This page provides guidance for health care professionals on flu and COVID-19 testing, treatment, and reporting requirements.
- For infection prevention and control, visit our Outbreak Information page.
- For vaccine information for health care providers, visit our Vaccine Information for Providers page.
- For patient-facing information, visit our Respiratory Illnesses page.
Flu Guidance
Testing
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory performs RT-PCR flu testing for public health surveillance to monitor flu activity.
- Testing to confirm flu and determine type is performed weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays.
- Testing is free for providers participating in the sentinel surveillance program. Read more about the benefits of being a sentinel flu provider. To join the sentinel provider program, email ahs.vdhEpiFluSurv@vermont.gov.
- Testing is conducted for reported institutional outbreaks.
More information on the use of rapid flu diagnostic tests (CDC)
Antiviral Medications: Treatment and Prophylaxis
Please refer to CDC's guidance on flu antiviral medications
Reporting
- Reportable by labs: Positive influenza PCR
- Reportable by medical providers, hospitals, and school health officials:
- Institutional outbreaks
- Pediatric influenza-related deaths
- Suspected cases of influenza due to a novel strain of influenza A
COVID-19 Guidance
If You Suspect Your Patient Has COVID-19
- Give the patient a surgical mask
- Notify facility infection control personnel
- Use standard precautions, contact precautions, airborne precautions and use eye protection when entering the room
- Evaluate the patient in a private room with the door closed, ideally in an airborne infection isolation room
Treatment
Clinicians should consider COVID-19 treatment in non-hospitalized patients who meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Test positive for SARS-CoV-2 (with PCR or antigen test, including at-home tests).
- Have symptoms consistent with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. People with mild COVID-19 experience symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or headache, that do not affect the lungs and breathing. People with moderate illness have symptoms that affect the lungs like shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
- Are within the medication-specific treatment window.
- Have one or more risk factors for severe COVID-19 (CDC).
Age remains the strongest risk factor for severe COVID-19. Therefore, we recommend considering treatment for all patients age 50 and older.
Reporting
Report COVID-19 situations and outbreaks in your facility using the Outbreak Report Form.
You may also call the Infectious Disease Epidemiology team at 802-863-7240 (option 2) or email AHS.VDHEpiCOVID19Program@Vermont.gov (monitored during business hours).