Coronavirus Health & Vaccine Information
The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing a safe working environment for employees and members, and to minimizing the potential economic and business impact of COVID-19 (the “Novel Coronavirus”) for our Chamber members.
To that end, we want to hear about how your organization is being affected by this situation, so that we can connect you with resources that can offer you assistance and share your concerns with legislators who might be able to help.
For more employer-specific information and resources on COVID-19 vaccine preparations, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit our Vaccine Resource Center for Employers.
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
Updated Tuesday, June 8, 3:45 p.m.
All phases of Missouri's COVID-19 Vaccine Plan have been activated, making all Missouri adults eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Helping Employees and Employers Stay Safe
The COVID-19 Toolkit for Businesses & Workplaces was created by the Springfield-Greene County Health Department as a guide to help your business or organization create or enhance your COVID-19 prevention and response policy. The Health Department will identify and contact people who test positive for COVID-19 and close contacts to discuss the proper steps they need to take. However, due to the volume of cases and the process of disease reporting, these calls can be delayed by several days. Often, friends, family and employers are aware of a potential exposure before the Health Department.
For this reason, employers can help stop the spread of COVID-19 within their workplaces and the community by understanding Health Department guidelines in the case of a workplace exposure. The entire toolkit can be found here.
Official Sources of Health Information
What to Do if Your Office Has a Confirmed Case
From the Springfield-Greene County Health Department:
- If you have an employee who has tested positive:
- You will be notified by the Springfield-Greene County Health Department that you have an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19.
- That employee will be required to be isolated until released by the Health Department.
- The Health Department will work with the employer to develop a list of other employees who may have had contact with the employee who tested positive.
- Any employee that met criteria for potential contact must quarantine at home for 14 days and will be contacted by the Health Department with more information.
- CDC guidelines are used to determine potential contact which is based on a definition of close contact:
- Being within approximately 6 ft of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged time such as caring for someone, living with someone, working regularly within 6 feet of someone.
- Having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (an example would be being coughed on)
- If you have an employee who is a contact of a positive COVID-19 case:
- Any employee that met criteria for potential contact must quarantine at home for 14 days and may not return to work until notified by the Health Department.
- If you have an employee who is a close contact of a person under a precautionary quarantine (as described above):
- This employee is allowed to work with no restrictions.
- If the person under precautionary quarantine becomes symptomatic, this employee will be contacted by the Health Department with further instructions.
- Click here for more information about contacts of positive COVID-19 cases