Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting Sunday 11 new cases of COVID-19 and 39 new cases since last Wednesday. There are now a total of 1,249 to cases statewide. The number of deaths is holding at 56. There is one person hospitalized.
VDH Q&A
How do you collect the data presented in the dashboard?
The Health Department receives lab results for COVID-19. When positive, epidemiologists and other public health officials work with the doctor to provide additional details, as well as interview the person. We ask questions about exposures, symptoms, and contacts the person may have had while they were ill.
When I add the number of cases today to the number of total cases from yesterday, it doesn’t equal the number of total cases today. Why?
Sometimes when more information is learned about someone who tested positive, they are no longer counted in our totals. For example, we might learn that the person doesn’t actually reside in Vermont because the original address provided is outdated.
Why do the number of new cases from a few days ago sometimes change?
The Health Department wants to ensure we provide the most timely data possible. Therefore, it may be subject to change as we learn new information. To share data quickly, we post it daily and sometimes we have to go back and update it for accuracy. The Health Department is committed to providing the most accurate data possible.
Are people who live out-of-state included in the number of people hospitalized and hospitalized under investigation?
Yes, if they are hospitalized in Vermont.
Who is included in the number of people who have recovered?
The number of people recovered is based on the number of confirmed positive cases. This includes Vermont residents and non-Vermont residents who tested positive in Vermont.
The number of people who have recovered does not include people who have died and people who are hospitalized.
How is the number of people who have recovered determined?
The number of people who are recovered is estimated in two ways:
1) People who have tested positive for COVID-19 report they have recovered to our investigation teams during their follow-up calls.
2) Thirty days or more have passed since the date the person’s illness began. (If that information is not available, we use the date the positive test is reported to the Health Department.)
Collecting recovery data is not something epidemiologists normally do in disease investigation. Because of this new challenge, this method provides us our best estimate, and many other states are reporting recovery data this way.
If a person had no symptoms when they tested positive, would they still be considered “recovered”?
Yes, anyone who falls into either of the above categories will be considered recovered, whether they had symptoms or not.
Can I use the number of people recovered to know how many people are actively sick with COVID-19 in Vermont?
This number does not tell us who is actively sick with COVID-19 in Vermont. This is because:
1) We think there are people with COVID-19 who haven’t been tested (therefore we don’t know about them), and
2) People we do know about may be recovered – we just haven’t reached out to them yet or we haven’t deemed them recovered yet.
How does someone who had COVID-19 know that they've recovered?
Someone has recovered from COVID-19 when all three of these have happened:
- It has been three full days of no fever without the use of fever-reducing medication, and
- Other symptoms have improved, and
- At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
If someone didn't have symptoms when they were tested, recovery is when at least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 test and they still have not had any symptoms.
How are you counting the total number of people tested?
The number of people tested reflects tests for a current COVID-19 infection. It includes people tested in Vermont and Vermont residents tested out of state, either by public health lab, hospital lab, or reference lab. This is the number of individuals tested, not the number of specimens. It does not include serology tests (also known as antibody tests).
NEW What is included in the number of travelers monitored?
It includes travelers who are being monitored in Sara Alert, which provides free daily symptom check reminders for 14 days while they are quarantining. People traveling to Vermont from out of state are strongly encouraged to enroll in Sara Alert.
Sara Alert allows COVID-19 response teams to quickly and easily provide guidance to people if they develop symptoms. It is not GPS-based, so it does not monitor someone’s movement or track their location. For more information about Sara Alert, visit the travel page.
NEW What is included in the number of contacts monitored?
It includes close contacts who are being monitored in Sara Alert, which provides free daily symptom check reminders for 14 days while they are quarantining. People who are identified as close contacts of people with COVID-19 are enrolled unless they opt out.
Sara Alert allows COVID-19 response teams to quickly and easily provide guidance to people if they develop symptoms. It is not GPS-based, so it does not monitor someone’s movement or track their location. For more information about Sara Alert, visit the travel page.
What is included in the number of people who have completed monitoring?
Travelers and close contacts who are enrolled in Sara Alert that have completed the 14 day symptom checking period.
Why do county totals change?
Sometimes the Health Department receives positive results with little to no contact information. We use the county where the person sought care if the person's residence is unknown. When we learn more about the case, we then update the county appropriately. Vermont residents are included in the Vermont county where they reside. People who tested positive for COVID-19 in Vermont while visiting or seeking care are included in the Vermont county where they were identified.
How can I make a graph bigger?
There are a few ways to make the graphs and sections bigger (watch a demo here(link is external)). 1) Click and drag the border around a graph to make it bigger. 2) Click on the expand button in the upper right corner of a section to make that section larger. 3) Some graphs have a slider which enables you to zoom in to specific dates.
Has the Health Department made the dashboard data sources available on the Vermont Open Geodata Portal?
Yes, we have made the source data that feed the dashboard available: https://geodata.vermont.gov/search?q=covid(link is external)
Case Information
COVID-19 activity data will be updated on the Current Activity page through the holiday weekend. The Map of Cases by Town and the Weekly Summary of Vermont COVID-19 Data were updated today (due to the holiday tomorrow).
Current COVID-19 Activity in Vermont
As of 12 p.m. on July 5, 2020
|
Description |
Number |
||
|
Total cases* |
1,249 (22 new since Thursday, 11 new since Saturday) |
||
|
Currently hospitalized |
1 |
||
|
Hospitalized under investigation |
14 |
||
|
Total people recovered |
1007 |
||
|
Deaths+ |
56 |
||
|
People tested |
70,024 |
||
|
Travelers monitored |
1,696 |
||
|
Contacts monitored |
38 |
||
|
People completed monitoring |
2,323 |
* 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.