COVID-19 testing hours added; Gov. Scott asks Vermonters to ‘light the way’
By Waterbury Roundabout | November 24, 2020
Waterbury Ambulance Service member Caitlyn Couture administers a COVID-19 test at the drive-through testing site in Waterbury Center last week. Photo by Gordon Miller.
UPDATE: This story was updated Nov. 28.
Waterbury Ambulance Service expanded hours at its Waterbury Center COVID-19 testing operation this week and it is adding a second testing site with some weekend dates in Waitsfield starting Saturday, Nov. 28.
Ambulance service Executive Director Mark Podgewaite said that staff would be running a satellite COVID-19 testing station at Waitsfield & Champlain Valley Telecom, 3898 Main Street, Waitsfield. The satellite site will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on specific dates: Nov. 28 and Dec. 6, 12, 20.
People should use the entrance on Old County Road, he said.
Registration is required via the Vermont Department of Health website at: healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing.
The main Waterbury Ambulance Service testing site is at the agency’s headquarters at 1727 Guptil Rd. in Waterbury Center. Hours going forward from Saturday, Nov. 28, will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday; Wednesday hours are 5-8 p.m.; Sunday is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Waterbury group is also running the testing site in Berlin where hours are Saturday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Fridays are 3-7 p.m. It is located at 3336 Airport Road in Berlin but the Health Department lists the town as Barre. Registration for all of these locations is with the Vermont Department of Health online.
The stepped-up testing efforts are being rolled out as COVID-19 cases continue to grow across Vermont, with Washington County having the fastest-growing caseload in recent weeks. On Friday, Nov. 27, state officials announced that Vermont had passed the milestone of 4,000 cases with a total of 4,005. On Thanksgiving day, 99 new cases were added.
Washington County continues to have the fastest-growing case count with 342 cases in the past 14 days; Chittenden County is second with 304 cases for that time and Orange County the third highest with 117. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, state health officials said there would not be an update this week to the town-by-town map showing new cases by community. That will next be revised on Dec. 4, according to the Health Department.
Gov. Phil Scott stops by the Berlin COVID-19 testing site on Thanksgiving morning and greets Waterbury Ambulance Service members running the site. Left to right: Maggie Burke, Mark Podgwaite, Gaelin Kurtzman, Jackson Lipfert and Gov. Scott. Courtesy photo.
Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine at Friday’s COVID-19 press briefing noted that three more COVID-19 deaths were recorded on Wednesday, bringing the state total to 67.
Governor encourages holiday lights
Also at the Friday press briefing, Gov. Phil Scott called on Vermonters to embrace the holiday season by decorating with lights. “I know how hard this pandemic has been, especially as we make our way through the holidays without the ‘normal’ get-togethers and sense of closeness we all want,” Scott said. “So, in celebration of the coming holiday season, I think it’s time to lift our spirits. Let’s get creative and show the world that Vermonters are here for each other and that even through these dark and difficult times, Vermont lights the way.”
People should decorate their homes and businesses and then share photos on social media of their favorite displays using the hashtag #VTLightsTheWay. People can then tour their towns and beyond to take in the sights. Scott suggested that news outlets share the images to spread the word about the campaign. “I hope this effort will spread joy and hope, especially for our kids,” the governor added. “We can make a holiday season during a once-in-a-century pandemic truly memorable for our kids in a fun and positive way. Together, we can celebrate this season and remind each other that there are brighter days ahead.”