Coronavirus (COVID-19) Toolkit

Resources for your health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic

Get the facts about COVID-19

Prepare yourself and your family by getting informed about COVID-19 and about what you can do to stay safe and healthy and help prevent the virus from spreading.

Identify and avoid COVID-19

COVID-19, a cold, or the flu? Learn how to tell the difference
COVID-19 vaccine vials being distributed at UI Health Care
Get Vaccinated
UI Health Care provider holds a telehealth video visit with a patient
Worried you're sick? Get tested

How to Protect Yourself and Stay Safe

Face masks are a great way to keep you and others safe out in the community. We even joined a national initiative to encourage mask wearing around the U.S.

Wear your mask correctly to protect yourself and others:

ABOVE THE NOSE. UNDER THE CHIN. PULLED TIGHT.

Crossed out illustration of a person wearing a mask under their nose
Crossed out illustration of a person wearing a mask above their chin
Crossed out illustration of a person wearing a mask under their nose
Illustration of a person correctly wearing a face mask.

Face mask how-to

Why should you wear a face mask? What is the proper way to put on and take off a face mask? For some of us, wearing a face mask is second nature. But for others, wearing a mask can feel awkward and maybe a little uncomfortable.

Use these resources to learn how to incorporate face coverings into your routine and help stop COVID-19.

Choosing the right mask for you

How to properly put on and take off a face mask

Avoid these five common mistakes when wearing a face mask

Do face masks make you retain carbon dioxide?

Are face masks safe?

Do face masks impede your breathing or make you retain carbon dioxide (CO2)? Intensive Care Unit physician Greg Schmidt, MD, settles the argument for us.

Get vaccinated, wash your hands, stay physically distant

There are more ways to stop the outbreak once you've mastered masking. Use these resources to make sure you're stopping the spread whenever you can.

Stop and think of all the areas that you touch throughout the day; door handles, light switches, and elevator buttons. Know that others are touching them too.

See how germs spread from our hands to other places, and how to prevent this spread, with infection preventionist Kyle Jenn, RN.

Clean to keep COVID-19 away 

In addition to washing your hands often, covering your coughs and sneezes, and social distancing, keeping other "high touch" items clean is important to prevent the spread.

Take care of your loved ones 

Do you have a relative who needs to be extra careful? These resources can help you and your family understand what you need to be concerned about based on their condition.

Swiss cheese and COVID-19 vaccines?

Why Swiss cheese? The key is layers. While there are holes in slices of Swiss cheese, by combining the slices, we get a layered approach that leads to fewer holes. The same is true for COVID-19 prevention strategies.

Take care of your mind and body

UI Health Care experts share strategies for maintaining mental health while dealing with the major life changes that we are all facing during the pandemic.

Man riding his bicycle on a path in the woods

Stay active, relieve stress

Urologist Amy Pearlman, MD, director of the UI Health Care Men's Health Program, talks with UI Sports Medicine specialist Britt Marcussen, MD, about creative ways to stay physically and mentally fit while remaining physically distant.

Woman relaxing outside wearing a face mask

Don't neglect your mental health

Humans aren’t meant to be in isolation. We evolved in groups, and we thrive by being around others. So social distancing or home isolation can be really hard, especially over long periods of time.