The Vermont Department of Health will no longer collect self-reported COVID-19 test results from the public.
Since December of 2021, Vermonters have self-reported almost 50,000 COVID-19 test results. Among these, 29,885 were positive tests.
When at-home tests were widely used and when many Vermonters were getting very sick with COVID, this tool was a helpful signal of disease activity. By taking the time to report their test results, thousands of Vermonters helped us anticipate the need for further COVID response support around the state. Although at-home test reporting was never a requirement, the large number of tests reported by Vermonters during high disease activity helped the Department to better interpret other data sources for this new disease. It is a testament to the collective resilience and community spirit that Vermonters showed during the COVID-19 emergency and continue to show.
As COVID-19 has receded from public attention and has, overall, become less likely to make individuals sick, the reporting of individual COVID-19 test results among the public is less useful as a public health tool. COVID-19 tests remain useful as a clinical tool but, particularly with the availability of new disease surveillance data sources, we are well equipped to monitor COVID-19 activity without asking the public to report their self-administered tests.
We appreciate of all Vermonters who have reported their tests to us or who have otherwise provided or used COVID-19 data.