Respiratory Viruses

• Wearing a mask is usually a personal decision (it may be required in some settings). Here are some things that can help you decide whether to wear a mask:
  • Wearing a well-fitted mask that fully covers your nose and mouth helps protect you from breathing in other people’s germs.
  • Wearing a mask helps protect others from breathing in your germs.
  • You can be contagious before you feel sick. Wearing a mask helps prevent accidental spread to others even when you feel well.
  • Wearing a mask helps protect someone else’s loved one, who may be at higher risk of severe disease.

• Here are some circumstances in which a mask is a good idea:
  • When you are around others if you have cold or flu symptoms (e.g., runny nose, sore throat, cough) or are recovering from respiratory illness.
  • If you test positive for COVID-19, wear a mask for 5 days after your fever is gone and you start to feel better. Masking for 10 days after a positive COVID-19 test is recommended if you have regular contact with someone who is at higher-risk.
  • If you or someone you live with, care for, or spend time with is at higher-risk, consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces or when you may not be able to maintain distance from others.
  • If you were exposed to someone with cold and flu symptoms, consider masking if you are in a crowded indoor space or if you are in contact with someone who is higher risk.
  • Everyone should consider masking in indoor public spaces when respiratory viral disease rates are high in your community.

• The most effective mask is one you can wear comfortably and correctly:
  • Choose the most protective one that fully covers your nose and mouth and that you can comfortably wear for extended periods of time.
  • The type of mask and how well it fits your face affects how well it reduces the number of germs you breathe in or out.
  • N95, KN95, or KF94 masks can be purchased at drugstores, hardware stores, and online. They offer more protection than surgical masks or cloth face covering.

• Masks are not recommended for:
  • Children under 2 years
  • People with sensory, cognitive, or behavioral issues for whom wearing a mask might be difficult
  • Anyone having trouble breathing or who is unconscious, incapacitated, or unable to remove a mask without help

Those at higher risk for severe disease (including kūpuna, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant people) can take additional steps to protect themselves.

• Get vaccinated! Some vaccinations have specific guidelines for people in high risk groups.
  

  Vaccine	Populations with specialized guidelines
  COVID-19	Adults 65 and older Immunocompromised people
  RSV	Adults 60 and older Infants Pregnant people
  Influenza	Adults 65 and older Children aged 6 months through 8 years receiving the flu vaccine for the first time

   

• Wear a mask any time you are in crowded indoor spaces, especially when you cannot maintain physical distancing.
• If you start having symptoms, get tested. Knowing what illness you have can help get you the right treatment. If you are sick with COVID-19 or influenza, antiviral treatments can help you feel better faster and reduce the risk of complications. Antiviral medications for COVID-19 and influenza work best when taken as soon as possible.

• Kūpuna
  • Older adults are at higher risk for hospitalization, complications, and death from many respiratory viral diseases, including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
• Young keiki
  • Infants under 6 months of age have similar COVID-19 hospitalization rates to older adults.
  • Children under 5 years old, and especially infants, are at higher risk of hospitalization or complications from influenza and RSV.
• People with weakened immune systems
  • People with weakened immune systems (also referred to as immunocompromised) may not be able to fight off infections as well as others and may not have developed strong immunity against infections from vaccinations.
  • This group includes, but is not limited to, people undergoing cancer treatment, people who have received organ transplants, and people with chronic immune deficiencies.
• People with certain medical conditions such as:
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic lung disease
  • Heart disease
  • Disabilities that increase risk
• People who live in congregate facilities, such as:
  • Skilled nursing facility
  • Correctional facility
  • Shelter
• Pregnant people
  • Pregnancy can cause changes to the immune system, heart, and lungs, placing pregnant people at higher risk for severe disease.

• Take preventive measures: Get vaccinated, practice good hygiene, take steps for cleaner air, and wear a mask when you are in indoor crowded places or unable to physically distance.
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• If you have been exposed to someone with cold and flu symptoms:
  • Wear a well-fitted mask when you are indoors with the higher risk person. It can take as long as 4-6 days for symptoms to develop after an exposure, so it’s a good idea to wear a mask for at least that long after you’ve been exposed.
• If you develop cold and flu symptoms:
  • Stay away from those at high risk.  If you’re unable to avoid higher risk individuals, wear a well-fitted mask, wash your hands frequently, and open doors and windows to increase air flow as much as possible. Continue to wear a mask for at least 5 days after symptoms are improving and you have not had a fever for 24 hours without use of a fever-lowering medication. Take a COVID-19 test.
• If you test positive for COVID-19:
  • Follow all of the above guidelines for a full 10 days. You can stop after 5 days IF you test negative on two home tests in a row taken at least 24 hours apart.