Respiratory Illnesses 

• • Respiratory viruses are viruses that cause illnesses in the respiratory system, including COVID-19, Flu, and RSV. These illnesses share similar symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies.

Core Prevention Strategies 

The CDC recommends 5 core prevention strategies for everyone to help protect themselves and others from severe respiratory illnesses. 

• Stay up to date with immunizations

• Practice good hygiene (practices that improve cleanliness)

• Take steps for cleaner air

• When you may have a respiratory virus:

  • Use precautions to prevent spread

  • Seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness; treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness

Additional Prevention Strategies:

In addition, there are other prevention strategies that you can choose to further protect yourself and others.

• MASKS. Wearing a mask can help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission. 

• PHYSICAL DISTANCING. Putting physical distance between yourself and others can help lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus. There is no single number that defines a “safe” distance, since spread of viruses can depend on many factors. 

• TESTS. Testing for respiratory viruses can help you decide what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading a virus to others.