MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont health officials say that while the number of COVID-19 cases in the state appears to have stagnated, the state remains an island in a red sea and it is essential to follow health precautions emergency next vacation.
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Gov. Phil Scott says current guidelines that prevent social gatherings outside of homes are likely to remain in place for now. “The more the virus spreads, the more dead we will see,” Scott said
In Vermont, as of Friday, two more deaths were reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 107. There are 27 people hospitalized with 10 in the ICU.
Dr. Health Commissioner Mark Levine says the state is monitoring 42 outbreaks with 17 in health care. There are 425 people in long-term care centers who have COVID. The state is also seeing 223 situations.
High-risk health workers began receiving the Pfizer vaccine this week. People in long-term care facilities are expected to start receiving the vaccine next week. “Every time a Vermonter is vaccinated, we all benefit,” Levine said.
All hospitals have received the vaccine, but officials learned Friday that the endowment in the state has been reduced for next week by 975 doses from the 5,850 expected. Levie says Pfizer denies it was his fault. He says there have been few communications from federal officials about the delay.
The state continues to work to find out who gets the vaccine after long-term care residents, but they are likely to be people over 65 and people with chronic illnesses.
A second Moderna vaccine is expected to be approved for emergency use this weekend. The state pre-ordered the vaccine, so Levine says the state expects about 34,000 doses by the end of the month between two vaccines.
The first economic recovery package was launched in May and Vt. Commerce, Lindsay Kurrle, said the last of the federal dollars will be shipped and will arrive sometime next week. In total, $ 300 million has been awarded to small businesses in Vermont to keep them afloat.
Vt Education Secretary Dan French says face-to-face instruction continues to increase. About half of all primary school students and 10% of high schools.
The state continues to test staff with about 25% testing each week in December, or about 5,000 people a week. The positivity rate among school staff is only 1%.
As of Friday, Vermont health officials reported 86 new cases of coronavirus for a total of 6,243. There have been a total of 107 deaths. The state’s seven-day positive percent average is 2.2%. A total of 248,986 tests have been performed, 214 passengers are being monitored, 11,400 have completed follow-up and 3,970 have been recovered.
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