If You Are Sick
Page originally published 1/11/2024. Page last updated 10/16/2026.
If you have any emergency warning signs (like trouble breathing or chest pain) seek emergency care immediately. See COVID-19, flu, and RSV for a list of emergency signs.
- Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick).
- Check your symptoms and
follow your doctor's instructions.
- Rest, drink fluids, and use over-the-counter medicines for fever as needed.
- Go back to normal activities when:
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours, and
- Symptoms are getting better overall.
When going back to normal activities, take added steps for safety over the next 5 days:
- Wear a well-fitting mask.
- Keep distance from others, especially people at higher risk for severe illness from respiratory viruses.
- Open windows to improve air flow, purify indoor air, or gather outdoors for cleaner air.
- Practice good hygiene by covering your coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing your hands often, and cleaning high-touch surfaces (such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs).
- Get tested if you have symptoms and you are at higher risk for
severe illness or exposing someone else at higher risk. Early
testing can lead to early treatment
and less severe disease or quick recovery.
- Contact your doctor, urgent care center, or insurance provider for an appointment for lab testing, or use an at-home test for flu and COVID-19.
Resources for Organizations
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For Employers – Workplace Health & Safety Resources (California Department of Public Health)
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Healthcare Settings - Infection Control Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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TK-12 Schools and Child Care Settings to Support Safe In-Person Services and Mitigate the Spread of Communicable Disease (California Department of Public Health)
Call the Immunization Unit at (866) 358-2966, or send an e-mail, for more information.
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