The Geary County Health Department will be closed to the public until Aug. 26 because two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The two people are isolating at home.
Those Geary County residents who are a close contact of the confirmed cases will be notified by the Health Department and should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19. They include fever, cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, diarrhea and / or shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
If symptoms develop stay home and contact your health care provider or the health department for guidance on testing. In an emergency call 911 and notify first responders that you were potentially exposed to COVID-19 and, if possible, wear a cloth face mask before they arrive.
"We are all vulnerable to this disease, " said Tammy Von Busch, Health Department Director. "COVID-19 doesn't pick and choose a specific population or profession. It can impact all of us and it is absolutely critical for every one of us to take the appropriate precautions."
Geary County Health Department implemented in May a number of precautions to safeguard the general public who were in the facility, including:
• Staff wearing masks during all interactions with the public
• Screening of staff and patients when entering the facility
• Plexiglass barrier at the front desks
• Disinfecting between patients, including the waiting room, exam rooms, chairs, and door handles.
The Health Department encourages residents to continue practicing good hand hygiene, practice social distancing and wear masks when in public settings to mitigate potential spread.