Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs. Take everyday preventive actions that are recommended to reduce the spread of flu. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. Cover coughs and sneezes. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with viruses that cause flu. For flu, CDC recommends that people stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. Fever should be gone without the need to use a fever-reducing medicine. Note that the stay-at-home guidance for COVID-19 may be different. Learn about some of the similarities and differences between flu and COVID-19. SOURCE: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/prevention.htm

The tips and resources below will help you learn about actions you can take to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of germs. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives Tips on hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers It’s a SNAP Toolkit: Handwashing Hand washing resources from the It’s A SNAP program, aimed at preventing school absenteeism by promoting clean hands. From the School Network for Absenteeism Prevention, a collaborative project of the CDC, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Cleaning Institute. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. SOURCE: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/actions-prevent-flu.htm FOR COVID SOURCES: VCSU follows exposure and isolation guidelines recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC):  Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html Determining Exposure Risk: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/risks-exposure.html What to do if you are Exposed: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/if-you-were-exposed.html.