Unified recommendations have been developed to address risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses.

• COVID-19
• RSV
• Influenza

Prevention

Prevent respiratory viral illnesses by:

• Staying up to date with flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations (if eligible) that protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death.
  • COVID-19 and flu vaccinations are available at Health Division clinics. Walk-ins only, no appointment needed. 
  • Call your health care provider or local pharmacy to schedule a RSV vaccine appointment.
• Practice good hygiene.
  • Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water after coughing, sneezing, or touching common surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, and telephones Use an alcohol-based sanitizer if soap and water aren't available.
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces.
• Taking steps for cleaner air like bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.

When sick

If you develop a respiratory virus:

• Stay home and away from others.
• Use precautions to prevent spreading the illness like wearing a mask.
• Seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness. Treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness.

For people with respiratory viral illnesses such as COVID-19, RSV, and influenza, they can return to normal activities when symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, has been gone for at least 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication. Once people resume normal activities, it's recommended to take additional prevention steps for the next five days.

High risk individuals

People with certain risk factors for severe respiratory virus illness are:

• Older adults
• Younger children
• People with weakened immune systems
• People with disabilities
• Pregnant people

Individuals at high risk need to exercise caution from respiratory viral illnesses.

Hand washing instructions

• Use soap and running water.
• Rub your hands vigorously for 20 seconds.
• Wash all surfaces, including:
  • Backs of hands
  • Wrists
  • Between fingers
  • Under fingernails
• Rinse well.
• Dry hands with a paper towel.
• Turn off the water using a paper towel instead of bare hands.

For additional information about cleanliness and to avoid spreading illness, visit our Hand Washing web page.