Ten Basic Things You Can Do To Help Stop The Spread

1. Stay at home. Only go out for necessities. Limit trips. What does this mean? While we cannot possibly outline everything that may be considered a necessity, here are a few examples:

A. Food- Buy food you can prepare at home. Buy enough to last a week. Do not make trips to the store daily. Make a list. Plan meals ahead. Not only will this help to stop the spread but it will also save you money now and in the future as you develop new habits as well as give you the opportunity to eat healthier which will also strengthen your immune system.

B. Medicine- It is recommended that you do not let medicines get critically low. Pharmacies and doctors will work with you to insure you get your needed medications. If you need medicine to keep you healthy go to your pharmacy.

C. Work- Many of you do work in what are being called essential jobs. If there is any option for you to work from home, do so. If you must continue to go to work be sure to use the precautions in this document to insure the safety of everyone.

D. Any other necessary things- What does that mean? This is where you have to take time to make a decision. Ask yourself these questions before making that trip out: Do I really need this or do I just want this? Is there another option to get this done that I can do without going out? Is this worth taking the chance of contracting or spreading the virus or possibly dying for? If you ask yourselves these questions and honestly determine you need to get out then do so.

• Avoid touching your face! The 3 main entry points are the eyes, nose and mouth. By avoiding touching your face you reduce the risk of spread from your hands.
• Wash your hands! It has been determined that soap and water kills this virus. Wash for at least 20 seconds making sure to clean all areas of your hands and wrists. Keep fingernails short and clean.
• Stay the recommended 6 feet away from others if you must be out.
•  Pay attention to what you touch and how you touch it. Limiting the use of your hands while touching objects such a door knobs will decrease the surface area you expose yourself to. Use two fingers instead of your entire hand. Sanitize or wash your hands after touching surfaces.
• If you feel sick and/or have a temperature stay home! Even if you have a legitimate reason for getting out, don’t. Have groceries, medicine, etc delivered and dropped off outside your door.

It is not worth the chance of spreading the virus if you have it. Even if it is not the virus, if you are sick your immune system is already taxed and that makes you more susceptible to contracting the virus.

• If you are sick and need to see a doctor please call first. Do not show up to the ER or Clinic unannounced. They will give you directions on what you need to do when you call.
• If you need emergency services please stay on the line and answer all questions honesty. This will allow responders to give you the best possible care while protecting you and themselves from a possible exposure.
• Slow down and think before you act. These basic things are not a part of our normal lives and will require a conscious effort to follow.
• This list is not all inclusive but serves to offer some basic suggestions to help Slow the Spread. A positive outcome depends primarily on the steps you as an individual take to prevent the spread! We can get through this together!

JEFFERSON CITY, MO -The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) activated a statewide public hotline for citizens or providers needing guidance regarding the novel corona-virus, or COVID-19. At 8 a.m. today, the hotline opened and can be reached at 877-435-8411. The hotline is being operated by medical professionals and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
"Communication is vital to our response to this rapidly-evolving situation," said Dr. Randall Williams, director of DHSS. 

Below are links to the COVID Response and Rumor Control pages FEMA has set up to help improve COVID communications. Feel free to share with your partners and use in any of your messaging/responses. COVID-19 RESPONSE PAGE ENGLISH: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus 
SPANISH: https://www.fema.gov/es/coronavirus 
RUMOR CONTROL PAGE: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control 

We would like to ask the public to refrain from calling the Bates County Sheriff, Butler Police Department and other law enforcement agencys, regarding the COVID-19/Corona-virus Pandemic. Please check this website, or our Facebook page (Bates County MO Emergency Management Agency), or the local Bates County Health Center (Facebook – Bates County Health Center) page and the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) for statistics and instructions on managing the current health crisis that is affecting everyone worldwide. Note – our office is not currently occupied 24/7, phone calls may not be answered right away.