AARP Hearing Center
This summer, an increasing number of people are finding that their sniffles, sore throat and cough aren’t allergies but actually COVID-19.
Cases of COVID are increasing in many areas of the U.S., the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows, as are emergency room visits and hospitalizations from the virus, particularly among people age 65-plus. Even deaths, which remain low compared to previous pandemic peaks, are once again creeping up.
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
Wondering what steps you need to take if you test positive for COVID-19?
The CDC recently updated its guidance to say that people with COVID-19 can return to work, school and other activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
Once normal activities resume, additional prevention steps are recommended for at least five days to help curb the spread of the disease.
All about coronavirus
- COVID’s summer wave
- Summer cold or COVID?
- Isolation guidelines change
- Members only: COVID 4 times
- Eligible for a booster shot?
- Medicare coverage details
These steps — wearing a mask, improving air quality in your home, handwashing and keeping a distance from others — are especially important for older adults and people who spend time around older adults, the CDC says. Seeking treatment for COVID-19 and staying up-to-date on vaccines is also key for older adults and others who are at higher risk for a severe case of COVID-19.
Previous guidelines called for people with COVID-19 to isolate for at least five days from the start of symptoms or a positive test, and to wear a mask though day 10 to avoid spreading the illness to others.
The CDC says the updated guidance “brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu and RSV, which can cause significant health impacts and strain on hospitals and health care workers.” This approach makes recommendations easier to follow, the public health agency says, and it makes it more likely that people will adopt them.
More on Health
5 Things to Know About the New COVID-19 Vaccines
Who’s eligible for shots, what they cost, when to get one and moreAre Vaccines Still Free?
Feds no longer paying the bill8 Surprisingly Fattening Foods
These can make you pack on the pounds if you’re not careful
Do You Have a Cold? The Flu? COVID? Or RSV?
A few tricks for telling the illnesses apart
Recommended for You