Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting two more deaths from COVID-19 (one more in Franklin and one more in Caledonia County) for a statewide total of 74. Because it was a Friday, the individual placing the order needed to additionally select “Delivery on Saturday” in the drop-down menu when generating the packing slip. This step was missed. The shipping samples were picked up from the Guard at the Barre Auditorium and dropped off to the UPS site at 4:31 p.m. on Friday. As a result of the missed step, the shipper was not aware of the Saturday deliver need. The samples therefore did not arrive at the lab within the short amount of time they are viable for testing.
Daily Update on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
December 2, 2020
New or updated information is in red and bold.
This update is available online at healthvermont.gov/covid19
Click the “See the Latest Update” button.
Please visit the Vermont Department of Health’s COVID-19 web and data pages
healthvermont.gov/covid19
What You Need to Know Now
As Vermont sees a surge in cases of COVID-19, know how you can help stop the spread:
- Do not get together or socialize with anyone you don’t live with (see more details and allowances here).
- Avoid traveling when possible, even within Vermont. Anyone who travels to or from Vermont must quarantine. The only exception is for essential travel.
- Wear a mask and keep a 6-foot distance from anyone outside your household.
- If you’re sick, stay home.
- Not everyone with COVID-19 has a fever. Even mild symptoms (like a headache or dry cough) could be signs of COVID-19. Talk to your health care provider about getting tested and stay home while waiting for your result.
- Also seek testing if you are a close contact of a case. If you gathered with others outside your household, quarantine and get tested right away, and on Day 7 or later.
Processing Error Results in Need for Retesting of Certain Samples
The Health Department has requested that people who were tested for COVID-19 on November 27, 2020 at Barre Auditorium get retested. This action is needed because those samples were not able to be analyzed. Approximately 249 samples collected were affected.
Anyone affected can get retested this week. There will be testing available on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Barre Auditorium. A special testing clinic has also been set up for Friday, December 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Barre Town EMS station located at 4 McLaughlin Road, East Barre. Preregistration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. To register, visit healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing.
Samples will be expedited for one-day testing turnaround time. The Health Department will notify people of their results as soon as they are received from the lab.
The Agency of Human Service and Health Department take very seriously the availability and timeliness of COVID-19 testing. Once it was identified that the samples from the Barre Auditorium were not analyzed, the Agency began an investigation to identify where the problem occurred in order to take immediate corrective action.
Officials report that the testing on Friday, November 27, was performed by the National Guard at the Barre Auditorium. The Health Department worked in support of the Guard, including managing the return shipping process for the test samples collected.
In shipping the samples on Friday (11/27) to the Broad Laboratory in Massachusetts for testing, Health Department staff followed the department’s standard process of ordering UPS Next Day Air delivery.
Because it was a Friday, the individual placing the order needed to additionally select “Delivery on Saturday” in the drop-down menu when generating the packing slip. This step was missed. The shipping samples were picked up from the Guard at the Barre Auditorium and dropped off to the UPS site at 4:31 p.m. on Friday.
As a result of the missed step, the shipper was not aware of the Saturday deliver need. The samples therefore did not arrive at the lab within the short amount of time they are viable for testing.
There are plenty of regular and pop-up testing options available throughout Vermont. To find a test sites and to register, go to healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing.
“Probable” COVID-19 Cases Now Included in Case Counts
Starting today probable cases are included in the total number of COVID-19 cases reported in Vermont.
A case is considered “probable” if the person:
- tested positive on an antigen test AND has symptoms of COVID-19 OR epidemiologic evidence, OR…
- has symptoms of COVID-19 AND is epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case of COVID-19
Reporting probable cases as part of total counts will more fully capture COVID-19 activity in Vermont, at a time when antigen testing is increasing, particularly in places like in nursing homes.
It’s important to know that throughout the pandemic the Health Department has responded to people considered as probable cases in the same way as with those who are confirmed cases. This includes providing guidance and recommendations as well as contact tracing.
See case numbers and related reports at: healthvermont.gov/covid-19/current-activity
Case Information
Current COVID-19 Activity in Vermont
As of 12 p.m. on December 2, 2020
|
Description |
Number |
||
|
New cases* |
101 (4,461 total) |
||
|
Currently hospitalized |
23 |
||
|
Hospitalized in ICU |
4 |
||
|
Hospitalized under investigation |
10 |
||
|
Percent Positive (7-day average) |
1.9% |
||
|
People tested |
225,958 |
||
|
Total tests |
559,575 |
||
|
Total people recovered |
2,655 |
||
|
Deaths+ |
74 |
||
|
Travelers monitored |
209 |
||
|
Contacts monitored |
148 |
||
|
People completed monitoring |
11,122 |
* Includes testing conducted at the Health Department Laboratory, commercial labs and other public health labs.
+ Death occurring in persons known to have COVID-19. Death certificate may be pending.
Hospitalization data is provided by the Vermont Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Coalition and is based on hospitals updating this information.
Find more data at: healthvermont.gov/currentactivity.
Guidance for Vermonters and Businesses
Health information, guidance and data: healthvermont.gov/covid19
Sector guidance: accd.vermont.gov/covid-19
Modeling: dfr.vermont.gov/about-us/covid-19/modeling
Governor’s actions: governor.vermont.gov/covid19response
Get the information you need at our Frequently Asked Questions.
School & Child Care Guidance
- Strong and Healthy Start: Safety and Health Guidance for Vermont Schools
- Mental Health: A Strong and Healthy Start: Social, Emotional and Mental Health Supports During COVID-19
- Child care: Health Guidance for Child Care and Out of School Care
More resources on the Your Community web page.
Take Care of Your Emotional and Mental Health
If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs emotional support, help is available 24/7:
- Call your local mental health crisis line.
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
- Text VT to 741741 to talk with someone at the Crisis Text Line.
- For more information visit healthvermont.gov/suicide.
For more tips and resources visit our Coping With Stress web page.
Visit VT Helplink to get connected to Alcohol and Drug Support Services.
Get self-help tips and connect to mental health services at COVID Support VT.