The following resource guide includes local information on testing, vaccinations, boosters, notifying contacts as well as area resources.

PART I: MANDATES/TESTING/VACCINATION/BOOSTERS/PREVENTION

Mandates: Vermont currently has no mandates in place.

Prevention: The VT Department of Health (VDH) recommends that people:

• vaccinate (ages 5 and up)

• get a booster shot (18 and up)

• stay home if sick

• get tested if you:

- have any symptoms (fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea);

If you Test Positive: Vermonters who test positive should isolate at home away from other people and outreach to close contacts immediately. follow these steps to stop further spread.

To assist you in notifying close contacts, check out How to Notify Contacts if you Test Positive for Covid.

Follow the guidelines at the VDH website for isolating and other measures. People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter.

If you test positive on a home test: A positive self-test result means that the test detected the virus, and you are very likely to have an infection.

- Stay home or isolate for 5 days, wear a mask if you could have contact with others, and avoid indoor gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading disease to someone else. If you are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter.

- Contact your health provider about your positive test. It’s important to talk to your provider ASAP. Your provider can determine if you are a good candidate for antiviral medication. You will need to take the medication within five days of first symptoms.

- Notify Contacts: Use How to Notify Contacts if you Test Positive for Covid

- Notify the VT Health Dept. using the VT Covid-19 Self-Test Reporting Form

If you are required to isolate in Cavendish and need help, please call 802-226-8044. Volunteers are available.

Booster/Vaccines: Both are free and available at the Ludlow Rite Aid-register at their website and the Ludlow Health Center 802-228-8867.

TESTING: State testing sites are closed. Cavendish has free test kits available at the Cavendish Fire Dept Monday-Friday from 9-4. These can be obtained on the weekend by calling 802-226-7807. Please note these test kits are not for “stocking up,” but rather for emergent situations. You can also obtain test kits at the Rite Aid in Ludlow and most drug stores. If you haven’t already done so, order free at-home tests by going to covid.gov Ludlow Health Center offers PCR testing.

If you think it’s “just a cold,” get tested as it may be Covid.

PART II: LOCAL RESOURCES

• Town Office: The office is open to the public and to one researcher at a time. Call 226-7291 or 7292. Check the website for town related information.

• If you are having issues with, lost wages, food, rent etc. Black River Good Neighbors in Ludlow. (802) 228-3663.

• Support Services, including if you are not safe where you are living:

- Daily Friendly Call: A Cavendish Volunteer will be happy to call and chat with you daily. Arrange by calling 226-7291

- Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-228-7395

- Sexual Violence Hotline 1-800-489-7273

- Teen Dating Abuse 1-866-331-9474

- Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

- Deaf Vermonters Advocacy Services

- Safe Space Vermont (for LGBTQ people)

- The Vermont Coalition of Supervised Visitation Programs (VCSVP)

- VT Helplink: Alcohol & Drug Support Center-Free. Specialists offer caring and expert support to navigate the VT Treatment & Recovery System 802-565-5465. 8 am-10pm, M-F and 8 am-6pm on weekends and holidays.

- HCRS: Offers a 24/7 Crisis Line, 1-800-622-4235 and serves children, youth and adults.

- Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255

• CHS Cares Closet: Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) Museum (1951 Main St-131, Cavendish Village), Open the doors and pick up a mask (KN95s), hand sanitizer, DVDs, CDs and information. Lift the chest lid for puzzles, games, hands on history projects, craft supplies, toys and more. Everything is free for the taking. If you would like some Closet items but are home bound, call 226-7807 or e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com to arrange for delivery services. If you have something you wish to donate, please e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com or call 802-226-7807. Do not leave anything there.

• WIFI: Free Wi-Fi is available at: libraries in Proctorsville & Ludlow; Cavendish and Proctorsville Village Greens; and the Cavendish Baptist Church. The latter is password protected. You can obtain this by calling the church at 802-226-7131.

• Transfer Station: Normal hours-W & Sat 8-5; Sun 10-5.

• Library Resources:

- Cavendish Library: Open regular hours. . FMI: 226-7503, Facebpok

- Ludlow Public Library: Open regular hours. Curbside service available. FMI: 802-228-8921,

• Food/Stores: Ludlow Shaw’s offers online shopping 802-228-8468. Drive Up and Go services are available 8 am-8 pm. WalMart in Claremont offers curbside and in-store pick up. Call 603-542-2703.

• Post Office: Normal hours.. Proctorsville 226-7268; Cavendish 226-7238.

• Health Care: If you are feeling sick, please call your primary care provider or any of the local emergency rooms before going in. They will advise you how to proceed. CALL 911 FOR ALL EMERGENCIES

Contact numbers are as follows:

- Ludlow Health Center 802-228-8867

- Springfield Hospital 802-885-7540

- Rutland Regional Medical Center 802-775-7111

- Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center 603-650-7000

- Mt. Ascutney Hospital 802-674-6711

• Special programs for Covid patients

- Rutland Regional Medical Center’s Covid-19 U-Turn Program

- Mt. Ascutney Heads Up: Coping through Covid-19

• Long Covid Resources: Programs for those whose Covid symptoms continue after 4 weeks from initial infection

- Dartmouth Hitchcock Post Acute Covid Syndrome (PACS) Clinic. Patient Resources page

- University of Vermont