Take Steps to Stay Healthy This Season

Along with cooler weather and celebrations, the holiday season brings increases in the number of infections that occur from influenza (flu), COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus.

GNR Public Health wants you to remember these simple steps to help keep yourself and your loved ones healthy this season:

Ways to avoid getting sick

-Wash your hands often. Use soap and water and have hand sanitizer available, especially at gatherings.

Important! Hand sanitizer is ineffective against some germs, especially gastrointestinal illnesses like norovirus. Hand washing is preferred.

-Stay up to date on recommended vaccines.

Make an appointment to get all recommended vaccines, including seasonal ones such as influenza.

-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

-Consider wearing a mask when traveling or in crowds.

When you’re sick

-Stay home and isolate away from others in your household when you’re sick.

Learn when to stay home from work or school.

-Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or use your inner elbow.

Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.

-Do not cook or serve others when sick, especially when experiencing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

-Seek testing through your healthcare provider or use at-home or community testing options to determine which illness you are experiencing.

-Test at home for COVID with reliable antigen test kits from the health department, pharmacies, or the federal government.

Get free COVID tests delivered.

Call to find out if free COVID test kits are available at our health centers.

-Self-test for flu or COVID at one of three convenient health department kiosks.

Flu and COVID testing kiosks are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week! Find a kiosk near you.

-Contact your medical provider to get tested for RSV and norovirus.

-Consult your healthcare provider right away if symptoms aren’t manageable or worsen.

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GNR Public Health wishes you a healthy and happy holiday!

For additional information about staying healthy this time of year, visit CDC’s Take Steps to Help You Stay Healthy During the Holidays or This Holiday Season is a Great Time to Focus on Health.