2019 Novel Coronavirus

March 12, 2020: Daily Update

March 8, 2020: Second Presumptive Case of New Coronavirus COVID-19 in Vermont

March 7, 2020: Vermont Announces First Presumptive Case of New Coronavirus COVID-19

March 6, 2020: Vermont Department of Health Laboratory Testing for Novel Coronavirus(COVID-19)

March 5, 2020: Health Officials Announce New Guidance for Travel from COVID-19 Affected Countries

March 4, 2020: Patrons of the Engine Room in White River Junction determined to not be at risk for COVID-19 

March 3, 2020: VT and NH Health Officials Working Together to Trace Contacts of NH COVID-19 Case

February 28, 2020: Vermont Continues Preparation Efforts as COVID-19 Spreads Globally

How can I protect myself?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. Person-to-person spread of the virus is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Much is still unknown about how the virus spreads. Take these everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

If you traveled to affected locations (see Guidance for Travelers on this page) within the past two weeks or have been in close contact with a person with COVID-19, and develop a fever, cough or have difficulty breathing, contact your health care provider right away.

Cleaning your hands, and recipe for hand sanitizer

CDC recommends the following for hand hygiene:

Household members should clean hands often, including immediately after removing gloves and after contact with someone who is ill, by washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol may be used. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.

Hand Sanitizer Recipe (based on recipe from the World Health Organization)

• 1 cup (250 mL) isopropyl alcohol (91%)
• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) glycerol (or other moisturizer such as aloe vera gel, warm honey or olive oil)
• 2 Tablespoons (33 mL) water

Add the ingredients in the order listed above to a clean container, mixing with a spoon. If using honey, stir until the honey is completely dissolved. Keep this mixture out of the reach of children. The final concentration of isopropyl alcohol in this mixture is 75%, so keep it away from flames.

Should I wear a face mask when I go out in public?

What does monitoring mean?

Monitoring is for people who do not have symptoms and who have traveled to affected areas. It means checking your temperature daily, watching for symptoms, and for some people, staying home.

Information for people under monitoring

This follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is subject to change. 

Household members who did not travel do not need to be monitored and do not need to stay home, unless that person develops symptoms.

Travelers Returning from most of Europe, China, Iran and South Korea

Returning travelers from China and Iran should stay home, practice social distancing and monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the United States. Social distancing means remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible. Call Health Department epidemiology and infectious disease staff at 802-863-7240 if you haven’t been in contact with them already.  If you develop symptoms:

• Call your health care provider right away.
• Before you go to an appointment, let your health care provider know that you are being monitored for novel coronavirus and your travel history.
• Call Health Department epidemiology and infectious disease staff at 802-863-7240.
• Avoid contact with others.

If you develop symptoms:

• Stay home, except for medical appointments.
• Call your health care provider.
• Before you go to an appointment, let your health care provider know that you are being monitored for novel coronavirus and your travel history.
• Call Health Department epidemiology and infectious disease staff at 802-863-7240.
• Avoid contact with others.

People in close contact with a person who tested postive for COVID-19

People who have been identified by the Health Department as a close contact to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 should stay home, practice social distancing and monitor their health for 14 days. Social distancing means remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible. The Health Department will be in contact with you regularly during the monitoring period. If you develop symptoms:

• Call your health care provider right away.
• Before you go to an appointment, let your health care provider know that you are being monitored for novel coronavirus.
• Call Health Department epidemiology and infectious disease staff at 802-863-7240.
• Avoid contact with others.

Close contact means being within six feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for a long time. This happens when caring for, being intimate partners with, living with, visiting, or sharing a health care waiting area. If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19: stay home, limit contact with others, and call Health Department Epidemiology at 802-863-7240 to discuss whether you need to see a provider and how you will monitor yourself for symptoms. When someone tests positive for COVID-19, the Health Department conducts outreach to close contacts of the individual. 

Close contact does not mean: being more than six feet away in the same indoor environment for a long period of time, walking by, or briefly being in the same room with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. In these situations, you should observe yourself for symptoms. You do not need to call the Health Department. 

Anyone who develops symptoms should stay home and call their health care provider.

You can read more about risk assessment in Table 1 and Table 2 here.

Who can get tested for COVID-19?

If you are ill, call your health care provider to find out if you should be seen for an evaluation and consideration of testing. Health care providers may decide to test the following people for COVID-19:

• A person who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and is hospitalized.
• A person – whether hospitalized or in an outpatient setting ­– who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and a travel history to an affected area or had close contact with another person who tested positive for COVID-19.
• A person who is ill and a health care provider believes their symptoms could be due to COVID-19.

Your health care provider will arrange for testing.

The state will ensure that anyone who meets the medical requirements for testing for COVID-19 can do so at no cost.

What is the turnaround time for testing?

Results from the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory will be available in 24-48 hours. Test results will be reported by the Health Department Laboratory to the hospital or clinical lab where the test was collected. Individuals should wait for their health care provider to notify them of their test results.

Should I travel within the United States?

Please see guidance from the CDC on travel within the United States. Here are some considerations:

• Is COVID-19 spreading where you're going?
• Will you or your travel companion(s) be in close contact with others during your trip?
• Are you or your travel companion(s) at higher risk of severe illness if you do get COVID-19?
• Do you have a plan for taking time off from work or school, in case you get exposed to, or are sick with, COVID-19?
• Do you live with someone who is older or has a severe chronic health condition?
• Is COVID-19 spreading where you live?

Where is it safe to travel internationally?

Guidance for international travelers, including for business, is evolving. Stay up to date on the latest COVID-19 travel advisories from CDC. This page includes information for travelers and travel related industries, including by air and by ship.

You can also check CDC's FAQs for Travelers.

I am returning from an affected area. What should I do?

If you develop symptoms of shortness of breath, cough or fever, contact your health care provider right away. 

As of March 12, 2020, travelers returning from most of Europe, China, Iran and South Korea should stay home and monitor their health for 14 days. Call Health Department epidemiology and infectious disease staff at 802-863-7240 for monitoring information. If you have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing call you your health care provider.

At this time the Health Department is not recommending closure or cancellation of mass gatherings or large events. It is reasonable for older adults and persons with underlying health conditions to consider not attending a mass gathering event. This guidance is subject to change based on the evolving situation.

For more information see Resources for Large Community Events & Mass Gatherings (CDC)

Some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness, including older adults and people with chronic (long-lasting) medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes or lung disease. According to the CDC, starting at age 60, there is an increasing risk of disease and the risk increases with age. The highest risk of serious illness is in people older than 80 years.

Older adults and people with chronic conditions should take extra precautions including: 

• Stocking up on supplies 
• Avoiding crowds 
• Avoiding cruise travel and non-essential air travel 
• Staying away from others who are sick 

Read the CDC’s full guidance on People At Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19. 

Tips to Help Keep Illness from Spreading in Arabic | Burmese | Chinese | English | French | Kirundi | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese

Translations in Simplified Chinese:

• Symptoms (CDC) 症状
• Prevention & Treatment (CDC) 预防与治疗
• Preventing 2019-nCoV from Spreading to Homes and Communities (CDC)  预防 2019 年新型冠状病毒 (2019-nCoV) 传播给家庭和社区中其他人的暂行指南
• Travel Health Alert Notice (CDC) 健康预警：来自中国的旅客请注意

The Health Department can not provide documentation for people to go to work or to stay home.  

The Health Department can discuss this with you if:

• you traveled to an affected country or had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and
• have completed monitoring. 

Protect yourself and your community from getting and spreading respiratory illnesses like coronavirus disease 2019. Everyone has a role to play in getting ready and staying healthy. Learn how to prepare and take action at home, school, large community events and more by following CDC guidance below:

Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities

Report all suspect cases immediately to the Vermont Department of Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology by calling 802-863-7240 (24/7).

If a patient with a fever or respiratory illness traveled to affected locations in the 14 days before symptom onset:

• Give the patient a surgical mask.
• Notify facility infection control personnel immediately.
• Use standard precautions, contact precautions, airborne precautions, and use eye protection when entering the room.
• Evaluate the patient in a private room with the door closed, ideally in an airborne infection isolation room.

If you have questions about PPE, email HCSupply@vermont.gov.

Lab Testing

• Vermont Health Alert: Laboratory Testing for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - March 6, 2020
• Instructions for Collection and Packaging of Specimens for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Clinical Test Request Form - Leave insurance portion on the form blank.

Receive Alerts

The Health Department periodically sends advisories to health care providers through the Health Alert Network (HAN). The following groups should expect to receive HAN messages:

• Dental providers
• DAIL facilities
• EMS
• Hospitals (defined positions by hospital)
• Providers (licensed through the Medical Practice Board)
• Pharmacies
• Practices
• Schools
• Town Health Officers
• Veterinarians

If you are a member of one of these groups and have not been receiving HAN messages, please email VTHAN@vermont.gov.
If you are not a member of one of these groups, all HAN messages are available to review here and COVID-19 related messages are in the "Alerts and Resources" section below. 

FOR HOSPITALS: You may want to ask visitors to help protect others by answering a few questions: Download the COVID-19 Visitor Screening Tool

Posters for health care settings

• Patient Travel Poster for Clinical Settings
• COVID-19 "Stop the Spread of Germs" Poster (CDC)

Alerts and Resources

• March 10, 2020 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Guidelines for Death Certification and Disposition of Remains for Health Care Providers/Facilities
• March 5, 2020 Health Advisory: Preparing for Community Transmission of COVID-19 in Vermont
• February 21, 2020: Slides from the Vermont Department of Health COVID-19 Webinar for Providers
• February 13, 2020 Health Advisory: Preparing for Novel Coronavirus – Update for Vermont Health Care Providers
• February 11, 2020 Health Advisory: Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Provider Update
• January 23, 2020 Health Advisory: Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

The general strategies CDC recommends to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities are the same strategies these facilities use every day to detect and prevent the spread of other respiratory viruses like influenza. Please follow the Vermont Health Department and CDC guidance below:

Vermont Health Advisory: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Long-Term Care Facilities (March 5, 2020) 

CDC: Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities

You may want to ask visitors to your facility to help protect others by answering a few questions: Download the COVID-19 Visitor Screening Tool


Useful Posters
Caring May Mean Not Visiting
Keep Germs from Spreading

We understand staff, parents, and students may have questions and concerns about the novel (new) coronavirus disease (COVID-19), particularly if you have staff or students with ties to or recent travel to a country with a COVID-19 outbreak. We are not currently making a recommendation that events or extracurricular activities be canceled. As always, we recommend that people stay home when sick, cover their cough, and practice good hand hygiene. These recommendations are especially important during cold and flu season.

The State of Vermont has formed a task force to ensure communications and resources specific to Vermont will be available throughout all sectors of the public, including businesses, schools, emergency responders and local government.

CLARIFICATION regarding the technical guidance for Schools and for Early Childhood Care and Education Programs: These two documents were developed by different teams and vary a bit in their guidance, especially with regard to fever and return to child care/school. Please note the following:

1. Child care and PreK programs should use the Early Childhood Care and Education guidance, unless the program is associated with a school and there is a school nurse available to consult on individual cases.
2. In school settings and those programs with school nurses: the school nurse should use their judgement and make return-to-school determinations based on their clinical assessment of the student.

• School Closure and Dismissal During a Novel Coronavirus Outbreak: Technical Guidance for Local School Officials
• Early Childhood Care and Education Programs Closure And Dismissal During a Novel Coronavirus Outbreak: Technical Guidance for Child Care, Head Start and public and private Prekindergarten Education Programs
• Interim Guidance for Administrators of U.S. Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools to Plan, Prepare and Respond (CDC)
• Resources for Institutes of Higher Education (CDC)
• COVID-19 "Stop the Spread of Germs" Poster (CDC)
• Guidance for Boarding Schools and Colleges