Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 92 new cases of COVID-19 statewide with three more deaths. Total cases appear to have stabilized, down from their peak from mid-November to mid-December when they were running well over 100 a day, but higher than in the early fall, summer and spring. There are 22 hospitalized and six in the ICU.
The VDH also has initiated a weekly dashboard on vaccine distribution. SEE BELOW. The VDH expects to get the full initial allotment of 34,000 doses before the end of December, despite some delays.
The 1A group of frontline health care workers and nursing home residents are expected to complete their regimen by the end of January.
VDH will continue to run the daily COVID dashboard. However, there will be no Daily Update on 12/24 or 12/25.
Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said today that Vermont continues to have the lowest number of cases, positivity rate and deaths in the continental US.
He also said that people should not worry about when their turn for the vaccine will come up. He said there will be plenty of notification. He asked that people not call their doctor or hospital to "get on the list" because there is no list.
It might be spring, he said, before the average person who is not elderly or a health care worker or not otherwise health compromised gets vaccinated.
While there is not enough data yet, to achieve "herd" immunity could require 70-90 percent of Americans getting immunized. He added that some 20 percent as of now say they don't want it.
Dr Levine and Governor Scott at his regular press briefing today said that thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of many Vermonters, our COVID-19 numbers have leveled out for now.
- For the period from December 23 – January 2, one household may gather with one other trusted household. That is a maximum of two households gathering during this period.
- Staying home and with people you live with is still the lowest risk. Gathering with people you do not live with is not recommended for people who are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 or people who care for them.
- If you do gather, the Health Department strongly encourages getting tested 7 days afterwards.
- If you gather with anyone from out of state, everyone in both households must quarantine for 14 days, or 7 days with a negative test.
- The travel policy has not changed. If you travel outside of Vermont, you must follow quarantine requirements.
- Read about the modification made to gathering restrictions.
PREVENTION: For the period from December 23 – January 2, one household may gather with one other trusted household. Check out these prevention tips.s://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine/about-covid-19-vaccinesVACCINE: Vermont has received the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about how the first doses will be distributed.tps://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/travel-quarantiTRAVEL: All travel to and from Vermont now requires quarantine. The only exception is essential travel. Vermonters should limit non-essential travel.tps://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testTESTING: Learn who should get tested and find testing locations throughout Vermont.