
What are clinical practice guidelines and why are they important?
“Clinical practice guidelines are systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.” (Institute of Medicine, 1990)
Does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorse a website?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
What patient care settings are covered by the STI guidelines?
These guidelines are applicable to any patient care setting that serves persons at risk for STIs, including family planning clinics, HIV care clinics, correctional health care settings, private physicians’ offices, Federally Qualified Health Centers, clinics for adolescent care, and other primary care facilities.
What are NCCIH diagnostic and treatment guidelines?
Issued by third-party organizations, and not NCCIH, these guidelines define the role of specific diagnostic and treatment modalities in the diagnosis and management of patients. The statements contain recommendations that are based on evidence from a rigorous systematic review and synthesis of the published medical literature.

Can COVID-19 be spread through sex?
The virus spreads by respiratory droplets released when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can be inhaled or land in the mouth or nose of a person nearby. Coming into contact with a person's spit through kissing or other sexual activities could expose you to the virus.
What are some CDC COVID-19 isolation guidelines?
No symptoms or symptoms improving. No fever without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours: You can leave isolation. Keep wearing a mask around other people at home and in public for 5 more days (days 6-10).
How long does it take to show symptoms after you have been exposed to COVID-19?
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. If you have fever, cough, or other symptoms, you might have COVID-19.
Can you get infected with COVID-19 after touching a surface with the virus on it?
Another way to catch the new coronavirus is when you touch surfaces that someone who has the virus has coughed or sneezed on. You may touch a countertop or doorknob that's contaminated and then touch your nose, mouth, or eyes. The virus can live on surfaces like plastic and stainless steel for 2 to 3 days.
What are the CDC guidelines for self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic for moderately ill, very sick, or immunocompromised patients?
People who are moderately ill from COVID-19 (experiencing symptoms that affect the lungs like shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) should isolate for 10 days and follow all other isolation precautions. To calculate your 10-day isolation period, day 0 is your first day of symptoms.
What is considered a close contact of someone with COVID-19?
For COVID-19, a close contact is anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes).
How long could you be contagious with COVID-19?
"Youve gotta stay home for five days because typically those first five days are when you are the most contagious," Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said. "But in those days six to 10, some people still can be spreading virus."
What are some of the first symptoms of COVID-19?
Early symptoms reported by some people include fatigue, headache, sore throat or fever. Others experience a loss of smell or taste. COVID-19 can cause symptoms that are mild at first, but then become more intense over five to seven days, with worsening cough and shortness of breath.
How long can you be infectious with COVID-19?
Two-plus years into the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists still aren't sure how long people who catch coronavirus remain infectious, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Is it likely to catch COVID-19 from a surface?
It's unlikely to catch COVID-19 from a surface, but the risk still exists. Lab studies have found that the virus may last on different materials for varying amounts of time. We don't know if these findings always apply in the real world, but we can use them as a guideline.
How long does COVID-19 survive on fabric?
A study published in found that at room temperature, COVID-19 was detectable on fabric for up to two days, compared to seven days for plastic and metal. However, when it was exposed to high heat, the virus became inactive within five minutes.
What is the risk of contracting COVID-19 from surface transmission?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the danger of contracting COVID-19 from surface transmission is low. An update released April 5 showed that the risk of surface, or fomite, transmission of the disease is low compared with direct contact, droplet transmission, or airborne transmission.
How many deaths would a 40% decrease in social contacts prevent?
In addition, researchers at Columbia University in New York City estimate that decreasing social contacts by 40% could avoid 185,000 deaths in the Northeast and 33,000 deaths in the Midwest.
Is your safety dependent on your beliefs?
But your safety is not something that you can simply wish for—it is not dependent on your beliefs and emotions. It depends on medical realities. And your safety and that of others around you right now depend on your choices and your behavior. You can make a difference. Making the right choice requires some sacrifice.
