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Valarie Devlin, a microbiologist at the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory, tests a specimen for the COVID-19 virus. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger

Editor’s note: VTDigger is posting regular updates on the coronavirus in Vermont on this page, where you can also subscribe for regular email updates.



A Chittenden County man has tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the state’s second case of the virus.



The patient, who is in his 70s, was hospitalized earlier this week at the University of Vermont Medical Center, according to a Wednesday evening press release from the Vermont Department of Health.



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The announcement comes less than a week after the state’s first case; a man from Bennington County tested positive on Saturday. That patient is hospitalized and in stable condition. As of Wednesday afternoon, the state’s Department of Health has tested 63 patients and is monitoring 216.



State health officials are tracking the exposure history of the Chittenden County man and those who had been in close contact with him. The department will assess those people for their risk, according to the release.



Ben Truman, spokesperson for the department, said he didn’t yet know whether the man had traveled abroad. He also didn’t know the patient’s current medical status.



The state’s second case comes on the heels of a flurry of school closures and event cancellations.



On Wednesday, Champlain College, Vermont Law School and the University of Vermont announced that classes would be held online after spring break. Several schools closed earlier this week due to exposure threats. College sports teams closed their games to fans and Ben and Jerry’s postponed its Free Cone Day.



The Vermont Department of Health is advising Vermonters to continue to take precautionary measures, including frequent hand-washing, staying home when sick, and reporting all travel to high-risk areas.

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