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VDH COVID-19 Update: Winooski outbreak up to 78 cases

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Daily Update on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

June 11, 2020

New information is in red

Find this update at healthvermont.gov/covid19 by clicking the “See the Latest Update” button.

Please visit the Vermont Department of Health’s updated COVID-19 web and data pages

healthvermont.gov/covid19.

Outbreak Update

The Health Department continues to work with Winooski and Burlington city officials and community partners to test residents and trace contacts in an effort to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

As of Wednesday evening, a total of 78 cases are associated with the outbreak. About 80% of cases are in Winooski. Most of the rest are in nearby Burlington, with a small number elsewhere in Chittenden County. There have been no deaths associated with the outbreak.

Only 1 in 5 people associated with the outbreak are reporting symptoms. The number of people associated with the outbreak that were asymptomatic is thought to be a contributing factor to the spread of the virus in the community. This is a reminder that even though the overall rate of positives statewide is low, the virus is still circulating throughout the state.

People contacted as part of the Health Department’s investigation report they are following guidance to help prevent further spread.

Vermonters should continue to follow universal precautions – wear a face covering, keep a 6-foot distance from others, wash their hands often and stay home if they are sick.

More than 2,600 specimens have been collected at the pop-up test sites that have been running in Winooski and Burlington.

Test sites are currently scheduled through June 26. Find locations and make an appointment for sites in Burlington, Winooski and around the state at humanresources.vermont.gov/popups or by calling 2-1-1.

Schools Preview Reopening Guidance for the Fall

Agency of Education Secretary Daniel French announced Wednesday that schools plan to safely open for in-person instruction in the fall. Full guidance, which will be published next week, will include health screenings, provisions to ensure people who are sick can stay home, and plans in the event of an outbreak.

Protest Safely and Get Tested

We support Vermonters engaging in public protests and other civic activities, and encourage anyone who is participating to get tested for COVID-19.

Find a pop-up test site near you by visiting humanresources.vermont.gov/popups

While you are out, please wear a face covering or mask and as much as possible, maintain 6-foot distance between yourself and others. If you're sick, take action from home.

Testing Information

COVID-19 Pop-Up Test Sites

Pop-up sites throughout the state are open for COVID-19 People who do not have symptoms of can make an appointment to be tested for the virus at pop-up sites located throughout the state to test for the virus.

Sites are currently scheduled through June 26. Find locations and make an appointment to be tested at humanresources.vermont.gov/popups. You can also call 2-1-1 or 802-828-2828. All clinics operate from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The University of Vermont and Champlain College are offering specimen collection this week for returning students.

Vermonters With Even Mild Symptoms Should Call Their Doctor to Be Tested

People with even mild symptoms are encouraged to call their health care provider to get tested. This includes parents of children who have possible symptoms. Your health care provider will ensure you receive proper care and treatment.

If you don’t have a health care provider: Dial 2-1-1 to connect with a community or hospital-connected clinic.

New on healthvermont.gov

Dashboard Data Updates
TESTING: Two new graphs were added to the Data Dashboard: A line graph of the cumulative number of total people tested by day, and a bar graph of the number of people tested by day. You can find both under the “People Tested” tab.

NEW CASES: You can also now see the number of new cases reported each day (under Total Cases on the main tab).

Find the dashboard at healthvermont.gov/currentactivity. Have questions? Click on “About Data Dashboard” to learn more.

Traveler Information

Need info about travel to Vermont? Check out our travel web page for information and guidance, including for quarantining and testing.

A new infographic (SEE ABOVE) will help you find out if you need to quarantine based on your situation. See it under the collapsible section “Find Out if You Need to Quarantine.”

Anyone coming to Vermont is strongly encouraged to sign up for daily symptom check reminders.

The symptom check reminders, called Sara Alert, is not a contact tracing system. It is not GPS-based, so it does not monitor a person’s movements or track their location.

College students returning to Burlington can also use this web page as a resource — along with the city’s Supportive Quarantine Pilot Program — and sign up for Sara Alert.

Case Information

Current COVID-19 Activity in Vermont

As of 12 p.m. on June 11, 2020

Total cases*

1,110
(16 new)

Currently hospitalized

3

Hospitalized under investigation

9

Total people recovered

905

Deaths+

55

People tested

47,209

People being monitored

57

People completed monitoring

923

*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 information on new data dashboard at healthvermont.gov/covid19 by clicking on the map of Vermont. To allow time for analysts to verify an increasing volume of data, the dashboard will be updated no later than 12:00 p.m.

Guidance for Vermonters

Registration Open for Food Distribution

Registration is open for meal distribution sites in the month of June. Those who register are given a window of time to pick up Farmers to Families meals at designated sites around the state. To find a location and register visit: https://humanresources.vermont.gov/food-help

Keep a List of Your Close Contacts
Health officials suggest that Vermonters keep a journal of contacts – a list of other people with whom you have been in close contact with each day. If you get sick, this will make it easier to get in touch with those people and so they can take precautions to prevent further spread of COVID-19, including being tested if recommended.

Take Care of Your Emotional and Mental Health

Concerns about our health and finances during the pandemic, and the unsettled state of national affairs, has left many of us feeling anxious, confused, overwhelmed or powerless.

If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs emotional support, help is available 24/7: