As respiratory illness activity across Maryland has risen to HIGH activity status, the Garrett County Health Department is reminding stakeholders about resources to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.
Maryland Department of Health Influenza Resources: https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/influenza/Pages/home.aspx
Maryland Department of Health 2025-2026 Respiratory Vaccine Recommendations: https://health.maryland.gov/covid/Documents/Maryland%20Respiratory%20Vaccine%20Recommendations%20Graphic%20PDF.pdf
How can I best prevent respiratory illness including COVID-19, flu or RSV?
These strategies can help prevent common respiratory viral illnesses:
- Stay up to date with all recommended immunizations.
- Practice good hygiene, including washing your hands frequently with soap and water, and covering coughs and sneezes.
- Take steps for cleaner air, such as gathering outdoors, opening a window, wearing a mask, or improving indoor air quality through HVAC or a portable air filter.
If you have a respiratory virus:
- Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick). Children should follow guidance from schools.
- You can go back to your normal activities when both are true:
- Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours.
- When you return to normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as practicing good hygiene described above to prevent spread, wearing a well-fitted mask, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around others. This is especially important to protect people with higher risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses.
Maryland Department of Health Frequently Asked Questions and Tips to Prevent the Spread of Respiratory Illnesses: https://health.maryland.gov/covid/Pages/Vaccines.aspx
Garrett County Respiratory Illness Dashboard: https://garretthealth.org/ri-dashboard/
