Report a Positive Home Test
If you have taken an at home test and it was positive, please complete a Positive Home Test Report. There is no need to call if you complete this form unless you have specific questions that you need answered. If you have questions about reporting or need to speak to someone please call (573)335-7846 and ask for a contact tracer.
| Positive Home Test Report |
Vaccines
The best way to keep you and your community safe is to get vaccinated. The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center is now vaccinating ages 6 months and up.
We realize recommendations change. Illustrated here are guidelines per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) but we recommend personal due diligence to ensure you have the most up to date information. As always if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your healthcare provider about COVID-19 vaccination and their safety and effectiveness.
The FDA requires that vaccine recipients or their caregivers are provided with vaccine-specific information to help make an informed decision about vaccination. This information can be found in fact sheets that are available via the FDA's website at: COVID-19 Vaccines.
COVID-19 Vaccination information and recommendations can be found at the link on CDC's website at: COVID-19 Vaccination Clinical & Professional Resources.
The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center offers the following vaccine options (by appointment):
- Ages 6 months-5: Moderna – administered Thursdays 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm by appointment
- Ages 5-11: Pfizer, Moderna – administered Thursdays 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm by appointment
- Ages 12-17: Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax – administered daily 8:30 am - 4:00 pm by appointment
- Ages 18+: Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax – administered daily 8:30 am - 4:00 pm by appointment
To schedule your vaccine, please contact us. If your child ages 5-11 is a Rural Health Clinic patient, please call 573-335-2229 for an appointment.
| (573) 335-7846 |
Tests
The most effective strategies to protect ourselves against COVID continue to include getting vaccinated and staying up-to-date with boosters, testing if you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, isolating if you test positive, and wearing a mask if you are in an area with a high COVID-19 Community Level.
Anyone with any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection. Make sure you test at the right time by following this guidance:
- If you have symptoms, test immediately.
- If you were exposed to COVID-19 and do not have symptoms, wait at least 5 full days after your exposure before testing for a more accurate result.
- If you are in certain high-risk settings, you may need to test as part of a screening recommended by the host or venue.
- Consider testing before contact with someone at high risk for severe COVID-19, especially if you are in an area with a medium or high COVID-19 Community Level.
For information on available test options, click the button below.
| Testing Information |
Quarantine & Isolation
The CDC updated recommendations for quarantine (staying away from others when you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 – also known as "exposure") and isolation (staying away from others when you test positive for COVID-19). The recommendations for quarantine and isolation no longer differ by vaccination status.
If you are exposed to COVID-19:
- The CDC no longer recommends quarantine if you are exposed.
- Wear a mask for 10 full days. As soon as you find out you were exposed, start counting as Day 1 (the first full day of your last exposure). You can develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.
- Get tested on Day 6. Even if you don't develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure.
- If you test negative: you can end your isolation, however, continue taking precautions until day 10.
- If you test positive: isolate immediately.
For the latest guidance or to learn more, please check the CDC's If You Were Exposed information.
If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home.
You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.
- Take appropriate precautions if you must be around others at home and in public.
- Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. For travel guidance, see CDC’s Travel webpage.
- Do not travel.
- Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
- Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
- Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
- Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
- Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
For the latest guidance or to learn more, please check the CDC's Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19.
For an easy tool to determine if you need to isolate, quarantine, or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID-19 to others, click the button below. This can help to protect your loved ones and community.
| Quarantine & Isolation Calculator |
Information
The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center aims to prevent illness, prolong life, and improve and protect the health of the people in our community. One way to do this is to help you stay informed on the state of COVID-19 in our county.
On Friday, April 1, 2022, Missouri transitioned to a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic response—managing it as an endemic. To reflect this change, the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (MODHSS) will update a new Missouri Weekly COVID-19 Activity Report each Tuesday. It highlights specific data that helps measure the impact and severity of COVID-19. Please check that website to determine community risk level.
Protecting Self & Others
The CDC provides valuable ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 (and variants).
The CDC uses layered prevention strategies to help prevent severe illness and reduce the potential for strain on the healthcare system. Know your COVID-19 Community Level for the latest guidance.
| COVID-19 Community Level |
