Vt. daily COVID case count spikes; officials urge caution - WCAX

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont daily COVID case counts spiked at 251 on Thursday, a new one-day record that pushed the state’s percent positive seven-day average back up to 1.8%, according to state health officials.

Vt. Health Commissioner Mark Levine Friday called the new case numbers “concerning” and again said the state is in a race to vaccinate residents as viral strains increase. He urged everyone, particularly younger Vermonters, to take precautions. Levine said those under the age of 30 made up about half of the new cases. Chittenden County led the state in new cases with 102. Rutland County reported 41 new cases. Levine says the increase is from a combination of factors, including include people interacting more and the arrival of virus variants. 

Gov. Scott said based on the rate of vaccinations and a stable hospital capacity, he has no immediate plans to clamp down on reopening plans.

Vaccination registration is currently open for Vermonters 60+, those 16+ with underlying health conditions, teachers and staff, some public safety employees, corrections staff, 911 operators, and some police.

The next age band, 50+, opens up on Monday. Health officials report that 33.8% of Vermonters16+ have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. Vermont ranks first in the nation for vaccinating people 65 and older.

Officials apologized for a technical issue Thursday where an estimated 2,100 people seeking vaccine appointments online, instead were scheduled for COVID testing. AHS Secretary Mike Smith says the glitch lasted about 45 minutes. He says the state has canceled those testing appointments and officials are helping those people make vaccine appointments again. The governor was among those that signed up Thursday. He will get his shot a week from Monday.

Secretary Smith says 77% of teachers and school staff have now been vaccinated, and because the state is getting additional Johnson & Johnson shots, they will ramp up those vaccination efforts.

As of Friday, Vermont health officials reported 251 new coronavirus cases for a total of 18,498. There have been a total of 224 deaths. The state’s percent positive seven-day average is 1.7%. A total of 351,385 people have been tested, and 15,361 have recovered.

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