Preventing Respiratory Infections

How do flu and COVID-19 spread?

Respiratory infections like flu and COVID-19 can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets and aerosols produced when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. The virus can enter your body if droplets or aerosols get into your throat, nose, or eyes. You can transmit flu and COVID-19 before you start showing symptoms or if you are infected but never develop symptoms.

Smaller droplets or aerosols can collect in enclosed spaces, particularly when more people share a crowded space, spend prolonged time together, or exercise, sing, shout, or speak loudly.

Flu and COVID-19 may also spread by touching something that has the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands. Even though flu and COVID-19 can survive for periods of time on different surfaces, the most common type of spread is through contact with the respiratory droplets or aerosols of an infected person.


Prevention

There are steps we can take to protect ourselves and others from the impacts of respiratory infections, especially during respiratory illness season, or if you are at higher risk of severe illness from a respiratory infection.

Each person may choose a different set of preventive steps they follow based on their own personal preferences and risk tolerance.

Get vaccinated.

Vaccines are effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalization from COVID-19 and flu. It's important to keep your vaccinations up to date especially if you are at increased risk of serious illness. For information on the following vaccines, visit:

Stay home when you are sick.

Guidance for when you are sick is available here: Province of Manitoba | Public Health Guidance for When You Have Symptoms of a Respiratory Infection

Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently.

Good hand hygiene provides significant protection from many infections, including viral respiratory illnesses. Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds and dry your hands thoroughly afterwards. If using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, make sure it contains at least 60 per cent alcohol and allow your hands to dry afterwards.

Manitoba has hand hygiene posters available in several languages.

Cover your cough / sneeze.

Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Throw used tissues in the garbage and immediately wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Wear a mask in indoor public spaces.

Wearing a mask is a personal choice. Masks can be an additional layer of protection along with other measures such as getting vaccinated and staying home when sick.

Consider wearing a mask in the following situations:

  • You are sick and cannot avoid close contact with others in indoor spaces.
  • You are at higher risk of severe illness, especially during periods when respiratory virus activity is high in the community. Information on respiratory activity in Manitoba is available at Provincial Respiratory Surveillance Report | Health | Province of Manitoba (gov.mb.ca).
  • You are going into a setting where there are many people who are at higher risk for severe disease such as healthcare facilities and personal care homes.
  • You are caring for someone who is sick to help protect yourself from getting ill.

Visit the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) website for guidance on mask use for reducing the spread of respiratory infectious diseases.

Improve air ventilation, when possible.

Good ventilation exchanges indoor air for outdoor air. This helps reduce the buildup of infectious respiratory particles in indoor air. Although ventilation of certain spaces isn't always in your control, there are many ways you can improve indoor ventilation in your home:

  • Open windows or doors regularly, even for a few minutes at a time.
  • If your indoor space uses a central heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, ensure the system is well-maintained.
  • Run bathroom and/or kitchen exhaust fans.

Know if you are eligible for treatment.

Most people can manage their symptoms and recover at home without the need for medical treatment. However, for those at highest risk, treatments are available for COVID-19 and flu that can help prevent severe illness. To be effective, you need to begin treatment within days of your symptoms starting, so the best time to find out if treatment may be recommended for you is before you get sick.

For information on testing and treatment, visit:

Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects frequently touched by many people.

Surfaces and objects can be contaminated with respiratory viruses the more often they are touched. This is why it is important to clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched more often.


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