Vermont expands COVID-19 testing

The Vermont Department of Health (DOH) announced last week that all Vermonters with even mild symptoms are encouraged to contact their health care provider to get tested for COVID-19, the disease that results from infection with the novel coronavirus. This includes parents of children who have symptoms that could be related to COVID-19.

According to a press release from the DOH, “Your provider will refer you to a hospital or health center near you that can perform the test at no cost. If you don’t have a healthcare provider, call 2-1-1 to connect with a community or hospital-connected clinic.”

Symptoms that merit a call to a healthcare provider include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell.

People with any symptoms of COVID-19 should first call their healthcare provider. The symptoms may start two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

The testing site closest to Charlotte is in Colchester, and the state has opened three additional pop-up sites. According to the DOH , “The pop-up testing sites are for asymptomatic health care workers, first responders (EMS, fire, and law enforcement), and childcare providers currently serving essential workers. People who are returning to the state, and who will be at day 7 or later in their quarantine period, can also be tested. These include people returning from wintering out of state, college students, and people who are coming to stay in their second homes.”

To make an appointment for one of the pop-up sites, health care workers, first responders childcare providers and returning Vermonters should visit the Vermont Agency of administration website.