The number of people who’ve tested positive for the virus in the state now stands at 235, while the death toll remains 12, according to the data updated Sunday afternoon.
It was the first time in about a week that the state reported no new COVID-19 deaths. The increase in new infections represents the smallest number of new cases reported in nearly a week, since 20 new cases were reported on March 23.
The modest increase comes alongside a dramatic spike in the total number of tests performed in the state, from 2,374 on Saturday to 3,701 Sunday. It’s unclear whether those 1,327 new tests have also been processed or just conducted. The health department did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.
The spike in testing comes after Health Commissioner Mark Levine announced Friday that the state would allow people with mild symptoms — who previously wouldn’t have qualified for a test — to get tested following an increase in the number of testing kits available in the state.
The “more testing now” strategy is a calculated decision to draw down the state’s stash of test kits in an effort to identify more people infected, have them isolate themselves and trace their contacts, Levine said.
“This is really the critical juncture,” he said. Patients still need a referral from their doctor to be tested, and those without symptoms are still not eligible for a test, Levine said.
Vermont health officials have not said how many test kits they have on hand.
Following Levine’s order, the Vermont National Guard opened a new drive-up coronavirus testing site at Landmark College in Putney. The site began operating at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
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“Vermont health officials have not said how many test kits they have on hand” … is because they don’t have very many test kits(like the rest of the United States), but Vermont leaders won’t broadcast that fact because our president is forcing state leadership to suck-up to him and help him deny the fact we as a nation are hopelessly still not prepared to deal with this health crisis.
And so the Vermont medical community is testing folks ONLY with deep coughs or fevers, but not the very large number of Vermonters who show milder symptoms like loss or smell/taste etc.
Not testing as many folks as possibe is a tremendous mistake because we don’t know how many carriers are out there, and without knowing that it is impossible to fight the disease other than telling everyone to stay in their homes (and consequently kill our state economy).
Russell, that’s not as true as it once was. It was reported a few days ago that we got a lot of new tests from the feds and we’re now going to be conducting tests for anyone showing symptoms, regardless of severity. That likely accounts for the gigantic spike in new tests conducted today (quadruple+ from previous days)
They want people to stay home and isolate if sick but now they are asking people to go out and get tested? Is that just to up their numbers for federal aid? If you are not having symptoms that need any kind of treatment then you should just stay home.
I think it would be interesting to hear how many folks have recovered from the virus. All we get is bad news, # new cases & # dead. We need some uplifting news!
How do they know old age people died from the virus ? Could it be just old age ??