In addition to the virus that causes COVID-19, there are many other types of respiratory viruses, including influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Symptoms of a respiratory virus include fever, difficulty breathing, loss of taste and smell, more than a minor cough and sore throat, chills, aches, behavior changes (in children), and/or significant fatigue not attributable to other causes. While not typically associated with respiratory viruses, children with COVID-19 or flu can present with vomiting and diarrhea.
Steps You Can Take
When you have a respiratory virus infection, you can spread it to others. If you have symptoms of a respiratory virus, stay home and away from others, including people you live with who are not sick. Also, use precautions to prevent spread, such as:
- Practicing good hygiene by covering your coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing your hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
- Taking steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.
- You may consider wearing a well-fitting mask* for at least 5 days.
- Maintaining physical distance from others, when possible.
- Staying away from those who are immunocompromised or vulnerable to severe illness.
- Testing before deciding to be around others, such as before attending a gathering or taking high-occupancy transportation.
*ACPS will provide masks (KN95, cloth or disposable) to students and employees upon request. Masks are not required, but may be worn when an individual is experiencing or recovering from a respiratory illness.
Returning to Your Normal Activities
You can go back to your normal activities when your symptoms are getting better overall AND when you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. When you go back to your normal activities, take added precautions, such as those listed above, over the next 5 days.
- Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better.
- If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, go back to staying home and away from others until your symptoms improve again and you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Then take added precautions for the next 5 days.
Seeking Testing & Treatment
If you have symptoms of a respiratory virus and you have risk factors for severe illness, seek health care promptly for testing and treatment. Generally, people at higher risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses are older adults, young children, people with compromised immune systems, people with disabilities, and pregnant people.
- Testing for respiratory viruses can help you find out if you are currently infected with a certain respiratory virus and help you decide what to do next. Antigen tests (“self-tests” or “rapid tests”) usually return results quickly, but they are not as good at detecting viruses as PCR tests, which are normally conducted by a healthcare provider.
- Treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness. If you have flu or COVID-19, treatment may be an option to make your symptoms less severe and shorten the time you are sick.
For information about COVID-19 testing in Virginia, please visit the Virginia Department of Health's web page, COVID-19 Testing.