is to act as though you are contagious — and start doing your part to keep your germs to yourself.