COVID-19 prevention and preparedness

Expert advice for schools, teachers and parents:

• COVID-19 back to school playbook: Guiding principles to keep students, teachers and staff safe in K-12 schools
• PK-12 Education: Pandemic mitigation and response guide

How can I avoid getting COVID-19?

The best advice is to practice good hygiene and common-sense measures like you would with the seasonal flu. Those things include:

1. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds – hand sanitizer is a second option.
   • Watch this example of how to properly wash your hands
   • Get the recipe to make your own hand sanitizer
2. Don’t touch your mouth, nose or eyes, especially with unwashed hands.
3. Avoid contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, stay at home.
4. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing – DON’T cough or sneeze into your hands. Wash your hands afterwards. 
5. If you are not vaccinated, wear a mask when out and about. 
6. If you are traveling, make sure to follow CDC guidelines at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.