Cover Your Cough

Cover Your CoughCoughing and sneezing are known to spread viruses. Cough or sneeze into a tissue, or use your upper sleeve. If you use a tissue, dispose of it as soon as possible and wash your hands immediately.

The flu virus is known to spread when infected people who cough or sneeze into their hands touch surfaces and leave infectious respiratory droplets that are passed on by other people. Covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze limits the spread of the virus to others and from them passing it along.

Things you can do:

  • Always cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
  • Use a tissue or your upper sleeve to contain respiratory droplets. Dispose of the tissue immediately and wash your hands.
  • Practice good hand hygiene (wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) after having contact with respiratory droplets (including your own) or coming into contact with someone who has been coughing or sneezing.
  • Wear a mask if you are ill with respiratory symptoms and you must go into public places.