Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Gov. Phil Scott called on Vermonters to help protect our most vulnerable ­– the elderly and the very ill ­– and announced several strategies to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus. They include restricting visitor access at long-term care facilities, prohibiting non-essential gatherings of more than 50 people or 50% of a location's capacity, whichever number is lower, and suspending out-of-state travel for state employees. Gov. Scott declared a state of emergency to help ensure Vermont has all the necessary resources to respond to this evolving threat. Read the executive order.    What this means for Vermonters

The Governor also announced a Continuity of Education Plan for the orderly dismissal of all schools, and cancellation of all school-related activities, no later than Wednesday, March 18. The Governor directed child care centers across the state to close normal operations but encourages continued operation exclusively where needed to provide child care services for workers who are essential to Vermont’s ongoing effort in community mitigation of COVID-19. Read the guidance.

The Governor is also ordered the closing of all bars and restaurants statewide. Food service establishments can continue to offer takeout and delivery service. This measure is effective beginning 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 and is in effect until April 6, though this could be extended.

On March 21, the governor ordered close-contact businesses (those unable to comply with guidelines for social distancing) to close operations by 800 p.m. on Monday, March 23. This includes, gymnasiums, fitness centers, and similar exercise facilities, hair salons and barbers, nail salons, spas, and tattoo parlors. He also restricted the size of mass gatherings to 10 or fewer people. Other business may remain open, but need to implement the CDC and Department of Health guidance. Read the executive order.

If your employment has been impacted as a result of COVID-19, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance Benefits.

March 20, 2020: Daily Update

March 19, 2020: Vermont Announces First Deaths Attributable to New Coronavirus COVID-19

March 16, 2020: Vermont Reports Additional Four Cases of New Coronavirus COVID-19

March 14, 2020: Health Officials Announce Three New Presumptive Cases of New Coronavirus COVID-19

March 11, 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 coughs and sneezes with your sleeve or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

If you traveled to affected locations or were on a cruise (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 is social distancing?

Coronavirus spreads easily from person to person. It travels through the air when a sick person coughs or sneezes. One way to contain the spread of COVID-19 is to stop people from sharing it. Without a vaccine or treatment, we can help contain the virus by staying at least six feet apart from one another. This means limiting the number of times you physically interact with other people. It will make an enormous difference if people follow social distancing guidelines:

• Avoid any activities that put you close to other people, like social gatherings, public transportation and non-essential travel.
• Limit contact with family members and friends who are sick. This includes anyone who has symptoms of a cold, flu or contagious stomach illnesses.
• Wash your hands every time you go inside, before you eat, and before you spend time with people who are more vulnerable to effects of COVID-19.

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.

• Stay home. Many people who are mildly ill can manage their symptoms at home with rest, drinking fluids and taking fever-reducing medicine, when needed. Not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19.
• Call your doctor and ask to be seen for an evaluation. Do not go to the doctor's office unless instructed to do so. Anyone who does not have a health care provider can call 2-1-1 to be connected to a clinic in their area.
• Do not go to or visit any hospitals or long-term care facilities unless absolutely necessary. This is to protect everyone’s health, including patients and staff.
• Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home. As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people and animals in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available. Avoid sharing personal household items.
• Wear a facemask if you are sick around other people and pets.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your sleeve or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day. These include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.

Resources

• Caring for Someone at Home (CDC)
• Caring for Yourself at Home (CDC)
• Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick (CDC)

If you are ill, call your health care provider to find out if you should be seen for an evaluation and consideration of testing. Not everyone needs to be tested. Testing is not treatment.

Your health care provider will arrange for testing if they determine that a test is needed.

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 1-3 days. 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.

What does monitoring mean?

Monitoring is for people who do not have symptoms and who have traveled to affected areas or were on a cruise. 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. 

Travelers returning from certain countries or from a cruise:

Returning travelers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and the United Kingdom or from a cruise 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. If you have members in your household who did not travel, they do not need to be monitored and do not need to stay home. 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.
• Avoid contact with others.
• For people who have returned from China or Iran also call Health Department epidemiology and infectious disease staff at 802-863-7240.

People in close contact with a person who tested positive 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 have members in your household who are not a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19, they do not need to self-monitor and do not need to stay home.

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.

As of March 21, Governor Scott has amended his emergency declaration to further reduce the allowable size of non-essential mass gatherings. Gatherings are now limited to no more than 10 people at the same time in a single space. A "non-essential mass gathering" does NOT include normal operations at airports, bus or railway stations people may be in transit.

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

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 or wAS on a cruise. What should I do?

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

Travelers returning from this list of countries or from a cruise should stay home and monitor their health for 14 days. Call the 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.

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: 

• Have needed supplies on hand 
   
  • Contact your medical provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medications in case you need to stay home for a prolonged period of time.
  • Have over-the-counter medicines and supplies for fever and other symptoms.
  • Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for a period of time.
     
• Practice social distancing
• Avoid crowds
• Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel 
• Stay away from others who are sick 

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

Videos: Information on COVID-19 (community resource created by the Spectrum Multicultural Youth Program, Howard Center, and other Burlington community members)
in Arabic | Dinka | English | French | Lingala | Nepali | Somali | Spanish

What You Need to Know About Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
in Arabic | Burmese | Chinese | English | French | Kirundi | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese

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 cannot 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 were on a cruise or had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and
• have completed monitoring. 

Plan ways to care for those in your home who might be at greater risk for serious complications, like older adults and persons who have underlying chronic (long-lasting) medical conditions. Make sure those who need regular medicine, medical supplies and equipment have what they need. 

Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy. Identify a separate bathroom for the sick person to use, if possible. Plan to clean these rooms, as needed, when someone is sick.

Get support from others. Talk with your neighbors about emergency planning. If your neighborhood has a Front Porch Forum, consider joining to connect with neighbors, information and resources. Stay in touch by phone or email with family and friends, especially those with who are older, have chronic (long-lasting) medical conditions or who live alone.

Take care of the emotional health of your household members. Outbreaks can be stressful for adults and children. Talk with your children about the outbreak, try to stay calm, and reassure them that they are safe.

Resources to Help Cope with Stress

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. See the latest CDC guidance on Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities.

Neighborly best practices for helping during COVID-19

While Vermonters are staying home or choosing activities that maintain social distancing as much as possible to slow the spread of COVID-19, some are stepping up to ensure their neighbors have what they need. This type of community support is crucial, but we need to make sure our helpers and volunteers are still using social distancing practices to protect our most vulnerable Vermonters.

Any volunteers bringing items to those who need to stay home should:

• Keep a distance of six feet away.
• Avoid entering the recipient’s home.
• Wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face and cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• If you feel sick or learn that you have had contact with someone who is sick, stop doing community support work immediately.
• Keep a list of anyone you come into close contact with in case contact tracing is required.
• Wear clean gloves when handling items that may be given to people with a weaker immune system, and when you are close to someone who may be sick.

Common sense practices can go a long way while Vermonters take care of each other.

Want to help? Consider signing up for the Medical Reserve Corps. Volunteers can be deployed locally in the event of an emergency, support first aid stations at community events, educate the public on preparedness, and assist in promoting various health and wellness activities. You can also reach out to local community groups/organizers like rotary and lion clubs, soup kitchens and check out your neighborhood Front Porch Forum group.

Resources
Fact Sheets: Coronavirus and Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks from The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (Vermont Department of Mental Health)
Managing Anxiety and Stress (CDC)
Slide Presentation on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Useful Posters
Social Distancing (smaller version)
Social Distancing (larger version)
Keep Germs from Spreading
Proper Handwashing

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 or were on a cruise 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 anticipate depletion of any COVID-19 specific resource stocks within the next 7 days, please submit a resource request.

Completion of this COVID-19 resource request form assumes facility implementation and practice of Contingency Operations Personal Protective Equipment Conservation (PPE) measures. PPE conservation measures are based in part on the CDC's Checklist for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators during the COVID-19 Response (published 03/05/2020).

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

Lab Testing

• March 14, 2020 Health Alert: COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing in Vermont
• Instructions for Collection and Packaging of Specimens for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Clinical Test Request Form - Leave the insurance portion on the form blank.

Posters and handouts for health care settings

• Patient Travel Poster for Clinical Settings
• COVID-19 "Stop the Spread of Germs" Poster (CDC)
• "Waiting for test results for 2019 Novel Coronavirus?" Handout

Alerts and Resources

• Discontinuation of Home Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 (Interim Guidance) (CDC)
• March 19, 2020 Health Alert: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Dental Health Care Guidance
• March 14, 2020 Health Alert: COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing in Vermont
• March 13, 2020 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Strategies For Scarce Resource Situations 
• 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)

Receive Alerts

The Health Department periodically sends advisories to health care professionals through the Health Alert Network (HAN).
Learn more and sign up for alerts.
Review recent alerts.

Resources and guidance for individuals that provide home-based services, including Children’s Integrated Services, home health visits, home visiting, lactation consultants, and others. Service providers should work with their funder to determine how services should best be carried out in accordance with funding requirements and state/federal regulations.

• Guidance for Home Based Service Delivery

On March 13, Gov. Phil Scott announced restrictions for visitors to long-term care facilities to help protect our most vulnerable Vermonters. Find more information on the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living's novel coronavirus information webpage.

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.

Guidance

• Vermont Health Advisory: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Long-Term Care Facilities (March 5, 2020) 
• Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) information for Long-Term Care Facilities
• 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

In accordance with the Gubernatorial Directive (dated 3/17/20), all Vermont schools are dismissed from March 18, 2020 through April 6, 2020. All child care programs are closed during this same period, with the exception of those that will remain open to provide services to Essential Persons, as defined in the Gubernatorial Directive.

• Health Guidance for Emergency Programs Providing Childcare for Essential Persons
• Supporting the Childcare Needs of Essential Persons During a Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Guidance to Schools and Child Care Programs
• Children's Development Division COVID-19: Information for Child Care Programs, Children's Integrated Services Providers and CDD Grantees and Contractors
• Agency of Education COVID-19 Guidance for Vermont Schools
• Press Release on March 15, 2020: Governor Scott orders closure of Vermont schools PreK-12 this week
• 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

Useful Posters
Social Distancing (smaller version)
Social Distancing (larger version)
Keep Germs from Spreading
Proper Handwashing