Protect Yourself and families: Slow the Spread of COVID-19
Updated 3/25/24
Get Vaccinated
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is one of our best tools to stop the pandemic. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines from the MA Department of Public Health.
Wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask
Wearing a mask can help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them.
Wearing a mask can be especially helpful when:
- Respiratory viruses are causing a lot of illness in your community.
- You or the people around you were recently exposed to a respiratory virus, are sick, or are recovering
- You or the people around you have risk factors for severe illness.
Practice good hygiene
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use hand sanitizer.
- Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and dispose of the used tissue immediately. Do not cough or sneeze into your hands.
- Clean surfaces that are frequently touched.
If you have COVID-19, follow CDC Guidance
Stay home if you are sick. You may resume daily activities when you meet both of the following criteria:
- Fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the aid of medications)
- Symptoms are improving.
Once you resume normal activities, it’s important to take additional prevention strategies for the next 5 days to curb disease spread:
- Wash hands and surfaces often.
- Wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask.
- Physically distance yourself from others, such as avoiding crowded indoor settings.
- Take steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air or purifying indoor air.
- Talk to your doctor about treatments for flu or COVID to lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness.
- Test negative before spending time with individuals at higher risk (older adults, immunocompromised, etc.).
Know the symptoms & get tested
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. There are various types of tests for respiratory virus infections. Antigen tests (“self-tests” or “rapid tests”) usually return results quickly (around 15 minutes). PCR tests are normally conducted by a healthcare provider. Although antigen tests are usually faster, they are not as good at detecting viruses as PCR tests. This means that you might get a negative result with an antigen test, but actually be infected with the virus.
