Protect Yourself & Others

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COVID-19 is currently spreading at higher levels in Vermont. During these times, it is important to reassess your personal risk and strongly consider when to take prevention steps, such as wearing a high-quality mask in indoor public spaces. If you have any symptoms, get tested. If you test positive and are at higher risk, contact your health care provider right away to get treatment.

The COVID-19 virus will be with us for a long time. Vermonters have the tools needed to protect themselves and others from getting or spreading the virus.

Stay Up to Date on Vaccinations

Vaccines are the best tool we have to protect ourselves against COVID-19, especially from severe illness, hospitalization and death.

Unvaccinated people are at a much higher risk of getting and spreading the virus. We strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to protect themselves by getting vaccinated as soon as possible, and get their booster shot for full protection when eligible. Find out where you can get your shot.

Get Tested When Needed

You can protect others by getting tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms or if you are a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and you are not vaccinated or not up to date on your vaccines. It's especially important to get tested if you are at higher risk for COVID-19, so you can reach out to your health care provider to ask about treatment. Find out where to get tested.

Stay Home if Sick

Whether you have symptoms of COVID-19, the flu, or another contagious illness, please stay home if you are sick and call your health care provider if needed. This helps keep germs from spreading, protects those who may be at risk of serious illness, and gives you a chance to get well.

Masking and Other Precautions You Can Choose

As the level of severe disease is low in our communities, each person can decide if they want to take precautions based on their own personal level of risk.

Decisions about additional precautions depend on your risk

Your decisions might be influenced by:

your age or health condition
if you are immunocompromised
if you spend time with people at higher risk or who are unvaccinated

These precautions might include wearing a mask, which helps protect you and the people around you from getting or spreading COVID-19. Examples of high-quality masks are N95 or KN95 masks, which are very good at blocking droplets. You can also wear a well-fitting mask with at least two layers of tightly-woven fabric or layer a disposable mask under a cloth mask to increase effectiveness.

Find free N95 masks

Know if you are at higher risk for COVID-19

If you are at higher risk for COVID-19, you can consider taking additional precautions, make sure you have quick access to testing, and be ready to reach out to your health care provider for treatment if you do test positive. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions about your risk.

Learn what to do if you test positive or are a close contact.

In This Section

Coping with Stress

Navigating the norms and rules of the continuing pandemic can be challenging, and our responses to it are varied.

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