Following the updated CDC recommendations, the NYSDOH is revising its guidance for when to stay home and when individuals can return to normal activities after respiratory infections including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
- Individuals should stay home and away from others, including people they live with who are not sick, if they have respiratory virus symptoms that are not better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache.
- Individuals can go back to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both of the following are true:
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- Symptoms are getting better overall
- They no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication.
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- When going back to normal activities, individuals should take added precautions over the next 5 days, including taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and testing when they will be around other people, especially older adults, young children, and those with weakened immune systems. Children under age 2 should never wear a mask. Healthcare providers should discuss with their patients about how long a child under 2 should stay home.
- Keep in mind that people may still be able to spread the virus that made them sick, even if they are feeling better, so it is important to take extra precautions after resuming normal activities.
HEALTH ADVISORY: Updated recommendations on when to stay home
and when to go back to normal activities after respiratory illnesses
including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) –
Non-Healthcare Settings
- If individuals develop a fever or start to feel worse, they should stay home and away from others again. They should use the same criteria for returning to normal activities as when they first had symptoms and take added precautions over the next 5 days.