Updated Guidance for Gathering

On Monday, the Vermont Department of Health reported that the B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19, known as the UK variant, had been detected in Vermont. The variant had been circulating widely throughout the world since it was first discovered in the United Kingdom in the fall of last year. It had been confirmed in nearly every U.S. state, so many expected that we would find it here.

While the variant does not appear to be more deadly than the original, it does spread more readily. For this reason, we expect that more people will become infected. With increased infections come increases in serious cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. That’s why, even as widespread vaccination efforts and warming weather begin to allow increased contact, we need to continue to be careful. Here are the current recommendations:

Distance and Masking
Everyone should continue to wear a mask in public and avoid crowds.

According to updated guidelines issued by Vermont Governor Phil Scott today, those who have been fully vaccinated may socialize freely at home with other vaccinated people without having to wear a mask or keep 6 feet apart. They may include one unvaccinated family outside their household at a time. Those who are unvaccinated should wear a mask and keep 6 feet from others. It is still wise to socialize outside when possible and to keep visits with unvaccinated people short.

Unvaccinated people can socialize with one other unvaccinated family at a time if they wear a mask and distance. They may socialize with vaccinated persons as noted above.

A person is considered vaccinated if it is 2 weeks after receiving their final dose of vaccine. 

Test
Those who are unvaccinated and exposed or may have been exposed to someone with COVID should get tested. Anyone with symptoms should get tested, whether they have been vaccinated or not. Getting tested is fast and easy. It can now often be arranged the same day. Results are faster than ever, too.

Vaccinate
Everyone should get the vaccine as soon as they are eligible. At this time, people 65 and older and those 16 and older with high-risk health conditions may register and sign up for a vaccine appointment. Childcare and primary and secondary school staff are also eligible. Best of all, by being vaccinated, we limit opportunities for new variants to emerge.

By following this guidance now, we can expect that our vaccination efforts will defeat COVID-19 and its variants and soon allow us to get together safely with anyone we choose wherever and whenever we want. In fact, the better we abide by these guidelines now, the sooner we will get to that point.

Marie George, MD, FIDSA, is Southwestern Vermont Medical Center's Infectious Disease specialist.