Stay Healthy This Cold, Flu, and COVID Season

Each year as the weather gets colder, respiratory illnesses like the common cold, seasonal flu, and COVID-19 become more common. While getting sick may feel inevitable, you can take simple steps to protect yourself and your loved ones this season.

Why Prevention Matters

Respiratory viruses spread when people cough, sneeze, talk, or touch shared surfaces. These illnesses can range from mild to severe, especially for older adults, young children, and people with weakened immune systems. By following preventive habits, you can reduce your risk and help keep your community healthier. 

Top Ways to Prevent Getting Sick

1. Get Vaccinated
Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe illness from flu and COVID-19. Most health experts encourage everyone six months and older to stay up to date with their flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

2. Wash Your Hands Often
Clean hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds — especially after being in public places or touching shared items. If soap isn’t available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

3. Cover Coughs and Sneezes
Use a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of tissues promptly and wash your hands right after. 

4. Stay Home When You’re Sick
If you experience symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, or fatigue, stay home to prevent spreading illness to others.

5. Clean and Disinfect Shared Surfaces
Regularly wipe down doorknobs, phones, keyboards, and other surfaces you touch frequently. 

Know When to Seek Care

Even with the best prevention, people can still get sick. If you or a loved one experiences persistent fever, trouble breathing, severe fatigue, dehydration, or symptoms that worry you, it’s important to get medical attention.

That’s where UrgentMed Care comes in. UrgentMed Care provides walk-in urgent care services in Orlando and Kissimmee. No appointment needed. We treat cold, flu, and COVID-19 symptoms and offer rapid testing, diagnostics, and treatment for non-emergency illnesses and injuries.

Call to Action

Don’t wait if you’re feeling ill this season. Call or visit UrgentMed Care for fast, compassionate care when you need it most. Walk in today, or call your nearest clinic for more information. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the most common symptoms of cold, flu, and COVID-19?

Symptoms can overlap and may include cough, sore throat, fever, congestion, fatigue, body aches, and headaches. Flu and COVID-19 symptoms often come on more suddenly and may feel more severe than a common cold.

2. How can I reduce my risk of getting sick this season?

You can lower your risk by washing your hands frequently, staying up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccines, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, disinfecting high-touch surfaces, and staying home when you feel unwell.

3. When should I see a medical provider for cold, flu, or COVID symptoms?

You should seek care if symptoms worsen, last more than a few days, include high fever, difficulty breathing, dehydration, or if you are in a high-risk group such as older adults, young children, or those with chronic conditions.

4. Can UrgentMed Care test for flu and COVID-19?

Yes. UrgentMed Care offers rapid testing and evaluation for flu and COVID-19, along with treatment recommendations to help you recover safely and comfortably.

5. Do I need an appointment to visit UrgentMed Care?

No appointment is needed. UrgentMed Care is a walk-in clinic, making it easy to get prompt care when cold, flu, or COVID symptoms appear.