COVID-19

Stay Safe While You’re in the Hospital

The Basics

COVID-19, sometimes called the coronavirus, is a respiratory virus that spreads very easily from person to person. It causes mild symptoms in some people and severe symptoms or even death in others. Some people can also carry and spread the virus without having any symptoms. Because COVID-19 has spread all over the world, it is considered a pandemic.

Know the Signs

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• fever or chills
• cough
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• fatigue
• congestion or runny nose
• muscle and body aches
• headache
• sore throat
• new loss of taste or smell
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea

Anyone can get COVID-19. Most healthy people recover on their own, but your risk of serious symptoms or having to go to the hospital increases as you get older, or if you have underlying health problems.

You’re more likely to get COVID-19 if you’ve been in close contact with another person who has the illness. Healthcare workers are also at a higher risk of getting COVID-19.

Reduce Your Risk

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

• Wear a snug-fitting mask over your nose and mouth. See "Protect Yourself and Others" for more information on why you, your visitors and all hospital staff need to wear a mask, even if you’ve gotten the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to wash your hands before eating and after using the bathroom. If you need to wash your hands but can’t get to the bathroom on your own, use your nurse call button to ask for help.
• Sanitize your hands with alcohol-based gel. Have hand sanitizer placed near your bed so you can clean your hands throughout the day. Make sure the gel contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw tissues out immediately, then wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Make sure your nurse or housekeeping cleans and disinfects frequently touched surfaces, such as bed rails, remote controls, and doorknobs.
• Have visitors take special steps to keep you and themselves safe. If visitors are allowed, make sure they wash their hands before coming into your room, stay at least 6 feet away from you, and wear a mask.

Get Vaccinated

It’s not enough to wear a mask and practice social distancing. We need to use all the tools we have to stop this pandemic.

The COVID-19 vaccines now available in the U.S. are safe and effective. Getting the vaccine will make you much less likely to catch COVID-19, or to get seriously sick if you do catch it. The vaccine also helps stop community spread of the virus.

If you get a vaccine that requires two doses, make sure you get the second dose on time. Also be sure to get any recommended booster doses. After you are fully vaccinated, you’ll still need to take steps to be safe. Check cdc.gov for guidelines on what you can and can’t do safely.

If you have questions about getting the vaccine, talk to your doctor.

Follow Visitation Rules

Because of COVID-19, hospitals may change their visitation policies for some or all areas of the facility. Look for special signs posted in the hospital about new policies. If you aren’t sure about the visiting rules for your unit, ask your nurse. And please tell your loved ones to follow these rules.

As a patient, you might feel sad or frustrated about new visiting policies. But these rules are important to follow to protect patients, staff, and your loved ones from infection. To keep in touch with loved ones during your stay, instead try a daily phone call or video chat.