COVID-19 Prevention

Stay Safe While You’re in the Hospital

COVID-19 is a virus that spreads very easily from person to person. It causes mild symptoms in most people and severe symptoms or even death in others. Common symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath (for a full list of symptoms, visit cdc.gov/covid19). COVID-19 can be serious for anyone, but especially for people over 65 or with underlying health problems.

Reduce Your Risk 

Take these steps to keep yourself and others safe from COVID-19 during your hospital stay:

• You may be asked to wear a mask when community transmission of COVID-19 is high or if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Please ask for current hospital guidelines.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you can’t get to the bathroom on your own, use your nurse call button to ask for help. 
• Sanitize your hands throughout the day. Have hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol placed near your bed.
• Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw tissues out, then wash your hands. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. 
• Make sure hospital staff disinfects frequently touched surfaces, such as bed rails, remote controls and doorknobs.