Ozark County Health Department
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The governor has announced how the first phase of reopening Missouri will look when it begins May 4.
**** (JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – During today’s COVID-19 briefing, Governor Mike Parson announced the first phase of the “Show Me Strong Recovery” Plan outlining how Missouri will gradually begin to reopen economic and social activity on Monday, May 4, 2020.
Governor Parson was
joined by Missouri
Hospital Association
President and CEO Herb
Kuhn, MO HealthNet
Director Todd
Richardson, Missouri
Department of Economic
Development Director Rob
Dixon, Missouri
Department of Health and
Senior Services (DHSS)
Director Dr. Randall
Williams, and Missouri
Department of Public
Safety Director Sandy
Karsten. Resting on four essential pillars, the “Show Me Strong Recovery” Plan is intended to protect those most at risk of exposure to COVID-19 while returning Missouri to a new normal:
Expand testing capacity
and volume in the state During phase one of the plan, citizens may begin returning to economic and social activities but must adhere to social distancing requirements, including maintaining six feet of space between individuals in most cases. There are currently no limitations on social gatherings as long as necessary precautions are taken and six feet of distance can be maintained between individuals and/or families. Additionally, all businesses can be open provided that the social distancing guidelines set forth in the new health order are followed. Some businesses will be required to take additional precautions to protect their employees and the public, such as occupancy limits at retail locations. “All of Missouri’s businesses, employers, and employees are vital to our state’s economy and well-being,” Governor Parson said. “Opening these businesses is going to look very different for awhile, but I’m confident Missourians will abide by the guidelines as we move forward.” This will be a deliberate and data-driven process that allows for flexibility based on changing situations. Some communities may be able to reopen at a faster rate than others. Local officials will have the authority to put further rules, regulations, or ordinances in place so long as they are not inconsistent with the statewide order. Even as Missouri gradually reopens, citizens are encouraged to continue taking precautions to protect themselves and others:
Stay home if sick
Implement basic
infection prevention
measures informed by
industry best practices For more information on the “Show Me Strong Recovery” Plan, please visit ShowMeStrong.Mo.Gov. To view the full public health order and additional guidelines for businesses, communities, and citizens, please see attachments. These documents will also be available on Governor Parson’s website, the DHSS website, and the Show Me Strong Recovery website.
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (4/6/2020)
“STAY HOME MISSOURI” ORDER
GUIDANCE AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS To further combat the spread of COVID-19 in
Missouri, Governor Parson directed Dr. Randall Williams,
Director of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services,
to issue a Stay at Home Order which is effective April 6, 2020. This Order directs all Missourians to avoid
leaving their residences unless necessary and to practice social
distancing when they need to travel outside their homes to work,
access foods, prescriptions, health care, and other necessities,
or to engage in an outdoor activity.
This Order does not
require all businesses statewide to close or cease operation.
Here
are some examples of things you can do under this order:
·
Go to grocery, convenience, or
warehouse stores
·
Go to the pharmacy to pick up
medications and other healthcare necessities
·
Go to medical appointments (check
with your doctor or provider first)
·
Go to a restaurant for take-out,
delivery, or drive-thru
·
Go to a place of worship – just
make sure that no more than 10 people are in any single space at
one time and keep 6 feet of distance between you and others
·
Take a walk, ride your bike,
hike, fish, hunt, golf and be in nature for exercise – just keep
six feet of distance between you and others
·
Receive deliveries from any
business which delivers
Individuals shall not do the following things:
·
Visit state office buildings that
are closed to the public
·
Stand closer than 6 feet of
distance from others
·
Visit loved ones in nursing
homes, long term care facilities, and assisted living homes,
unless you are providing critical assistance
Do
work places that do not qualify as “essential” businesses have
to close? No.
Businesses that are not covered by the guidance from
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity &
Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) discussed in the
Order may remain open but must comply with the social gathering
and social distance requirements of the Order.
This means that no more than 10 individuals can occupy a
single space, this includes both employees and customers.
Individuals must also
maintain at least 6 feet
of distance between themselves and others. Employees must also
practice good hygiene and sanitation to limit the spread of
COVID-19. Businesses are also encouraged to allow
individuals, where feasible, to work from home to achieve
optimum isolation. Businesses can seek a waiver of the social
gathering requirements from the Director of the Department of
Economic Development.
What
businesses are “essential” under this Order?
The Order refers businesses to guidance
by CISA to assist them in determining whether the work their
employees do is considered “essential” during the COVID-19
response period. Some
examples include, but are not limited to:
·
Healthcare workers and caregivers
·
Law enforcement, fire fighters, and first responders
·
Government operations
·
Mental health and Social Service workers
·
Pharmacy employees
·
Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies and other retail
sales of food and beverage products
·
Restaurant carryout and quick-serve food operations and
food delivery employees
·
Farmworkers
·
Electricity and Utility Industry Employees
·
Critical Manufacturing Employees (medical supply chains,
energy, transportation, food, chemicals)
·
Petroleum, Natural and Propane Gas Workers
·
Transportation and Logistics Workers
·
Communications and Information Technology Employees
Workplaces that qualify as essential under the guidance may
remain open. Workers onsite should take all necessary
precautions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, including
practicing social distancing except when performance of job
duties require otherwise.
Are there restrictions on essential businesses?
Yes. Workplaces that
qualify as essential under CISA guidelines and are engaged in
retail sales to the public must limit the number of customers in
each retail location to the following standards based on the
workplace’s fire or building code occupancy:
·
For smaller locations (less than 10,000 square
feet), they must maintain 25 percent or less of the authorized
occupancy;
·
For larger locations (10,000 square feet or
greater), they must maintain 10 percent or less of the
authorized occupancy.
Employees at the workplace and vendors delivering products into
the store are not included in this calculation and do not count
toward occupancy limitations.
Are grocery
stores considered a business “engaged in retail sales to the
public”?
Yes, and such store is subject to the occupancy
limitations in the Order.
Grocery stores are strongly encouraged to
set aside hours, outside of regular store hours, to allow third-party
grocery delivery services to provide grocery shopping services
for their customers. This will allow individual shoppers to shop
during regular store hours, and reduce congestion during such
times. This will further allow such services to function in an
environment where their services may be in excessive demand.
Shoppers at all retail stores are also encouraged, when
possible, to limit the number of people shopping in stores to 1
person per household at any one time. This will better enable
all families to access necessary goods in grocery stores, and
further reduce the number of individuals necessary to access
such goods.
My local
jurisdiction does not have a building or fire code. Do the
limitations on square footage apply to my retail business?
Yes. If your business is not subject to fire or building
code occupancy limitations set by your local jurisdiction, you
should calculate your occupancy limits based on the following
formula:
For a business
with a retail location less than 10,000 square feet:
A. Building Square Feet divided by 30 = Quotient
B. Quotient x .25 = Occupancy Limit
For a business
with the retail location of 10,000 square feet or more:
A. Building Square Feet divided by 30 = Quotient
B. Quotient x .10 = Occupancy Limit
Examples:
A 40,000 square foot grocery store would be able to have
133 customers in the store at any one time.
An 8,000 square foot retail store would be able to have 66
customers in the store at any one time. My local fire or building
code occupancy limitation calculation is lower than that allowed
for businesses without any fire or building code limits, or is
lower than a neighboring jurisdictions fire or building code
limitations. Can I apply the same formula for calculating
occupancy for my business as those without a code?
Yes. You may use either the calculation set forth above
for businesses without a fire or building code occupancy
limitation, or the calculation applied to your business based
upon your specific local jurisdiction fire and building code
occupancy limitation, whichever is greater.
Example:
My 30,000 square foot retail business has a local
jurisdiction fire or building occupancy limitation of 700
people. Using the formula allowing only 10% of the local
jurisdiction, I would be able to have 70 customers in my store
at any one time. For an identical business without a local fire
or occupancy limitation, they would be able to have 100
customers in their store at any one time. Under this guidance,
you may have up to 100 customers in your store at any one time.
My 6,000 square foot retail business has a local
jurisdiction fire or building occupancy limitation of 150
people. Using the formula allowing only 25% of the local
jurisdiction, I would be able to have 37 customers in my store
at any one time. For an identical business without a local fire
or occupancy limitation, they would be able to have 50 customers
in their store at any one time. Under this guidance, you may
have up to 50 customers in your store at any one time.
Can childcare places continue operations?
Yes. Daycares, child care providers, or schools providing child
care for working families can continue operations but should
follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
guidance targeted for those operations.
Do restaurants have to close?
No. Restaurants
can be open for delivery, drive-thru, or carryout services as
long as the other requirements of the Order are being followed
and individuals are encouraged to use those options. Restaurants
may provide dine-in services, but can only have 10 people or
less within the restaurant for dining service and shall maintain
at least 6 feet of distance between all individuals that are not
family members. The 10 person limitation includes both employees
and customers together.
How
will this order be enforced? The State is working with local health
authorities to support the order.
Local health authorities and law enforcement maintain the
same jurisdiction and authority they have always had. Can my local health authority impose more restrictive requirements? Yes.
This Order establishes the minimum requirements that must
be complied with statewide.
Local health authorities may enforce more restrictive
public health requirements for businesses or individuals.
When
is the Stay at Home order going to be lifted? The Stay at Home order is in place until
late evening on Friday April 24, 2020.
The Order will be re-evaluated before it expires to make
sure it does not need to be restricted or extended.
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (4/2/2020) Thursday night information: as of this time, we have not received any positive cases. Let's continue to be proactive and self shelter meaning stay home, you should only be out for essential reasons, groceries, pharmacy, gas and if you are still working at job if allowed. Remember social distancing 6 feet. Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at 60%alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Stay home if you are sick. Cover coughs and sneezes using your elbow or shoulder rather than your hands. Clean and disinfect high-touched surfaces frequently. If you suspect that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, call your healthcare provider to let them know before seeking care, this is critical. Please follow all instructions they have provided for arriving at a healthcare facility. The 24/7 hotline 877-435-8411 Please stay home and stay healthy, Rhonda
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (4/1/2020) Wednesday night information: as of this time, we have not received any positive cases. Let's continue to self shelter, self distancing, stay home if you are sick and wash your hands. We can do this!
Stay healthy,
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (03/23/2020)
Today at
3 p.m., Governor Parson gave his daily media briefing with
opening remarks by discussing an order from Dr. Randall
Williams, Director of Department of Health & Senior
Services,that will go in effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March
23.
Local
public health authorities are being directed to carry out and
enforce the provisions of this Order by means of civil
proceedings. Provisions of this order are outlined below.
1.
In
accordance with the guidelines from the President and the
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, every person in the
State of Missouri shall avoid social gatherings of more than ten
(10) people. For purposes of this Order, “social gatherings”
shall mean any planned or spontaneous event or convening that
would bring together more than ten (10) people in a single space
at the same time.
2.
In
accordance with the guidelines from the President and the
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, every person in the
State of Missouri shall avoid eating or drinking at restaurants,
bars, or food courts; provided, however, that the use of
drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options is allowed throughout
the duration of this Order.
3.
In
accordance with the guidelines from the President and the
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, people shall not
visit nursing homes, long-term care facilities, retirement
homes, or assisted living homes unless to provide critical
assistance.
4.
In
accordance with the guidelines from the President and the
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, schools shall remain
closed.
This
Order does not prohibit people from visiting a variety of
places, including grocery stores, gas stations, parks, and
banks, so long as necessary precautions are taken and maintained
to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, including maintaining at
least six feet (6’) of distance between all individuals that are
not family members. For offices and workplaces that remain open,
individuals shall practice good hygiene and, where feasible,
work from home in order to achieve optimum isolation from
COVID-19. The more that people reduce their public contact, the
sooner COVID-19 will be contained and the sooner this Order will
expire.
This
Order shall be in effect beginning 12:01 A.M. Monday, March 23,
2020, and shall remain in effect until 12:01 A.M. Monday, April
6, 2020, unless extended by further order of the Director of the
Department of Health and Senior Services with said extensions
not to exceed the duration of the effective period of
Executive Order 20-02 (May 15, 2020).
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (03/20/2020)
Subject:
Strategies
to Slow Coronavirus Spread in Ozark County
Contact:
Rhonda
Suter, Administrator; Brenda Hambelton, R.N.
There is a lot of information going around about the Corona Virus (Covid 19). Some of the information is true and some is not. There are a lot of rumors that are spread in these situations.
It is important that people remain calm.
If you are tested for Covid 19 you need to self-isolate after
the testing and use good infection prevention practices. Wash
your hands for at least 20 seconds, frequently. Avoid touching
your face. Don’t share household items or bathrooms if possible.
Clean your environment frequently to prevent spread.
It is important that everyone use good hand washing – at least
20 seconds, cover your cough, if you are sick stay home.
We will get through this, it will take time. But you can do your
part to shorten the time by following the recommendations to
limit gatherings to 10 people or less. The sooner that we can
get the spread of Covid 19 under control the sooner we will be
able to get back to life as normal.
Let’s all work together to keep Ozark County safe and healthy.
Let’s stay calm. Call your family and neighbors to check on
them. Do your part to stop the spread of Covid 19.
Thank-you all for your help,
Brenda Hambelton, RN
Ozark County Health Department
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (03/17/2020)
Subject:
Strategies
to Slow Coronavirus Spread in Ozark County
Contact:
Rhonda
Suter, Administrator; Brenda Hambelton, R.N.
Ozark
County, Mo. - Around Missouri communities are working to slow
the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19. Some are canceling
events and closing schools. The Ozark County Health Department
understands the community is concerned and may be confused about the
best way to prevent the pandemic from spreading locally. “It is very difficult at this point to know
when the pandemic will reach our community and when is the best time
to start canceling events and closing schools,” says administrator
Rhonda Suter. “We want to get ahead of the pandemic and slow its
spread, but we also want to work with our partners to make the best
possible decisions for our community.” The Health Department is following guidance
from the CDC and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
(DHSS) to make local recommendations. “Regardless of whether events are canceled or
schools are closed, our community members can be taking simple steps
to help protect themselves and our whole community,” adds Rhonda.
“Wash hands often with soap and water. Avoid touching the face with
unclean hands. Keep a distance from people who are sick. Stay home
when sick and keep sick children home from school or daycare.” The CDC agrees these are the best ways to slow
the spread of the coronavirus, which is passed from person to person
on droplets from a sick person’s cough or sneeze. These droplets
travel through the air where they are breathed in by another person,
or they land on surfaces or items that another person touches.
Keeping a distance of at least 8 feet from someone sick and washing
hands often helps prevent this virus from spreading. “Since the virus is new and our bodies have no
immunity to it, we know that it will likely spread quickly through
our community, once it arrives,” says Rhonda. “We can slow down that
spread by staying home when sick, washing hands and wiping down
contaminated surfaces with a bleach wipe.” The Health Department also urges anyone who may
have symptoms of the coronavirus – a fever over 100.4°
F, a cough, shortness of breath, or a sore throat – to call the
Missouri hotline at 877-435-8411 or call their healthcare provider
before going in to the doctor’s office. The hotline can ask
screening questions to determine the actual likelihood that they
symptoms are COVID-19 rather than seasonal flu or a cold. The
doctor’s office can prepare before a person’s arrival, so that if it
is COVID-19, the patient doesn’t spread it to others in the waiting
room. The CDC reports that some people with COVID-19
will have a very mild illness. Others may be sick, but not have any
symptoms at all. A few people in every community, though, will be at
higher risk of getting
very sick, and even dying. Older adults and
people of all ages with severe chronic medical conditions like heart
disease, lung disease, or diabetes so far have been at higher risk
of developing serious illness with COVID-19. “We have people in our community who are at
higher risk of getting seriously ill with COVID-19,” adds Rhonda.
“That’s why we have to be very thoughtful about the decisions we
make, maybe even canceling events and closing schools before we
absolutely have to, in an effort to protect these members of our
community – our friends and neighbors. We trust everyone in our
community wants to do the same.” To learn more about COVID-19, visit the CDC
website at
bit.ly/about-COVID,
or the Missouri DHSS website at
bit.ly/COVID-MO. ###
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