The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure. The risk for catching COVID-19 depends upon with whom you have interacted. While anyone can catch COVID-19, safety measures such as staying home, practicing physical distancing and frequently washing hands and commonly touched surfaces can lower your risk.
A limited supply of vaccine is being distributed around the world. While the vaccines have shown a high level of effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 during their clinical trials, it’s important to remember that vaccine is just one part in the combination of tools available to help stop the pandemic. It’s necessary to continue to practice prevention recommendations to continue to limit the spread of this illness.
Although most who become infected are able to recover at home, older adults and those with pre-existing medical conditions are at higher risk for developing serious complications. If symptoms progress or if you experience emergency warning signs - such as trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, unexplained confusion, bluish lips or face or extremely high fever - please seek medical attention immediately. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 and notify the dispatcher that you have, or think you may have, COVID-19.