COVID-19 is a virus that is spread through the respiratory droplets of an infected person. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is through vaccination, which is available for ages 5 and up. For appointments for COVID-19 vaccines, call 660-395-4711 or request an appointment online.
If you test positive for COVID-19, self-isolate away from others so you can reduce spreading it. A health department employee will contact you for your contact investigation. No contact tracing takes place on the weekends. If you test positive on the weekend, self-isolate, and contact your close contacts, a health department employee will contact you on the next business day. If you have health concerns, contact your health care provider or urgent care; if severe, contact 911.
During the week of November 17- November 23, 2021
- 40 new cases of COVID-19
- 10 new cases were vaccinated and 1 new case was reinfection
- There have been 2,420 positive cases of COVID-19
- Currently, there are 49 active cases of COVID-19
- 0 active case is hospitalized
- There have been 22 deaths due to COVID-19 (only 20 reflected on DHSS dashboard)
Symptoms
People with COVID-19 have a wide range of symptoms that range from mild to moderate but may include
- Allergy symptoms: congested, runny nose, sneezing, eyes burning
- Nose burning, feeling like it is swollen
- Body aches – maybe even 1 certain spot on the body hurts only
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea, Vomiting, Nausea (some only symptom is Diarrhea)
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- No taste or smell
Children:
- Fever/headache maybe last 24-36 hours and then they are fine
- Vomiting and diarrhea
COVID-19 can cause a mild to moderate illness, but can be fatal and is expected to be the worst for the elderly and those with other chronic health conditions. Symptoms are expected to appear 2-14 days after being infected. Some may not experience any symptoms at all but could infect others, which is why it is important to create that social distance between yourself and others.
Older adults and those with underlying health conditions seem to be at higher risk of developing more serious complications from COVID-19. However, everyone is at risk and should remain cautious.
Testing
The Macon County Health Department does not do COVID-19 testing.
- Macon Urgent Care – 660-395-7575
- Samaritan Hospital – 660-385-8734
- CVS Pharmacy
- University Hospital (Columbia) – 573-882-4141
- Hyvee Pharmacy
*For prices, appointments, and doctor’s orders, please contact the testing facility directly
Individuals who are showing signs and symptoms should be tested and should quarantine while waiting for test results. Symptoms may take up to 14 days to show, this is why testing criteria are put into place and a person who has had possible exposure must self-quarantine for 14 days. Individuals who are fully vaccinated do not have to quarantine as long as they are not showing symptoms.
Even if you are fully vaccinated, you may be tested 5-7 days after exposure to see if you test positive.
You may be required to test for COVID-19 due to travel or to enter a facility based on vaccination status, please contact them directly to see requirements.
Social Distancing
Social distancing is a practice that keeps you at a distance from others. Social distancing helps prevent the spread of any virus, especially because someone may not know they are ill or not experiencing symptoms.
- If you are in public or around others, keep a distance (at least 6 feet) between yourself and others.
- Stay home and avoid unnecessary trips outside the home, especially when you are experiencing symptoms or are sick.
- If you or someone in your household is positive or you have had direct contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you should self-quarantine in your home for 14 days after the contact date to avoid spreading the illness to others. Symptoms can appear anytime 14 days after contact so it is important to quarantine to watch for these symptoms if you may have been exposed.
- Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds with warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
- Clean and disinfect frequently used items daily such as your phone, vehicle, kitchen, bathroom, door handles, light switches, etc.
- If you wear personal protective gear such as gloves and a mask, make sure you are removing them properly, throwing them away in the trash can, and washing your hands aft
er removal - CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) when you are around others that are not in your household, when you are sick and when someone may be sick in your household.
Learn More About Cloth Face Masks
Contact Investigation
After a positive case of COVID-19 is confirmed, the Macon County Health Department will conduct a contact investigation to determine where that person was and who was at risk of being exposed to COVID-19. Contact investigations are required under Missouri state statute 19 CSR 20-20.020 for any reportable disease including COVID-19.
A contact investigation process is this: after a positive case is confirmed, the health department will interview the infected person to collect information on where they have been and the people with whom they have been in contact. The timeline for the contact investigation begins on the date the person started showing symptoms of the virus.
The Health Department will contact every person the infected patient has been in direct contact with since starting to show symptoms. Direct contact is considered as –
- Being closer than 6 feet for 15 minutes or more over 24 hours, including but not limited to caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a healthcare waiting area with an infected person.
- Having direct contact with respiratory droplets from the infected person, such as being coughed on.
We cannot disclose the identity of the positive person due to HIPAA privacy laws.
We will let the direct contacts know they have been exposed and what symptoms to watch for – including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The direct contact will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days and to watch for symptoms. If they begin to show symptoms, they are asked to call their primary health care provider or the Macon County Health Department for further instruction.
If a person does not answer a call, we cannot leave the information on voicemails other than asking them to call the Macon County Health Department, again due to privacy laws.
We will only ask the person who had direct contact to self-quarantine, not indirect contacts which include second- or third-degree contacts. If someone is worried that they may have been exposed, they can self-quarantine as a precaution.
