It is common to get sick from respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), especially in the fall and winter. There are actions you can take to protect yourself and others. Learn about whether you’re more likely to get seriously ill, how to prevent these viruses, what to do if you get sick, and if these viruses are spreading in your community.
To help prevent respiratory viruses, Rhode Islanders should:
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work, and school.
Stay home if you are sick.
Keep children home from daycare or school who have fever, especially with a cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, congestion, runny nose, or sore throat, until they are fever-free for 24 hours without medications that reduce fever.
Get your flu shot. Everyone older than six months of age should be vaccinated every year. For information on where to get a flu shot, see health.ri.gov/flu.
Be up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations, including your updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine. For information on how to get vaccinated against COVID-19, see C19vaccineRI.org.
Talk to your healthcare provider to see if an RSV vaccination is right for you. An RSV vaccine can help protect adults aged 60 years and older from RSV. An RSV vaccine is also recommended for people who are 32-36 weeks pregnant during September through January. CDC recommends you use one of these two tools to protect your baby from getting very sick with RSV:
Two monoclonal antibody products – nirsevimab (Beyfortus) and palivizumab (Synagis) – can help protect babies and young children from severe disease from an RSV infection. Monoclonal antibodies are not vaccines. They provide an extra layer of defense that helps fight RSV infections and protect children from getting very sick. The protection these antibodies provide wanes over time. These products are not treatments for a child who already has RSV infection.
What to do if you get sick:
Stay home if you are sick.
Keep children home from daycare or school who have fever, especially with a cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, congestion, runny nose, or sore throat, until they are fever-free for 24 hours without medications that reduce fever.
Contact your pediatrician or primary care provider if you believe you or your child need medical care. Your provider can offer advice on whether an in-person evaluation is needed and the best location (doctor's office, urgent care, emergency room) for care.
Ask your primary care provider about antivirals for flu or COVID-19.
Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid using alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco.
Where to get care:
Hospital emergency departments in Rhode Island are currently very crowded. Children and adults in emergency departments with less serious health issues are experiencing long wait times. If you or your child does not need emergency medical care, please do not go to the emergency department. Long waits in the emergency department are frustrating, and they expose you and your family to new sicknesses.
Many cases of COVID-19, flu, and RSV can be treated more quicky and effectively by a primary care doctor or in an urgent care facility than in an emergency department.
Rhode Island Department of Health
It is common to get sick from respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), especially in the fall and winter. There are actions you can take to protect yourself and others. Learn about whether you’re more likely to get seriously ill, how to prevent these viruses, what to do if you get sick, and if these viruses are spreading in your community.