HOW ARE THE ACTIVITY LEVELS DETERMINED
Flu, COVID-19 and RSV activity levels are based on the number of people who go to emergency rooms in our area because they have a respiratory illness. We compare that number to the baseline, when not many people are sick due to respiratory illnesses.
The metric used to determine activity levels is based on standard deviation (SD), which shows how much the data values vary from the baseline. The higher the SD, the greater the risk of exposure and illness.
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE FOR CLEANER AIR
- Bring as much fresh air into your home as possible by opening doors and windows and/or using exhaust fans.
- If your home has central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) that has a filter, set the fan to 'on' when you have visitors and use appropriate filters.
- You may use a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaner.
- Move activities outdoors when the weather permits.
HANDWASHING: HOW IT WORKS
Washing your hands is easy, and it's one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Follow these five steps every time.
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or an air dryer.
Use hand sanitizer when you can't use soap and water:
- Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label.
WHO IS AT HIGHER RISK FOR SEVERE ILLNESS FROM RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS?
If you or someone around you has one or more risk factors for severe illness, using prevention strategies is especially important. Individuals who are at high risk for severe illness include:
- Older adults
- Young children
- People with weakened immune systems
- People with disabilities
- Pregnant women
WHEN YOU MAY HAVE A RESPIRATORY ILLNESS...
Stay home and away from others if you have respiratory virus symptoms. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others. Other symptoms may include but are not limited to chest discomfort, chills, cough, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, fatigue (tiredness), fever or feeling feverish, headache, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, vomiting, weakness, wheezing.
You can go back to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours:
- Your symptoms are improving.
- You have not had a fever without medication.