Vt. health officials dismayed by spike in COVID cases - WCAX

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont health officials Friday said surging COVID case counts over the past week are the highest they have been since the start of the pandemic and pleaded with residents to stop the spread.

Revised daily case counts for Wednesday reached over 260 new cases, a new record. Chittenden County is seeing a surge with 852 cases in the last 14 days and 86 alone on Thursday. Many of the cases are among young people, especially those in their 20s. For Vermonters in their 20s, case rates increased 50%, and for those under 20 by 100%. Health officials say those most vulnerable to severe illness and death are being vaccinated in ever-increasing numbers, helping to limit deaths from the virus.

Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine says Vermont is now no different than other hot spots around the country. He said while the state is on the verge of getting a handle on the virus in the coming weeks, the current numbers are disturbing. He says the state is seeing more community transmission. COVID variants have now been found in five Vermont counties and Levine said they are likely in other counties too. He said the variants are part of the reason for the spike in numbers, but that behavior, including people not wearing masks, traveling, and not keeping their distance. Levine said Vermonters have the ability to stop this rise in cases if they act now. That includes following CDC recommendations to limit interactions celebrating Easter and Passover.

DFR Commissioner Mike Pieciak says the modeling of this fourth wave indicates case numbers will continue to increase in the coming weeks.

Three different groups were able to register for a vaccine this week, including those age 50-plus, families with immunocompromised kids, and all those 16-plus in the BIPOC community. The next group to register is 40-plus this coming 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 be setting up numerous mobile clinics on April 10th and 11th.

As of Friday, officials say nearly 40% of Vermonters have had at least one dose of the vaccine.

SCHOOL AND CONGREGANT SETTINGS UPDATE

The state tested 1,472 school staffers as part of its surveillance program. The state found one case of COVID in school staff. Nearly 80% of school staff have now been vaccinated.

The state will adopt new distancing standards of three feet in all K-12 schools. Education Secretary Dan French says studies show there’s no difference in stopping the spread and that this will help get more kids back in the classroom.

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

The state is trying to get staff vaccinated at the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington where COVID has been detected. Just 40% of staff members there have opted to get the shot.

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