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Healthy Living During COVID-19

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of your usual routines have changed. You may find it harder to manage your health. It is more important than ever to think about staying active and eating well. Learn about managing your health during the pandemic.

New information and evidence about Covid-19 is constantly emerging. This means that recommendations can change based on recent findings or updates. Keep checking this page and the resources below to see if there are any changes to recommendations.

Find out more about staying healthy during the pandemic.

Healthy Eating During COVID-19

Healthy eating is essential to keeping your immune system strong and lowering your risk of illness and chronic disease. If you have a health condition, continue to follow any dietary recommendations from your health care provider or registered dietitian. To learn more about healthy eating, visit:

Physical Activity During COVID-19

Physical activity is an important part of overall health. It can also help you manage stress during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are staying at home and need to find ways to continue exercising. You can meet recommendations for physical activity at home without special equipment or a large space. To learn more about staying active, visit:

Injury Prevention

Injuries are one of the leading causes of visits to the emergency room. Many of these injuries are predictable and preventable. During the pandemic, it is important to be safe while spending time indoors with family or when going outside. Doing so can reduce the chance that you or a family member will get injured. For more information on injury prevention, see:

Managing Chronic Health Conditions During COVID-19

If you have a chronic condition, it is particularly important to take care of your health. Take steps to prevent contracting COVID-19, and find out what to do if you have symptoms. Healthy eating and staying active can help you stay well and avoid complications. For information about specific chronic conditions and COVID-19, see the links below:

Alcohol Use and Other Substance Use

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased boredom, stress and anxiety for many people. These uncertain times have led some to turn to alcohol. A recent report by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSUA) discovered Canadians under the age of 54 report drinking more while at home during the pandemic. The CCSUA also provides practical advice on how to reduce the risks associated with drinking. See the following for guidance on how to manage stress and substance use during these uncertain times:

COVID-19 and Sex

The COVID-19 virus has been found in saliva, respiratory fluids, urine and feces. While the virus, known as SARS-CoV-2, hasn’t been detected in vaginal fluid, it has been detected in semen and more research is needed to determine if the virus can be transmitted sexually. The virus can be spread to people who are within 2 metres (about 6 ft) of a person who is infected when that person coughs or sneezes. It can also be passed by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face, eyes, nose, or mouth. You are your safest sex partner, and your next safest sex partner(s) is/are the person(s) you live with.

If you’re feeling fine and have no symptoms of COVID-19, you can still have sex. If you’re feeling sick, skip sex. For more information, see:

Smoking and Vaping

Smoking increases your risk of health problems such as heart disease and lung cancer. It also puts you at risk of complications from COVID-19. Quitting smoking can improve your health and reduce the chances of dying from these illnesses. To learn more about smoking, visit:

Parenting During COVID-19

Parenting during the pandemic can be challenging. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may have questions about your health and your baby’s health. Children may be bored and miss friends. They might be scared about recent changes and restrictions. Learn more about infant and maternal health and helping your children cope during the pandemic:

Last updated: May 28, 2020

The information provided in the Healthy Living During COVID-19 Health Feature has been adapted from the BCCDC: COVID-19 and Sex page, accessed May 27, 2020.