COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)

What you need to know now:

• Vaccine: The vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from COVID-19. Click here for more information, including frequently asked questions and where to access vaccine.
• Prevention: Get vaccinated. Wear a mask and practice physical distancing if you are not fully vaccinated (two weeks after your second dose of a two-dose vaccine; two weeks after a one-dose vaccine)
• Travel Guidance: If you choose to travel domestically or internationally, we strongly encourage that you get vaccinated and take increased measures to protect yourself and those around you. Before you travel, make sure to check state or local travel restrictions and do some research to learn whether COVID-19 is prominent in that area. 
• Symptoms: Symptoms to watch for are fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. 
• Exposure: If you have not been fully vaccinated and have been in close contact to a known positive case of COVID-19, you will need to self-quarantine. Self-quarantine means staying at home and away from others for 10 days from your last known contact with a positive individual. This quarantine period can be shortened to 7 days if the individual does not have symptoms, is tested after day 5 of quarantine, and receives a negative test result. More details about quarantine available at health.springfieldmo.gov/quarantine
  A close contact is defined as someone who comes within six feet of a COVID-19 positive individual for at least 15 cumulative minutes. A close contact also includes someone who has physically come in contact with a person who has tested positive, regardless of the amount of time. 
• Testing: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and need to be tested, you should contact your healthcare provider via virtual care or phone. Visit health.springfieldmo.gov/testing for more information and other testing options.