VDH: COVID-19 stays low as wastewater testing shows increase

Report Timeframe: April 20 to April 26, 2025. Current Vermont Department of Health recommendations on preventing COVID-19.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remain low and fell to under 5 cases statewide after a spike during the winter. Wastewater testing indicates that virus levels increased at the Montpelier facility, where they had spiked in January.

The Vermont pandemic death total stands at 1,290 as of April 26, 2025, with 1 reported death from the previous week (the most recent data available from the CDC). The VDH is no longer reporting COVID fatalities and cases in Vermont. 

The hospitalizations dataset contains day-level data reported from all Vermont hospitals each Tuesday. Reported numbers are subject to correction.

Laboratory-confirmed and diagnosed COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 outbreaks must still be reported to the Vermont Department of Health. 

There were 2 outbreaks last week (2 the week before), with 2 in Long-Term Care Facilities and none in schools. 

Vermont has the second lowest state fatality rate in the US (147.2 per 100K; Hawaii 112.9/100K). Mississippi (464.4/100K) and Oklahoma (460.6/100K) have the highest rates. The US average is 307.5/100K (CDC data). 

There has been a total of 1,227,441 COVID-related deaths to date in the US (CDC) and 7,094,925 globally (WHO).

COVID-19 indicators have fallen to their lowest levels since early summer 2024 after very low levels that spring. Cases and hospitalizations began to rise during the summer. They peaked in late summer/early fall and again in mid-January 2025 (though well below the January 2024 peak) before falling.

Meanwhile, Vermont Health Commissioner Mark A. Levine MD retired at the end of March 2025. Dr. Levine, 71, of Shelburne was first appointed by Governor Scott in 2017 and is currently one of the Administration’s longest-tenured commissioners. He led his department through the COVID-19 pandemic and has served as a key advisor on public health matters. He was featured and well regarded during the governor's pandemic response press conferences at the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. 

Also, the new RSV immunization for babies is over 90 percent effective at preventing hospitalization. In the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, things look different this year – specifically, fewer newborns and infants admitted in need of critical respiratory care after catching one of the season’s most aggressive respiratory viruses: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

“RSV is the most common reason for children under one year old to be admitted to the hospital,” Rebecca Bell, MD, a pediatric critical care physician at UVM Medical Center. “The kids that get the sickest are the youngest kids – particularly under six months old. Every year, our PICU is full of infants critically ill with RSV infection.”

But this year, RSV-related hospital admissions for these youngest patients are down significantly, said Dr. Bell – and the reason is clear: A new monoclonal antibody prevention medication approved in July 2023 by the Food and Drug Administration.

The medication, called nirsevimab, is given via injection to infants under eight months old and uses lab-made antibodies to block RSV from infecting cells. Unlike a vaccine, the immunization provides a ready-made supply of antibody protection to babies without triggering an immune system response. Protection against severe RSV infection begins immediately.

See current Vermont Department of Health recommendations on preventing COVID-19.

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