Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Governor Phil Scott has called on Vermonters to help protect our most vulnerable ­– the elderly and the very ill. He declared a State of Emergency and has since announced several strategies to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

Community

• Directed Vermonters to stay home, leaving only for essential reasons, critical to health and safety, such as: personal safety, groceries or medicine, curbside pick-up of goods, meals or beverages, medical care, exercise, or care of others. If leaving the home, Vermonters should adhere to stay at home and social distancing policies, including remaining six feet from others (except for those with whom they share a home) and thoroughly and regularly washing hands. Read the executive order. 

Medical

• Restricted visitor access to long-term care facilities.
• Postponed all non-essential adult elective surgery and medical and surgical procedures, including all dental procedures. Read the directive.
• Asked insurers to offer policyholders a grace period for nonpayment of insurance premiums due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Read the update.

Business

• Ordered all businesses and not-for-profit entities, except for those providing critical services to suspend all in-person business operations. Operations that can be conducted online or by phone, or sales that can be facilitated with curbside pickup or delivery only, can continue. Read the executive order including a list of exemptions.  
• Temporarily closed bars and restaurants from Tuesday, March 17 until April 6, though this could be extended. Food service establishments can continue to offer takeout and delivery service. Read the executive order.
• Ordered close-contact businesses (those unable to comply with guidelines for social distancing) to close operations by 8:00 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. Other businesses may remain open but need to implement the CDC and Department of Health guidance. Read the executive order.
• Directed all businesses and not-for-profit entities – to the maximum extent possible – to put into place telecommuting or work-from-home procedures, no later than 8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 23. Read the press release.

Education and Child Care

• Enacted of 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. Read the plan.
• Directed child care centers across the state to close normal operations (except for those providing services for the children of essential personnel). Read the guidance.

Financial

• Announced changes to unemployment insurance requirements for people impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Find more information at the Vermont Department of Labor.
  File for unemployment insurance benefits

Other

• Suspended in-person transactions at the Department of Motor. Read the directive.
• Ended out-of-state travel for state employees.

March 25, 2020: Daily Update

March 21, 2020: Vermont Announces 16 New Positive COVID-19 Cases Including Seven at Burlington Health and Rehabilitation Center

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. Currently, there is no evidence to show that COVID-19 is spread through food or from the mail. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way 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 and practice social distancing if you must go out. 
• 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 their 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 a 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 home as much as possible, leaving only for essentials. 
• If you must go out, practice social distancing.
• Limiting 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 the effects of COVID-19.

Close contact means being within six feet, for a long time, of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. 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. If you have symptoms, call your health care provider first, then call the Health Department. 

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. 

What to do if you're a close contact of someone with COVID-19.

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

• What to do if you are diagnosed with COVID-19.
• What to do if you're a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
• 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 to do if you are diagnosed with COVID-19.

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 means someone who has returned from an affected area or cruise ship, or who has been in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, checks their temperature every day, watches for symptoms, and stays home. Identifying information for people being monitored is not available to the public.

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 high-risk countries or from a cruise should stay home and monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the United States. Call the 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.
• Stay home and 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 and monitor their health for 14 days. 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.

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.
• Stay home and avoid contact with others.

Read the factsheet: What to do if you're a close contact of someone with COVID-19.

Should I travel within the U.S.?

Vermonters are being asked to stay home, except for essential activities. However, there are currently no travel restrictions for travel within the U.S. or specific health-related recommendations upon return. However, cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been reported in many states, and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease. Crowded travel settings, like airports, may increase chances of getting COVID-19, if there are other travelers with coronavirus infection. There are several things you should consider when deciding whether it is safe for you to travel.

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, and practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from others) for 14 days. This includes airport lay-overs and train travel. 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 your health care provider.

Some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness, including older adults (65 years and older) and people with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease or moderate to severe asthma, or who are immunocompromised including cancer treatment. According to the CDC, starting at age 65 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.
• Stay home
• Stay away from others who are sick 

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

Retirement Communities (CDC)

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 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 still using social distancing practices to protect our most vulnerable Vermonters.

Any volunteers bringing items to people needing help 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

Steps to protect children from getting sick

You can encourage your child to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by teaching them to do the same things everyone should do to stay healthy.

• Do activities at home
• Clean hands often using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid people who are sick (coughing and sneezing)
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (like tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks)
• Launder items including washable plush toys as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from a person who is sick can be washed with other people’s items.

Children and COVID-19 (CDC)

See covid-19 for health care professionals

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 2019 (COVID-19): Recommendations to Facilitate the Transfer of Deceased Patients from Nursing Homes, Long Term Care Facilities and Hospice Facilities (March 23, 2020)
• Vermont Health Advisory: Guidance to Reduce Facility-Based Transmission of COVID-19 in Congregate Care Settings (March 20, 2020)
• 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