Springfield-Greene County Health Department advises against spring break travel

 

(From the Springfield-Greene County Health Department)

With spring break on the horizon, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department encourages individuals to delay travel and stay close to home to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Department urges caution when traveling as new outbreaks can surge if people do not remain vigilant.

“Even if you’ve been fully vaccinated, travel is not recommended as we continue to be concerned about COVID-19 variants in other parts of the country,” said Acting Director of Health Katie Towns. “We urge everyone to weigh the risks before making travel plans – we’ve come too far in our fight against COVID-19 to backtrack and let our guard down.”

If you must travel, the Health Department encourages individuals to take steps to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 – such as wearing a mask, watching your distance and washing your hands – and getting tested for COVID-19 one to three days before and three to five days after travel.

For a list of testing options in Greene County, click here. You may also coordinate testing with the Health Department by calling our COVID-19 call center at (417) 874-1211.

Additionally, individuals considering travel are encouraged to take our Risk Assessment Quiz which is designed to help you consider the level of risk of activities and make a more informed decision about how you can reduce your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.

If you must travel, lower your risks by:
Traveling by car or RV with limited or no stops
Traveling with members of your direct household
Getting fully vaccinated prior to traveling (if eligible)
Wearing a mask
Participating in outdoor activities at your destination that allow you to maintain six feet of physical distancing
Preparing your own food at your destination

The risk assessment quiz along with additional travel guidance can be found at health.springfieldmo.gov/COVIDtravel

The CDC has also developed a COVID-19 Travel Planner that allows individuals to access important COVID-19 information before traveling to different cities and states across the U.S.

All individuals -- including those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 -- should continue to take proper precautions when around unvaccinated people who are at high risk of severe illness, when in public and when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple other households.

Eligible individuals are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Currently, our community is vaccinating individuals with certain high-risk conditions and individuals 65 and older. Appointments are being made available regularly through several organizations. A list of organizations can be found at health.springfieldmo.gov/COVIDvaccine. Please keep in mind that slots do fill up quickly. If you qualify to receive a vaccine and have any issues with scheduling an appointment, contact the health department’s COVID-19 call center at (417) 874-1211.

If individuals have questions, they are welcome to contact the Health Department’s COVID-19 hotline at (417) 874-1211 or by email at coronavirus@springfieldmo.gov.