Schools saw the most COVID-19 cases in May as numbers taper off
June 3, 2022 | By Lisa ScagliottiThe number of COVID-19 cases in local schools this past week was the lowest reported since the end of March while the total count for May was the highest of the school year.
According to the Harwood Unified Union School District’s COVID-19 dashboard, 15 cases were reported in the schools this week; 13 of them were in May and two were in the first days of June.
That’s after multiple weeks with two or three dozen or more cases reported.
The final tally for May stands at 133 cases, surpassing January’s 118 cases which had previously been the most in one month this school year.
School data reflect instances where a student or staff member was contagious while at school.
The school year has just one more week before summer break begins. Friday, June 10, is the final student day.
Vaccines and test distribution
Several vaccination clinics are scheduled at district schools to be staffed by Waterbury Ambulance Service. These events will offer boosters and first or second doses to children and adults in the community. No appointments are necessary and vaccines are free.
Boosters are recommended for many people who have completed their vaccine series.
Children ages 5 through 11 years were recently approved to receive a booster shot five months after their initial vaccination series. A second booster shot is also recommended for some individuals based on risk and age. Visit the Vermont Department of Health website at healthvermont.gov/covid-19/faqs#boostershot for more details.
The upcoming vaccine clinics are:
Saturday, June 4, 8 a.m. to noon at Brookside Primary School.
Monday, June 6, at Moretown Elementary School from 1 to 6 p.m.
Waterbury Ambulance Service continues to run its testing and vaccine operation at its station at 1721 Guptil Road in Waterbury Center.
It offers vaccines 1-5 p.m. daily Monday-Saturday and 1-3 p.m. on Sundays.
Testing hours through June 25 when the ambulance station site will be closing are: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday 1-7 p.m. Thursday 1-5 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Individuals can still get a PCR test or take-home testing kits.
The Vermont Department of Health this week advised Vermonters to stock up on free home COVID-19 tests while supplies last and testing sites are open to distribute them.
Although it’s recommended to schedule an appointment for a PCR test or to pick up the testing kits, ambulance staff said they will not turn away people seeking tests if they have enough to provide.
Individuals may get up to four antigen test kits for each appointment (there are two tests per kit, for eight tests total), and one LAMP test per appointment.