COVID-19 Close Contacts Additional Guidance 

Additional Information from the VT Department of Health for Close Contacts in Quarantine

Daily cleaning and washing:

• Clean and disinfect surfaces in your home. If your child is staying in a separate room and using a separate bathroom, have the child or one caregiver clean that room. Have a separate household member clean the other areas of the home, if possible.
• Thoroughly wash household items, like utensils, after your child uses them.
• Make sure your child and household members wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.

If at any point your child develops symptoms:

• Contact your child’s health care provider by phone to find out if your child should be evaluated. Let them know your child is quarantining at home because they are a close contact of someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19.
• If your child is having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the hospital.
• If your child doesn’t have a provider, call 2-1-1 to be connected to a clinic in your area.
• People with mild illness can treat their symptoms at home: get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take fever-reducing medication if needed.
• If your child has symptoms, household members and other close contacts should also quarantine at home.

When to get medical care immediately:

If your child has trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or changes in color on their lips, gums, face, around the eyes, or nails, seek medical care immediately. When you call for medical care, tell the provider or 9-1-1 that your child is quarantining at home because they are a close contact of someone with COVID-19.

How does COVID-19 spread?

COVID-19 spreads when a person infected with COVID-19 breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus when they cough, sneeze, sing, talk, or breathe. People who are closer than 6 feet from the person with COVID-19 are most likely to get infected. You can get COVID-19 if these droplets or particles are breathed in, land on your eyes nose or mouth, or get on your hands, and then you touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

Vaccines are the best way to protect your child against COVID-19. When your child is fully vaccinated, they are much less likely to get sick and less likely to spread the virus to others. Everyone who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine should get vaccinated. It’s free, quick and easy. Talk with your child’s health care provider if you have questions or find a vaccine site near you at healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine. Everyone, including children who can’t be vaccinated, can take prevention steps to protect themselves and others. Learn more at healthvermont.gov/StaySafeVT.

Thank you for understanding that, due to medical privacy laws, we are not able to release the names of the individuals with COVID-19. We will continue to communicate changes and updates with you. With your participation, we believe we can create a safe and fun experience for your children.

Please call the Vermont Department of Health at 802-863-7240 (option 8) if you have questions or concerns. More information is available at the Health Department website: healthvermont.gov/COVID-19.