Nearly one year since the first COVID-19 case in Greene County, Springfield City Council began discussions of what comes next in the Road to Recovery. With case counts trending downward, hospitalizations decreasing and vaccination rates increasing, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department is proposing what future phases of the city’s Road…
Author: Kathryn Wall, Health Department, for SGFNN
Although it’s a decades-old public health practice, contact tracing and its role in reducing the spread of disease has become a hot topic while our community, our state and the nation battle COVID-19. The term “contact tracing” has been used during this pandemic as a catch-all for the disease investigation…
Since April 2019, there have been more than 115 cases of hepatitis A in Greene County. Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus and is easily spread through person-to-person contact, like eating or drinking after someone, sharing a cigarette, or sexual contact. It…
Flu season is just around the corner and the best method of protection – not to mention one of the easiest – is the flu vaccine. Opportunities for adults who are uninsured to get a no-cost flu shot begin next week. This is thanks to the Springfield Flu Coalition –…
It’s the summer season for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department. That marks the start of two warm-weather surveillance programs: stream water testing and heat-related illness. Stream Testing To provide information on the quality of water in local lakes and streams, the Health Department partners with the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks…
In light of increasing flu numbers — during a time where weekly counts generally decrease — the Springfield-Greene County Health Department is reminding residents of the best ways to prevent flu. Flu vaccine is our best protection against the flu virus, and it’s not too late to get your flu…
Flu season has officially begun, and the best method of protection—not to mention one of the easiest–is the flu vaccine. Springfield Flu Coalition’s no-cost vaccination clinics for uninsured adults began Oct. 3. Weekly updates on flu, along with historical information on past seasons, are posted at health.springfieldmo.gov/flu Uninsured adults in…
What is a Community Health Advocate? Community Health Advocates (CHAs) are trusted members of the neighborhoods they serve. CHAs build relationships with their neighbors to help them live healthier lives by connecting them to community resources and healthcare services. As a CHA for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, I conduct…
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s NEST Partnership, along with Jordan Valley Community Health Center, hosted a block party on June 30 at the Westside Public Helath Clinic on Scenic Avenue. More than 100 attendees enjoyed games, food and fun. There were many community partners at the party including Safe Kids, Springfield…
With confirmed flu cases continuing to decline in Greene County, our local healthcare community has opted to lift visitor restrictions to hospital facilities in our area. Visitor restrictions for children ages 14 and under had been implemented in December to protect against the spread of the flu during one of…