Vermont reported “low” Covid levels in the health department’s latest weekly report. Cases, hospital admissions and the percent of hospital beds in use for Covid remained low in the past week, the department said.
But there is one metric on the rise as of Wednesday: The state hit 47 patients hospitalized for Covid on Wednesday morning, the highest number since the end of May, according to the state database. It also reported a higher-than-average 40 patients on Monday.
The department’s report runs from August 14 to August 20, so it doesn’t reflect the latest uptick in hospitalizations. The state only releases hospitalization data for three days a week, making it hard to say if the recent high hospitalization counts reflect a consistent trend.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also rated 12 of Vermont’s 14 counties as having “low” Covid levels, while Rutland and Bennington counties had “medium” Covid levels.
The CDC and health department base their Covid levels on cases, hospital admissions and the percent of hospital beds taken up by Covid patients. The CDC advises high-risk residents in medium-level counties to take measures to protect themselves from Covid, such as wearing a mask.
The health department reported 517 Covid cases in the past week, compared with 451 the week before. Case data is based primarily on PCR tests, while at-home antigen tests are not usually included.
The department also reported three additional deaths this week, for a total of 11 so far in August, compared to 12 in July. In total, 707 people have died of Covid since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
Vaccine update
A week before Vermont children begin going back to school, less than half of school-aged children are up-to-date on recommended Covid vaccines, department data shows.
About 15% of children 5 to 11 years old have received all recommended doses, including the booster, the department reported. About 41% of 12- to 17-year-olds have received their recommended doses of the vaccine.
That’s compared to 52% of 5- to 11-year-olds, and 72% of 12- to 17-year-olds, that completed their primary course of the Covid vaccine, meaning the two initial shots of Pfizer or Moderna, according to the department.
Including older age brackets, the rates are a little higher: 83% of all Vermonters 5 and older have completed their primary course, and 37% are up-to-date on recommended booster doses.
Boosters are recommended for 5- to 11-year-olds who completed a Pfizer primary vaccine series at least five months ago. Shots are available at doctors’ offices, pharmacies and walk-in clinics.
The Biden administration has announced plans to vaccinate all Americans 12 and older soon after Labor Day with boosters that target specific subvariants of the Omicron strain, The New York Times reported. Vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna have applied to the federal Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization for the shots.
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August 25, 2022 at 03:26AM
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Covid levels 'low,' health department reports, but hospitalizations are up - vtdigger.org
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