COVID-19 Update: Testing, reporting continue to evolve
March 19, 2022 | By Lisa Scagliotti 
Staff from Waterbury Ambulance Service continue to operate a COVID-19 testing site at the ambulance station at 1727 Guptil Road. Photo by Gordon Miller
As Vermont transitions into what is hoped to be the waning days of the COVID-19 pandemic, processes for reporting data and testing continue to evolve.
The Vermont Department of Health on Friday announced that it has ended its weekly reports of community-specific case data saying: “The town map of recent case rates is no longer being published. Due to various factors, including the increased use of at-home tests, we are continuing to transition away from COVID-19 case data as a means to measure the impact of the virus in our communities.”
The last report shared case data through March 9 and showed Waterbury with a total of 1,582 reported cases since March 2020.
In a similar vein, reporting for positive cases in public schools entered its new phase this week. The Harwood Unified Union School District has an online dashboard where it is tracking aggregate case numbers district-wide with monthly and weekly numbers updated weekly. School officials have ended sending email notifications to staff and families about cases in specific classes to alert them about possible exposure.
“Simply put, [the Vermont Agency of Education] has made it clear that any means of contact tracing is not recommended. Our focus needs to be staying home when sick, testing if symptoms arise, and basically moving on as if COVID is the common cold,” Superintendent Brigid Nease explained in an email message. “At this point we will not be implementing any mitigation elements beyond what is recommended by the AOE and VDH. There is not a requirement for notification to the public of any kind for positive cases.”
At Tuesday’s press briefing, Gov. Phil Scott was asked about schools ending case notifications and if they would resume if a school experiences an uptick in cases.
“Over the last few decades, if there was an outbreak of anything in a school, whether it be flu or something of that nature, they would communicate that to their kids and to parents,” Scott said. “I think we have to look at it somewhat similar to that. That’s what we’re moving into. So they still have an obligation to let students and parents know what's going on.”
Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine suggested that communication will likely happen without schools providing notifications. “Schools sometimes are the ones who let people know, but I think kids let each other know, and parents let each other know as well. So there would be many ways for people to find out if there were cases,” Levine said. “But we are seeing markedly less cases in Vermont right now and the school is a reflection of the community. So I would presume the schools are not seeing as many cases either.”
Levine also stressed that schools still have test kits to distribute to students and staff.
On Friday, the Harwood school district’s dashboard was updated to show 13 new cases in the district for the week, added to five previously reported in March, bringing the month’s total to 18 so far. That compares with 123 cases in January and 44 in February.
Contacted Friday for some additional details, Nease responded that the week’s cases were spread across most of the district’s schools and they included “staff and students at all campuses except Warren, Fayston, [and] the central office.”
Nease noted that nine of the cases involved individuals who were contagious while in school but were reported over last weekend and on Monday, prior to masks becoming optional. Staff and families are still asked to report any positive cases to school nurses who have home COVID-19 tests to distribute.
The school district has updated its COVID protocols with new charts to explain steps to take if an individual tests positive or is a close contact of someone who is infected. School district recommendations and data are online at HUUSD.org under the COVID-19 Health Guidance heading.
Latest statewide data
The new procedures for reporting case data come as COVID-19 cases statewide gradually decline. This week, the seven-day daily average of new reported cases dropped to about 130 per day, according to the state dashboard. That just indicates results from PCR tests administered at testing sites, not those reported from tests people do at home.
On Friday 141 new cases were reported for the previous day; 17 people were hospitalized with six in intensive care. So far in March, seven new deaths in Vermont have been recorded for a total of 611 for the pandemic.
Waterbury Center test site still open
Anyone not connected with a school still has multiple testing options. Waterbury Ambulance Service continues to operate a testing site at its station at 1727 Guptil Road. In addition to administering PCR tests, the site also has rapid antigen and Lamp tests to distribute for people to take at home. The PCR tests still provide results that include a letter via email.
Walk-ins are welcome and appointments can still be made online at healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing/where-get-tested. Waterbury Ambulance Executive Director Mark Podgwaite said staff at the testing site can help individuals decide which test they should use based on their circumstances.
The testing site is open Monday, Tuesday, Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday 1-7 p.m.; Thursday 1-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
No tests needed to visit Canada
A noteworthy testing change announced this week involves a move by the government of Canada. As of April 1 fully vaccinated individuals visiting Canada will not be required to present results of a COVID-19 test at border crossings.
Gov. Scott called the announcement “a welcomed step forward” as it will mean easier travel for tourists and those traveling for business. “We know that our border communities are culturally and economically inseparable, and we’re thrilled these communities will be able to more easily go about their daily lives as they did prior to the pandemic,” Scott said.