COVID-19 Daily Update
February 5, 2021
New or updated information is in red and bold
This update is available online at healthvermont.gov/covid19
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Vaccination Program for Homebound Vermonters Beginning
Human Services Secretary Mike Smith announced at Tuesday’s press conference that vaccinations for homebound Vermonters will begin immediately.
Vaccinations will be administered through a partnership between local Home Health and EMS agencies. Agencies covering Caledonia, Franklin, Orange, Windsor, and Windham Counties received dose allotments today, and distribution is anticipated to expand next week, Smith said.
The first group of designated recipients includes Vermonters age 75 and older who are both homebound and in the service of the local Home Health Agencies (including both VNA agencies and Bayada). Vaccinating agencies will contact them to arrange the vaccination visit. Please do not contact the home health agencies, Smith said.
“We recognize that there are homebound community members who do not receive home health services that will need to be vaccinated,” Smith said.
Once the roughly 2,000 Vermonters connected with home health services have been reached, the service will be expanded to include others in need. Numerous partners, including primary care, Agencies on Aging, and municipalities are currently discussing how best to identify the additional individuals and to create the second phase of outreach.
As of Saturday morning, over 60,000 Vermonters have received at least one dose of vaccine. See graphic BELOW.
Enjoy the Super Bowl, but Skip the Gatherings
While the Super Bowl might seem like a more minor event than some of our recent holidays, “it has potential to truly damage the recent progress we’ve made — if we don’t celebrate safely,” Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD said Tuesday.
If you’re watching the Super Bowl this Sunday, stick to your own household. Gathering with anyone you don’t live with increases the chances of spreading of COVID-19, especially if you’re indoors, close together and eating or drinking without masks, Dr. Levine said.
The CDC has shared some tips, like hosting a virtual watch party or starting a group text for game commentary. You can make your own special game-day apps and snacks with people you live with, or order take-out food - and support your local restaurants.
“Luckily, the Super Bowl is a TV event, so we can still root for our favorite team, debate which commercials are the best, and enjoy the halftime show all from the comfort our own homes — safely,” Dr. Levine said. “Remember, it was Halloween gatherings and parties that really drove our first big uptick in cases, a mere 3 months ago, and it hasn’t slowed down significantly yet. So consider following my and Dr. Fauci’s Super Bowl Sunday advice and just lay low — at least this time around.”
High School Sports Return
Governor Scott (rooting for Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl) also announced today that indoor high school and youth sports can return to competition starting next Friday, February 12. This does not include adult recreational sports.
Teams have been allowed to practice and scrimmage, but games have been put off after the holiday season starting with Halloween led to a spike in COVID-19 cases and forced the delay of the winter sports season. Outdoor sports are already under way.
Scott said they are waiting a week to begin the competition because the Vermont Principals Association, which governs the sports, needs time to prepare, such as for ice team and lining up officials.
However, there will be no spectators allowed, including parents. They will be limited to the athletes, coaches, staff, media and officials. Masking is required.
Only two games in a seven-day period will be permitted and they must be at least three days apart.
Getting Tested Is Easier Than Ever
The Vermont Department of Health has partnered with CIC Health to offer COVID-19 testing at many sites in Vermont. These sites now allow Vermonters to take their own samples using a short swab in your nose. Watch a new video to learn how easy it is to do!
Register for a test by visiting healthvermont.gov/testing. (You will need to create an account to register.)
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your health care provider so they can refer you for testing. If you don’t have a provider, you can call 2-1-1.
New on healthvermont.gov
One of the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 is by getting tested as soon as you start to feel sick. Learn more about the average amount of time between symptom onset and when the Health Department receives a person’s test result — so that public health response can begin — in the latest Weekly Data Summary Spotlight.
Case Information
Current COVID-19 Activity in Vermont
As of 12 p.m. on February 5, 2021
|
Description |
Number |
||
|
New cases* |
107 (12,612 total) |
||
|
Currently hospitalized |
55 |
||
|
Hospitalized in ICU |
17 |
||
|
Hospitalized under investigation |
9 |
||
|
Percent Positive (7-day average) |
1.8% |
||
|
People tested |
308,813 |
||
|
Total tests |
907,998 |
||
|
Total people recovered |
9,126 |
||
|
Deaths+ |
181 |
||
|
Travelers monitored |
192 |
||
|
Contacts monitored |
233 |
||
|
People completed monitoring |
12,802 |
* Includes testing conducted at the Health Department Laboratory, commercial labs and other public health labs.
+ Death occurring in persons known to have COVID-19. Death certificate may be pending.
Hospitalization data is provided by the Vermont Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Coalition and is based on hospitals updating this information.
Find more data at: healthvermont.gov/currentactivity.
Additional Resources About Vaccination and More
- Find answers to your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html.
- Get Vermont-specific information in our Frequently Asked Questions.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard: healthvermont.gov/covid19-vaccine-data.
- Sign up for the COVID-19 Weekly Email Update.
- Find information sheets, posters and toolkits on our Resources web page, in addition to translated materials.
Take Care of Your Emotional and Mental Health
If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs emotional support, help is available 24/7:
Call your local mental health crisis line.
Text VT to 741741 to talk with someone at the Crisis Text Line.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
You can also get more information and resources:
Visit our Coping With Stress web page.
Get connected to Alcohol and Drug Support Services at VT Helplink.
Get self-help tips and connect to mental health services at COVID Support VT.