COVID-19 COVID-19 General Information Well But WorriedIt's natural right now to be worried about your health and the health of your loved ones even if you're not experiencing symptoms. Continuing to take everyday precautions is essential.Recommended PrecautionsAvoid close contact with people who are sick.Clean your hands often. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or having been in a public place. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places (elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc.). Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs. Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (i.e., tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks and cell phones).Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.Being High-RiskFor those in high-risk categories: The illness seems to affect high-risk individuals particularly hard. People in those groups should start taking action now to limit activity around big groups of people. We recommend staying at home as often as possible to reduce the potential for exposure. In regard to COVID-19, people considered high risk include:Adults over the age of 60People who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease and cancerA chronic medical condition in this scenario would include any condition that lasts more than six months and limits daily activities or requires ongoing monitoring or treatment. These groups have been identified because of the significantly higher fatality rate associated with this illness. People who match these criteria should take enhanced precautions to get ready now for COVID-19. View more information from Springfield - Greene County Health Department.Keeping You SafeWe're committed to keeping our high-risk patients safe. If you have upcoming appointments to get care and manage chronic medical conditions, know that we're taking the necessary precautions. Some of our safety measures include:Social distancing in our clinicsUniversal masking of health care workersInformation for ParentsChildren age 5 or older are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccinationTalk to your child's pediatrician about scheduling a vaccination for your child.Teach children to help prevent the spreadYour child can help stop the spread of COVID-19 by taking many of the same precautions everyone should take:Avoid contact with people who are sickKeep children home when they're sickTeach children to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue and to throw the tissue awayWash hands oftenClean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objectsStress and mental health during an outbreakThe outbreak of COVID-19 is stressful for a lot of people, and this anxiety can affect children as well as adults. Children and teens pick up on cues from the adults around them, so it's important for parents and caregivers to deal with COVID-19 calmly. Some changes in your child that indicate stress or anxiety include:Excessive crying or irritabilityRegression toward childish behaviors they had outgrownExcessive worry or sadnessUnhealthy eating or sleeping habitsDifficulty with attention and concentrationAvoidance of activities they used to enjoyUnexplained headaches or body painUse of alcohol, tobacco or other drugsSupport and reassure your children by keeping them informed as relevant, answering their questions, limiting exposure to news coverage or social media focused on the outbreak and keeping up with routines as much as possible.