COVID-19 Prevention
Practice Everyday Preventive Actions
Practice and remind others of the importance of using everyday preventive actions that can help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. Yes, these are simple strategies and they work:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue. Throw the tissue in a lined trash container.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Germs spread this way.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles) using regular household detergent and water.
- If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent and water prior to disinfection. For disinfection, a list of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved products is available at Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fighting Products. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods.
- Get an annual flu shot and future vaccines that are developed to fight new communicable illnesses.
Be Ready by Being Informed
- Staying Safe as Communities Reopen
- Prepare! Don’t Panic over COVID-19 Handout English / Spanish
- LLHD COVID Five Questions Handout – updated 4/4/2020/ Spanish
- What to Do If You Are Sick: Call your doctor: If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.
- Staying Safe as Communities Reopen
- What You Can Do if You are at Higher Risk of Serious Illness Due from COVID-19 – English / Spanish
- Guidance for Homes, Communities, Schools, Businesses, and more
- Frequently Asked Questions on the State of Connecticut’s Actions Related to COVID-19
Cleaning and Disinfecting
- Recommendations for Cleaning and Disinfecting for Households
- List of Cleaning Products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
- FDA Updates on Hand Sanitizers Consumers Should Not Use
Food Handling
- Safe Food Handling: Guidelines for Cooked, Refrigerated, or Frozen Take-Out and Delivered Meals
- Information for Regulated Establishments
Masks
Vaccinations
- Everyone 5 and up is encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine. You can find a free vaccination at community clinics and many local pharmacies – check here for more information!
Additional Resources
- Connect with LLHD on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
- How You Can Plan and Prepare for Emergencies
- 2-1-1 Connecticut: Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can also call 2-1-1 for assistance.
- YNHH: Yale New Haven Health
- CTDPH: Connecticut Department of Public Health
- CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency
- NIH – National Institute of Health