How do you collect the data presented in the dashboard?
The Health Department receives lab results for COVID-19. When positive, epidemiologists and other public health officials work with the doctor to provide additional details, as well as interview the person. We ask questions about exposures, symptoms, and contacts the person may have had while they were ill.
When I add the number of cases today to the number of total cases from yesterday, it doesn’t equal the number of total cases today. Why?
Sometimes when more information is learned about someone who tested positive, they are no longer counted in our totals. For example, we might learn that the person doesn’t actually reside in Vermont because the original address provided is outdated.
Why do the number of new cases from a few days ago sometimes change?
The Health Department wants to ensure we provide the most timely data possible. Therefore, it may be subject to change as we learn new information. To share data quickly, we post it daily and sometimes we have to go back and update it for accuracy. The Health Department is committed to providing the most accurate data possible.
Are people who live out-of-state included in the number of people hospitalized and hospitalized under investigation?
Yes, if they are hospitalized in Vermont.
A case is considered “probable” if the person:
- has symptoms of COVID-19 and is epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case of COVID-19 or
- tested positive on an antigen test.
As of December 2, 2020, probable cases are included in the number of COVID-19 cases in Vermont.
As of January 4, 2021, deaths among probable cases are included in the number of COVID-19 deaths in Vermont. A death among a probable case is a person who:
- meets the probable case definition and has COVID-19 listed as a cause or contributing condition on their death certificate or
- has COVID-19 listed as a cause or contributing condition on their death certificate.
The Health Department follows the nationally recognized definition of COVID-19 cases, developed by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) in April 2020. Since then, the Health Department has tracked probable cases and taken the same public health actions as if they were a confirmed case (confirmed means the person tested positive on a PCR test).
Who is included in the number of people who have recovered?
The number of people recovered is based on the number of confirmed positive cases. This includes Vermont residents and non-Vermont residents who tested positive in Vermont.
The number of people who have recovered does not include people who have died and people who are hospitalized.
How is the number of people who have recovered determined?
The number of people who are recovered is estimated in two ways:
- People who have tested positive for COVID-19 report they have recovered to our investigation teams during their follow-up calls.
- Thirty days or more have passed since the date the person’s illness began. (If that information is not available, we use the date the positive test is reported to the Health Department.)
Collecting recovery data is not something epidemiologists normally do in disease investigation. Because of this new challenge, this method provides us our best estimate, and many other states are reporting recovery data this way.
If a person had no symptoms when they tested positive, would they still be considered “recovered”?
Yes, anyone who falls into either of the above categories will be considered recovered, whether they had symptoms or not.
Can I use the number of people recovered to know how many people are actively sick with COVID-19 in Vermont?
This number does not tell us who is actively sick with COVID-19 in Vermont. This is because:
- We think there are people with COVID-19 who haven’t been tested (therefore we don’t know about them), and
- People we do know about may be recovered – we just haven’t reached out to them yet or we haven’t deemed them recovered yet.
How does someone who had COVID-19 know that they’ve recovered?
Someone has recovered from COVID-19 when all three of these have happened:
- It has been 24 hours of no fever without the use of fever-reducing medication, and
- Other symptoms have improved, and
- At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
If someone didn’t have symptoms when they were tested, recovery is when at least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 test and they still have not had any symptoms.
How are you counting the total number of people tested?
The number of people tested reflects tests for a current COVID-19 infection. It includes people tested in Vermont and Vermont residents tested out of state, either by public health lab, hospital lab, or reference lab. This is the number of individuals tested, not the number of specimens. It does not include serology tests (also known as antibody tests). If someone was tested more than once, they are reflected in the data only one time, on the date of their first test.
Once a week, the Data Team runs a program that improves data quality by removing duplicates from the number of people tested. Because of this, the number of people tested may drop slightly on the data dashboard Tuesday update.
Why are CDC’s case counts for Vermont different from case counts on the Vermont Dashboard?
For the Vermont Dashboard, Vermont residents and non-residents who were tested in Vermont are included in the count. This helps us understand how COVID-19 affects the healthcare system and identify potential risk of transmission in the state.
The CDC case counts include only COVID-19 cases among Vermont residents. As of June 28, 2021, Vermont has stopped reporting non-resident cases to the CDC to allow the CDC to better understand the burden of COVID-19 among Vermont residents.
How can I see county-level case data?
On the “County-level Case Info” tab on the dashboard, select a county to see the new cases by date, cumulative cases, cases by sex, and cases by age group for that county. Deselect the county to see statewide data.
Why do county totals change?
Sometimes the Health Department receives positive results with little to no contact information. We use the county where the person sought care if the person’s residence is unknown. When we learn more about the case, we then update the county appropriately. Vermont residents are included in the Vermont county where they reside. People who tested positive for COVID-19 in Vermont while visiting or seeking care are included in the Vermont county where they were identified.
What is included in the Recent Cases map?
The Recent Cases map reflects the total number of cases and total number of deaths in each county reported during the last 14 days. Looking at the number of recent cases by county gives us a better sense of where COVID-19 is most active geographically.
Where can I see a map of recent cases by town?
See the Rate of Recent Cases by Town Map on the COVID-19 in Communities page. This map uses rates because it allows us to compare recent activity across towns with different populations.
How can I make a graph bigger?
There are a few ways to make the graphs and sections bigger.
- Click and drag the border around a graph to make it bigger.
- Click on the expand button in the upper right corner of a section to make that section larger.
- Some graphs have a slider that enables you to zoom in to specific dates.
Has the Health Department made the dashboard data sources available on the Vermont Open Geodata Portal?
Yes, there are four COVID-19 data sets available on the Vermont Open Geodata Portal: hospitalizations by date, daily counts statewide, cumulative cases by county, and daily counts by county. Data can be viewed in a table on the website or downloaded.