Sign my petition to stop COVID in its tracks—ZERO TOLERANCE for COVID symptoms among our Vermont students. 

Vermont has the lowest rate for COVID infections in the United States and we want to remain this way through the upcoming winter. Common colds and flu have similar, if not identical symptoms as COVID 19, and in order to be able to recognize when COVID is in our midst, we must treat the common cold and flu just as seriously as COVID. Additionally, if we send the message that cold/flu symptoms are not likely to be COVID, other family members will continue to go to work, shop, school, etc. and we will all quickly be at risk. 

Currently, if Vermont students have COVID/cold/flu symptoms, they are told that they can return to school after 24 hours of "feeling better", and this is a totally unacceptable way to protect our communities. All members of a household must quarantine for 14 days if any members have any of these symptoms since if they pass on the common cold or flu to others at school and work, even more people will be affected. If we become desensitized to the symptoms of COVID, by the time we recognize the outbreak, it will be too late and we will have to shut down our state again and many lives will be lost. We can stop the common cold and flu from spreading in Vermont (which will conceal an outbreak) if we just change this recommendation.