Paths to COVID-19 Testing

The number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 in Bennington County is among the highest in the state. The rise in COVID-19 cases has led to increased hospitalizations at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in greater proportion than the rest of the state.  The most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce hospitalizations is through testing. Isolating people who test positive for COVID-19 prevents them from coming into contact with others, thereby reducing the number of people who become infected and, ultimately, sick from the virus. The quicker we identify those who could be infected with COVID, the quicker we can help treat, isolate or hospitalize those people and stop the spread.

You should get tested if…

• You have symptoms of COVID-19.
• You have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. 
• You will be attending or recently attended a gathering of people from more than one household (such as for the Super Bowl).
• You often gather socially with other people from outside their household.
• You are in quarantine due to exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• You have traveled and wish to end quarantine early with a negative test. In both cases, the test should be done on or after day 7.

SVMC has been a testing site since the beginning of the pandemic, and we continue to expand and improve. We are testing both those who have symptoms and those who do not. Please note that SVMC is moving its testing location to the parking lot closest to our Monument Avenue entrance on February 17^th.

If you have symptoms
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your health care provider so they can refer you for testing. If you don’t have a provider, you can call Southwestern Vermont Medical Center’s COVID-19 Info Hotline at 802-440-8844 to get a referral for testing. 

If you do not have symptoms
If you do not have symptoms, you can use our online self-scheduling tool that was launched this week. However, you must have a doctor’s order to schedule your test. (Click to make an appointment.) If you don’t have a provider or doctor’s order, you can call Southwestern Vermont Medical Center’s COVID-19 Info Hotline at 802-440-8844 to obtain an order and self-schedule. 

The Vermont Department of Health has partnered with CIC Health to offer additional COVID-19 testing at many sites in Vermont for anyone without symptoms. These sites allow you to take your own samples using a short swab in your nose. Watch their video to learn how easy it is to do! Register for a test by visiting healthvermont.gov/testing. (You will need to create an account to register.)

Here’s a list of new or ongoing VDH/CIC testing sites available in our area:

• Bennington Rescue Squad on McKinley Street in Bennington
• SVMC Northshire Campus at 5957 Main Street – Route 7A in Manchester
• Carlos Otis Clinic/Stratton Mountain Urgent Care on Stratton Mountain

Please note that testing days and times vary depending upon the site. Appointments are required. Visit healthvermont.gov/testing to register and make an appointment.

Alex Heintz is the patient safety officer at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and the coordinator of SVMC’s overall Testing Strategy.