Child Care and Out of School Programs

To help protect our community, everyone should follow these basic prevention steps:

• Get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible
• Stay home if you feel sick
• Get 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.
• Wash your hands regularly

Learn more about how to protect yourself and others.

If you learn of a positive case at your child care or out-of-school care program and need assistance, contact the Health Department's Infectious Disease Epidemiology team. Call 802-863-7240 (Mon - Fri 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.). You can contact your Local Health Office (preferred) with your contact information, or [email protected]. Please do not include any names, dates of birth or identifying information in your email.

Summer programs

Tests are not available for summer programs, but they are widely available to the public. Learn more about where to find tests. Summer programs should follow routine procedures for children who develop symptoms, including sending them home when feasible. Summer programs should encourage participants and staff to be up to date on COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 Antigen Tests For Child Care Programs

• Child care programs can now order antigen tests to use when children in their care develop symptoms.
• The antigen tests are intended for children age 2 to 5 while at a child care program.
• For ideas on how to use these tests, see this sample childcare sickness policy. The goal is to keep children in child care whenever possible.
• We encourage your staff and the families at your program to have rapid tests at home in case they develop symptoms. There is a third round of free government tests is available to all U.S. homes. Learn more about testing.