FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
At tonight’s meeting, City Council will consider a resolution that provides the framework provided by the Springfield-Greene County Health Department for safely reducing the City’s COVID-19 restrictions in a phased step-out plan. Tune in to the meeting live at 6:30 p.m. at cityview.springfieldmo.gov or on the City’s Facebook page at @CityofSGF.
The framework comprises of three key indicators:
- The rolling seven-day average of the Greene County COVID-19 case count
- The number of COVID-19 patients in Springfield hospitals
- The percentage of Greene County citizens 16 and over fully vaccinated.
The indicators will be evaluated for 28-day timeframes, or two incubation periods and are coded red, yellow and green. These recommendations will be limited to when seven-day averages are below the threshold for at least 80% (23 days), and the rise of the seven-day average into the higher threshold does not exceed 20% (five days) of total evaluation period (28 days). The evaluation period will be a rolling 28 days and should be adjusted accordingly in the case that more than five days are above the threshold.
Moving from red to yellow to green will be a stepwise approach, with a goal that all three conditions be met to move from one phase to the next. However, the minimum expectation will be that two of the three conditions are met with the third condition showing strong progress toward being met.
The framework is built on recommendations from national experts, local advisors and the capacity we expect to have as a community going forward. This includes guidance from the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and local health care partners.
“We have reached a point where the end is in sight, where we can start to relax and breathe a sigh of relief. But while we’re close, we still have more of this race to run,” said Acting Director of Health Katie Towns. “We have to take steps cautiously so that we don't ruin all that we have accomplished to keep our community safe and protect one another. We are nearing this finish line, but we will have to Finish Strong.”
The City is currently in the red phase. Before the current ordinance requiring masking, physical distancing and occupancy restrictions in public spaces expires April 9, the council is likely to meet to either extend the current restrictions if needed, or vote on a new ordinance to move into the yellow phase.
Yellow phase
- Rolling average of fewer than 40 new cases each day
- Fewer than 50 people hospitalized with COVID-19
- 25% of Greene County residents 16 and older vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Masking required
- No occupancy restrictions or physical distancing requirements, except with mass gatherings of 500 or more people. More than 500 would be allowed at 50% capacity if people will be within 6 feet of the same people for 15 minutes or more. If event organizers can assure that distancing can be maintained during the event, then the occupancy limitation does not apply.
Green phase
- Rolling average of fewer than 20 new cases each day
- Fewer than 20 people hospitalized with COVID-19
- 50% of Greene County residents 16 and older vaccinated against COVID-19
- No restrictions.
The Health Department’s COVID-19 dashboard is updated daily, Monday through Friday, so anyone can see the current status and track the progress being made toward the next phases.
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For more information, please contact Cora Scott at 417-380-3352 or [email protected].