Vt. Health officials dismayed by rise in COVID cases

MONTPELIER, Vermont (WCAX) – Vermont health officials said on Friday that the surge in the number of COVID cases over the past week was the highest since the start of the pandemic and begged residents to stop the propagation.

The daily number of cases revised for Wednesday reached more than 260 new cases, a new record. Chittenden County is seeing an increase with 852 cases in the past 14 days and 86 alone on Thursday. Many cases involve young people, especially those in their twenties. For Vermonters in their 20s, case rates have increased by 50%, and for those under 20 by 100%.

Vermont Health Commissioner Dr Mark Levine says Vermont is no longer different from other hot spots in the country. He said if the state is on the cusp of bringing the virus under control in the coming weeks, the current numbers are worrying. He says the state is seeing more community transmission. Variants of COVID have now been found in five counties in Vermont and Levine said they are likely to be present in other counties as well. He said the variants were part of the reason for the increase in numbers, but this behavior, including people not wearing masks, traveling and not keeping their distance. Levine said the Vermonters have the ability to stop this increase in cases if they act now. This includes the CDC’s recommendations to limit interactions celebrating Easter and Passover.

DFR Commissioner Mike Pieciak said the modeling of this fourth wave indicates that the number of cases will continue to rise in the weeks to come.

Three different groups were able to sign up for a vaccine this week, including those 50 and older, families with immunocompromised children, and all those 16 and older from the BIPOC community. The next group to sign up is over 40 this next Monday at 8:15 a.m.

The state is deploying resources to Essex County, where vaccination rates of 31% remain the lowest in the state. They will set up many mobile clinics on April 10 and 11.

Officials say on Friday nearly 40% of Vermonters have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

UPDATING SCHOOL AND CONGREGANT SETTINGS

The state tested 1,472 school staff as part of its monitoring program. The state has found a case of COVID among school personnel. Almost 80% of school staff have now been vaccinated.

The state will adopt new three-foot distancing standards at all K-12 schools. Education Secretary Dan French said studies show there is no difference in stopping the spread and that it will help get more children back into the classroom.

Adult day centers can resume group activities now that so many older Vermonters have been vaccinated.

The state is trying to vaccinate staff at Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington, where COVID has been detected. Only 40% of staff chose to be vaccinated.

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