Little Rivers tested 27 people last week and all with negative results. The CDC reported that 701,913 specimens were tested last week in the U.S. with 16% positive. Vermont has tested 17,332 tests to date with 902 positive cases, a rate of 5.2% positive results. 

Last week we had a total of 442 patient visits including 56 televisits and 234 phone visits. Our overall visit count is about 60 to 65% of our pre-pandemic visit rate, and behavioral health visits are at the same rate as the pre-pandemic rate. The National Association of Community Health Centers reported today that community health centers in rural areas will receive much needed funds. Community health centers have suffered plummeting revenues because patients are avoiding routine primary care during the pandemic. Health centers serve 1 in 5 rural residents and operate with slim margins. Little Rivers has worked hard to provide COVID-19 screening, testing, and safe primary care when needed in our clinics and through televisits & phone visits whenever possible. Our East Corinth Clinic resumes in-person care starting tomorrow on Tuesdays and Fridays. Please call first, and we will coordinate a visit for you in a safe manner and regardless of your ability to pay. If you need a primary care provider, we will happily help you establish at Little Rivers. 

Vermont Hospitals can now resume nonessential outpatient clinic visits, diagnostic imaging and outpatient surgeries and procedures, according to a statement from Vermont Governor Scott's office. Surgeries that require overnight stays are still on hold. Scott said Vermonters should expect the coronavirus state of emergency to extend beyond the May 15 expiration of his current “stay home, stay safe” mandate. 

Join us on Thursday at noon at our Community Zoom meeting to a provide information about how to access health care, how to apply for health insurance, sliding fee scale, access to care regardless of your ability to pay, and access to food & transportation. The meetings are open to anyone, and access can be by phone, online with audio and video, or online chat. More meeting information is available on our website home page under ‘Upcoming Events’ at https://www.littlerivers.org/ or on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/littlerivershealthcare/.

VT COVID-19 Cases (as of midday today): Total cases: 902, New Cases: 23 (since Friday), Deaths: 52 (2 new deaths since Friday). Vermont has 8 patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 and 7 hospitalized under investigation. Windsor County has 43 cases, Washington County has 35 cases, Caledonia County remains at 14 cases and Orange County at 8 cases (1 new case). Windsor has 2 deaths so far, Washington 1, and none in Caledonia and Orange Counties. Orange County Vermont remains at 2 cases per 10,000 people. In our region, there are confirmed cases in Lyndon, Kirby, St. Johnsbury, Waterford, Marshfield, Groton, Orange and Fairlee.