Learn what to do
Stay home and away from others, including people you live with if they are not sick. Symptoms of respiratory viruses can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and headache, among others*.
You can go back to your normal activities when:
- You have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine
- Your symptoms are getting better overall
When you go back to your normal activities, you should take additional precautions for the next 5 days when you are around other people indoors:
- Wear a well-fitting mask
- Get tested for respiratory viruses to know if you are still infected
- Improve air quality and air flow
- Use hygiene practices like covering your coughs and sneezes and washing your hands
- Physically distance yourself from others
If you develop a fever or start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until you have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine and other symptoms are getting better. Then take added precautions for the next 5 days.
*Other symptoms may include but are not limited to: chest discomfort, sore throat, sneezing, wheezing, muscle or body aches, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, new loss of taste or smell.
If you never had symptoms but tested positive for a respiratory virus, you may still be contagious. You should take additional precautions for the next 5 days when you are around other people indoors:
- Wear a well-fitting mask
- Get tested for respiratory viruses to know if you are still infected
- Improve air quality and air flow
- Use hygiene practices like covering your coughs and sneezes and washing your hands
- Physically distance yourself from others
If you develop a fever or start to feel worse, stay home and away from others until you have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine and other symptoms are getting better. Then take added precautions for the next 5 days.
If you are at higher risk for severe illness, you should get tested for respiratory viruses within 5 days after last exposure. Talk to your doctor about testing as well as treatment options if you test positive.
If you are around people at higher risk for severe illness, consider getting tested for respiratory viruses and wear a mask indoors for 5 days after last close contact with an individual with a respiratory virus.
The Public Health Department wants our community to be aware that the best scientific information still indicates that individuals with respiratory viruses may be infectious for longer than 5 days after they become sick or test positive.
In addition, respiratory viruses continue to cause many hospitalizations and deaths in Santa Clara County. Given this, individuals may consider using additional layers of protection when feasible, such as maximizing indoor ventilation and filtration, working remotely, or avoiding large indoor gatherings.
Please note:
- The guidance above is aligned with the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance.
- In the workplace, employees are subject to either the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations or the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard. Employers should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements.
- This guidance does NOT apply to staff or residents of health care or congregate care settings. For more information, visit santaclaracounty.gov/health-care-providers.
- Schools and childcare providers may follow this guidance. Additional information and resources are available at sccphd.org/exposurenotice.
- Organizations serving people experiencing homelessness may follow this guidance. Additional information and resources are available at sccphd.org/unhousedservices.