The best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated and to avoid being exposed to this virus. The CDC recommends the following steps:

• Get a COVID-19 Vaccine when it is available to you.
• Wash your hands often with soup and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid close contact

Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.

Outside you home: Put 6 feet distance between yourself and people who don't live in your household.

Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus.

Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms' length) from other people.

Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others

You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.

The mask is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.

Everyone should wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don't live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. (Masks should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.)

Do not use a mask meant for a healthcare worker. Currently, surgical masks and N95 respirators are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders.

Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The mask is not a substitute for social distancing.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

• Monitor your health daily. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported - ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Temperature greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms.

If you are:

• Experiencing symptoms

• Have been in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Through the recommendation of the CDC and Four Corners Public Health Department, we ask that you call ahead before you go to a doctor's office or emergency room and tell them of your recent travel, contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and your symptoms.

Clinic 402-643-4800

Hospital 402-643-2971

Four Corners Public Health Department 1-877-337-3573

• COVID-19 testing when collected at the Family Medical Centers of Milford, Seward and Utica may either be billed by MHCS or it may be billed directly to the patient by our reference labs, Regional Pathology or Nebraska Public Health Lab. The test price billed by MHCS is $105. For information on prices that may be charged by our reference labs visit www.reglab.org or www.nphl.org.

• COVID-19 testing at Memorial Hospital is $105.  View a complete listing of Memorial Hospital Standard Charges.

• Billing Codes and Descriptions

     - CPT Code 87635: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid(DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique

     - HCPC Code U0003: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique, using high throughput technologies 

Seward County area schools, Four Corners Public Health and MHCS have collaborated together to address questions for school employees and students regarding COVID-19.  Access information by reviewing the public health recommendations for the screening, exclusion, and re-admittance fo ill students and staff for COVID-19 in schools.