Northeast Kingdom EMS Units Join Health Department for COVID-19 Testing, May 6

First Responders are a critical part of effort to expand statewide testing

WHAT:            Health Department staff will team up with local Emergency Medical Service units (EMS) in the first of ongoing collaborative efforts statewide to increase COVID-19 testing capacity.                      

                        As part of Governor Phil Scott’s Phase One plan to Restart Vermont, the Health Department is training additional workforce support to meet the goal of collecting 1,000 specimens a day for testing.

                        The members of the Newport and CalEx EMS who have been trained, will work alongside the department’s local heath clinical team to collect specimens from each other and from area health care providers at a clinic to be held Wednesday outside the Newport Ambulance Service.

                        The Northeast Kingdom EMS units are among 10 around the state that are completing Health Department training and orientation to conduct specimen collection for COVID-19 testing wherever in the state it is needed. The enhanced testing effort, announced last week by Gov. Scott, will focus on group settings and populations at greater risk for severe illness.

                        The units will supplement Health teams in settings such as long-term care facilities. EMS professionals may also provide mobile specimen collection for those who are unable to travel to testing sites.

                        *Do not call 9-1-1 to ask about testing*

                        Members of the public must have a referral to a testing site from their health care provider.

WHEN:            May 6, 2020

11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

WHERE:           Newport Ambulance Service - Parking Lot

                        830 Union St., Newport VT

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: The press is invited to observe and film/photograph the clinic.

                                                PATIENT PRIVACY MUST BE RESPECTED.

Newport Local Health Office Director Justin Barton-Caplin will be available on-site for comment.