So think you have COVID-19 and you want to do the responsible thing by staying home for two weeks? Well, we spoke to an expert to find out just what self-quarantining is all about.

Dr. David Holtgrave said first things first, if you believe you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, call your health care provider, do not walk-in.

"If you show up in a waiting room, there’s a possibility you could be spreading the virus to other people in the waiting room," Holtgrave said.

He said health care providers can often times asses your situation over the phone and if you give them a heads up they can be better prepared before you for the visit to the hospital. And if you need food, medication, or other things during quarantine, he said the CDC may be able to help.

"Before you go out for groceries, I would call [the CDC hotline] to see if they can help solve those issues for you," Holtgrave said.

Next, if you live with others he says disinfect everything.

"Disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and handwashing is very important," Holtgrave said.

In addition to thoroughly washing your hands, you should make sure you don’t re-contaminate any surfaces. The doctor also said, if possible, section off a space in the house just for you and if you don’t have separate eating utensils, thoroughly wash the ones you have after each use.

"If they can try to find a bedroom or bathroom in the house, they can more isolate themselves," Holtgrave said.

He said thoroughly wiping down living space during quarantine is key because the virus is transmitted through droplets from sneezing or coughing and can travel several feet and possibly remain on surfaces for hours or days.

In addition, experts have said the need to take two weeks off from work is drawing more attention to the lack of paid sick leave for workers. There are options like working from home but Blue Carreker, the New York statewide paid leave coalition facilitator, said in some cases that’s not a possibility for everyone. That’s where she says, the government needs to step in.

"We just can’t have a culture anymore that pressures people to go to work sick. So we need for not only six days passed in the budget, but we need some health emergency measures that allow for more time off," Carreker said.

Lastly, they say, don’t panic.

"Some very simple common-sense measures can go along way to curbing this epidemic," Holtgrave said.

You can find more information on CDC resorces here.