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[](http://www.nyc.gov/)Health[311](https://www.nyc.gov/311/index.page)[Search all NYC.gov websites](https://www.nyc.gov/main/search) [Menu](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-prevention-and-care.page)Promoting and Protecting the City's Health [](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/index.page)  [Text-Size](http://www.nyc.gov/home/text-size.page) [Translate This Page](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-prevention-and-care.page)[Search](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-prevention-and-care.page) ## Promoting and Protecting the City's Health - [Home](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/index.page) - [COVID](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-main.page) - [About](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/about-doh.page) - [Our Health](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics.page) - [Services](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/services/birth-death-records.page) - [Providers](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/providers/reporting-and-services-main.page) - [Data](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/data-home.page) - [Business](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/business/permits-licenses.page) Language Apply Translation # COVID-19: Prevention and Groups at Higher Risk - [COVID-19](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-main.page) - [Vaccine](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page) - [Data](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-data-archive.page) - [Prevention and Groups at Higher Risk](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-prevention-and-care.page) - [When You Are Sick](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-whensick.page) - [Long COVID](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/long-covid.page) - [Information for Providers](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-providers.page) Share  Print The best way to protect yourself and those around you from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. [Learn more about the benefits of vaccination](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page#bens). ## Prevention Tips  ### Get Vaccinated - COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for people ages 6 months and older. - Visit the [NYC Health Map](https://a816-health.nyc.gov/NYCHealthMap/Vaccines) to find a vaccination site. - [COVID-19: Vaccine](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page)  ### Wear a Mask - Always wear a mask if you're sick and unable to separate from others, and for 5 days after you leave home once you start feeling better, as you still may be contagious. - Always wear a mask for 10 days after being exposed to someone who has COVID-19. - Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor public settings, such as on public transit, at large events, and when shopping in crowded stores, especially when COVID-19 levels increase. - Consider wearing a mask if you are at high risk for severe COVID-19 or are around others who are. - Wear a high-quality mask, such as a KN95, KF94 or N95, for the best protection from COVID-19.  ### Get Tested - **Get tested if you have symptoms or were recently exposed.** - Visit [NYC Health + Hospitals](https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/covid-19-testing-sites/) for testing, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. - Note that the COVID-19 Express Testing clinic in Crown Heights closed permanently on July 18. COVID-19 testing is still available through NYC Health + Hospitals. - Purchase a test at your local pharmacy or a trusted online retailer. - If you test positive, you may be eligible for treatment. [Treatment works best the sooner you begin](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-whensick.page), so it is important to get tested and seek care right away.  ### Stay Home If Sick - Take steps to protect others at home. Visit [COVID-19: When You Are Sick](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-whensick.page) for more information.  ### Wash Your Hands - Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. ## People at Increased Risk of Severe Illness People at increased risk of severe illness — who are more likely to require hospitalization if they get COVID-19 — need to be especially careful. If you are at increased risk for severe illness, treatment is available. Among adults, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. For example, people in their 50s are at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 40s. Similarly, people in their 60s or 70s are, in general, at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 50s. People of any age with certain underlying health conditions are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19: - [People at High Risk of Severe Illness (NYSDOH)](https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/prevention-symptoms#people-at-high-risk-of-severe-illness) ### Racial/Ethnic Groups Long-standing systemic health and social inequities — such as in education, employment, housing and health care access — have put people from some racial and ethnic groups (including Black, Latino and Indigenous people) at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19. Studies have shown that people from some racial and ethnic groups are dying from COVID-19 at younger ages. 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The best way to protect yourself and those around you from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. [Learn more about the benefits of vaccination](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page#bens). ## Prevention Tips  ### Get Vaccinated - COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for people ages 6 months and older. - Visit the [NYC Health Map](https://a816-health.nyc.gov/NYCHealthMap/Vaccines) to find a vaccination site. - [COVID-19: Vaccine](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page)  ### Wear a Mask - Always wear a mask if you're sick and unable to separate from others, and for 5 days after you leave home once you start feeling better, as you still may be contagious. - Always wear a mask for 10 days after being exposed to someone who has COVID-19. - Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor public settings, such as on public transit, at large events, and when shopping in crowded stores, especially when COVID-19 levels increase. - Consider wearing a mask if you are at high risk for severe COVID-19 or are around others who are. - Wear a high-quality mask, such as a KN95, KF94 or N95, for the best protection from COVID-19.  ### Get Tested - **Get tested if you have symptoms or were recently exposed.** - Visit [NYC Health + Hospitals](https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/covid-19-testing-sites/) for testing, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. - Note that the COVID-19 Express Testing clinic in Crown Heights closed permanently on July 18. COVID-19 testing is still available through NYC Health + Hospitals. - Purchase a test at your local pharmacy or a trusted online retailer. - If you test positive, you may be eligible for treatment. [Treatment works best the sooner you begin](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-whensick.page), so it is important to get tested and seek care right away.  ### Stay Home If Sick - Take steps to protect others at home. Visit [COVID-19: When You Are Sick](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-whensick.page) for more information.  ### Wash Your Hands - Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. ## People at Increased Risk of Severe Illness People at increased risk of severe illness — who are more likely to require hospitalization if they get COVID-19 — need to be especially careful. If you are at increased risk for severe illness, treatment is available. Among adults, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. For example, people in their 50s are at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 40s. Similarly, people in their 60s or 70s are, in general, at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 50s. People of any age with certain underlying health conditions are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19: - [People at High Risk of Severe Illness (NYSDOH)](https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/prevention-symptoms#people-at-high-risk-of-severe-illness) ### Racial/Ethnic Groups Long-standing systemic health and social inequities — such as in education, employment, housing and health care access — have put people from some racial and ethnic groups (including Black, Latino and Indigenous people) at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19. Studies have shown that people from some racial and ethnic groups are dying from COVID-19 at younger ages. People of color are often younger when they develop chronic medical conditions and may be more likely to have more than one condition.