Dear Middlebury Community,

In this email, we’ll address the following:

  • New Testing Location on Campus 
  • Antigen Tests for Students and Employees
  • State of the State
  • CDC’s New Test to Treat Program
  • Upcoming Vaccine and Booster Clinic on Campus

New Testing Location on Campus

Starting April 11, PCR testing for COVID-19 will move from Virtue Field House to the testing window at Centeno House, 136 South Main Street, accessible via the patio facing the Service Building. The volume of tests has decreased with the availability of rapid antigen tests, so this location is more fitting. Should we need to scale-up testing, we could resume testing in Virtue.

PCR testing is available for students and employees on campus Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No appointment is needed. More information is available on the COVID-19 Testing page

Note that employees who are symptomatic may use a home antigen test kit and/or arrange testing through their healthcare provider, the Vermont Department of Health, or a local pharmacy. See also COVID-19 Testing and Reporting Instructions

Antigen Tests for Students and Employees

We continue the distribution of antigen tests for students and employees on campus as follows:

  • For Students: Antigen tests are available in the dining halls at check-in, at the Virtue PCR testing center, at the Davis Family Library circulation desk, and at Health Services. 
  • For Employees: Antigen test kits and N-95 and KN-95 masks are available for all employees at the Human Resources Office at Marble Works, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at the Davis Family Library circulation desk. 

State of the State 

The state of Vermont reported an uptick in cases of COVID-19 this week, likely due to the predominance of the BA.2 subvariant, which is more contagious but less severe than Omicron, state officials said at their weekly press briefing Tuesday. Governor Phil Scott noted that the higher case counts are not accompanied by an increase in hospitalizations, and so the state does not view this as a change in status for Vermont.

The state has moved away from PCR testing at some sites in favor of distribution of rapid antigen tests to more quickly identify positive results, state officials said. More information about how to make an appointment and when to take the various types of tests is available on the state’s COVID-19 testing website and Middlebury’s COVID-19 Testing and Reporting Instructions.

CDC’s New Test to Treat Program

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a new nationwide Test to Treat initiative that provides “quick access to free treatment for COVID-19.” Through this program, individuals who test positive can receive a prescription from a healthcare provider if it’s deemed appropriate for them. 

Upcoming Vaccine and Booster Clinic on Campus

We are working with Addison County Home Health to plan a vaccination clinic on campus later in the semester. We will provide more information about what types of vaccination will be offered, including second boosters for those who are eligible. The CDC now recommends a second booster of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for certain immunocompromised individuals and those 50 and older who are at least four months out from their first booster. 

Thank you for your attention to these updates. Should you have questions, please write to COVIDInfo@middlebury.edu.

Sincerely,

Mark Peluso

Chief Health Officer and College Physician

Smita Ruzicka

Vice President for Student Affairs