If You Are Sick
Page originally published 1/11/2024, last updated 7/31/2024.
If you have, or are likely to have, a respiratory virus infection, like COVID-19, flu, or RSV, take steps to protect yourself and others. If you have any emergency warning signs (like trouble breathing or chest pain) seek emergency care immediately. See COVID-19, flu, and RSV for a list of emergency signs.
- Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick).
- Monitor symptoms and
follow your doctor's instructions.
- Rest, drink fluids, and use over-the-counter medicines for fever as needed.
- Go back to normal activities when:
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours, and
- Symptoms are getting better overall.
When going back to normal activities, take added steps for safety over the next 5 days:
- Wear a high-quality mask or respirator when around others, especially people at higher risk.
- Open windows to improve air flow and take steps for cleaner air.
- Keep distance from others, especially people at higher risk for severe illness from respiratory viruses. This includes older adults, young children, people with weakened immune systems, people with disabilities, and pregnant people.
- Stay up-to-date with recommended immunizations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidance for different settings, including workplace, healthcare, school, and childcare settings.
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In the Workplace
- Employers are subject to:
- The Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Non-Emergency Regulations, or
- In some workplaces, the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard (PDF).
- Employers should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements.
- In certain healthcare situations or settings and other covered facilities, services and operations, surgical masks (or higher filtration masks) are required.
- See COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information.
- Employers are subject to:
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In Healthcare Settings
- The CDC offers separate, specific COVID-19, flu, and general infection prevention and control guidance for healthcare settings .
- Federal civil rights laws may require reasonable modifications or reasonable accommodations in various circumstances.
- Healthcare personnel in general acute care hospital, acute
hospital, and skilled nursing facilities should follow
recommendations in AFL
21-08.9.
- Healthcare personnel working in settings not covered by AFL 21-08.9 may also follow this guidance.
- Healthcare facilities should follow the guidance for management of exposed or infected patients/residents in the CDC COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations.
- Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs), facilities, or other organizations such as high-risk congregate settings may continue to implement additional requirements that are more protective than this statewide guidance based on local circumstances, including in certain higher-risk settings or during certain situations that may require additional isolation and quarantine requirements (for example, during active outbreaks in high-risk settings).
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Schools and Childcare Programs
- See the Guidance for K-12 Schools and Child Care Settings to Mitigate the Spread of Communicable Disease, 2023 -2024 School Year for guidance on the management of infected and exposed people in K-12 school and childcare settings.
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If
You Are Sick With a Respiratory Viruses Poster.
- There are also treatments available that may help reduce how sick you become if you get COVID-19.
- CDC Preventing Respiratory Viruses
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