Sick season is knocking! Here’s how to protect yourself from Norovirus, COVID-19, the flu, and RSV.

During the winter months, it often feels like few are immune to illness—whether it’s the flu, COVID-19, norovirus, or the common cold. While many of these germs can circulate year-round, scientists believe the winter surge in flu and cold activity is due to more time spent indoors and the cold, dry air weakening our immune defenses. However, understanding these viruses and how they spread can make a difference. While it may be challenging to avoid them completely, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from respiratory and stomach viruses.

How do I know if I have a cold, the flu, COVID-19, or something else?

• The common cold is caused by various viruses and typically leads to a runny nose, congestion, cough, sneezing, sore throat, headaches, body aches, or low-grade fever, lasting less than a week.
• The flu is caused by changing influenza viruses and typically brings on fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, and fatigue. Flu symptoms usually come on more suddenly than a cold and can last anywhere from a few days to two weeks.
• COVID-19 can cause fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, congestion, loss of smell or taste, fatigue, aches, headaches, nausea, or vomiting for several days.
• RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) can cause a runny nose, congestion, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, fever, and loss of appetite, typically lasting about one to two weeks.

One simple way to protect yourself from all these viruses? Wash your hands.
Rigorous, frequent handwashing—using soap!—is essential to reduce the spread of norovirus, colds, flu, and COVID-19. This is especially important after using the bathroom, eating, or preparing food, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Take your time—scrub for at least 20 seconds.

If you don’t have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, though this won’t be enough to eliminate norovirus.

Cleaning surfaces can help eliminate viruses

• If you contract norovirus, you’ll need to immediately clean any surfaces that came in contact with contaminated food or bodily fluids. The CDC recommends using a chlorine bleach solution or products listed on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website for disinfection.
• Don’t forget to wash any clothing that came into contact with vomit or feces—use hot water and detergent—then wash your hands. Again.

With colds and the flu, regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces—such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops, toys, and cellphones—is crucial. Use household cleaning products with soap or detergent, followed by a sanitizer. The CDC provides more tips on surface cleaning.

COVID-19 generally spreads through respiratory droplets in the air, and the CDC says the risk of catching it from contaminated surfaces is low.

Keeping your hands off your face can prevent viruses from entering

Viruses spread through talking, coughing, and sneezing, so if you feel a tickle in your throat or nose, cover your mouth with a tissue and then wash your hands. And even if you’re healthy, consider wearing an N95 or medical-grade mask in crowded places to protect yourself from respiratory viruses.

Avoid touching your face—especially your eyes, nose, or mouth—after touching surfaces, as this allows viruses to enter through your mucus membranes.

Vaccines can help prevent some viruses

There are updated COVID-19 vaccines available, as well as annual flu shots for individuals aged 6 months and older. For those 60 and older or pregnant individuals, you may want to consider the RSV vaccine. However, there is no vaccine for norovirus or the common cold.

Boost your defenses with rest

A well-rested immune system works more efficiently. Sleep deprivation, stress, and dehydration can weaken your defenses, so make sure to get adequate rest, sleep, and drink plenty of water.

If you’re sick, stay home

If you start feeling symptoms, prompt testing can help determine whether you have COVID-19 or the flu. Knowing which virus you have can guide you in getting appropriate medications, such as Paxlovid for COVID-19 or Tamiflu for the flu. Symptoms can be tricky to differentiate between illnesses, but others, like norovirus, are more obvious—causing vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain for about one to three days.