Report Timeframe: December 2, 2025, to December 8, 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 have increased slightly. Other indicators like wastewater virus show an increase in COVID-19 and Norovirus in Vermont. Nationally, COVID outbreaks decreased.
Neither the VDH nor the CDC are any longer reporting COVID fatalities or total cases in Vermont or in the US.
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 3 outbreaks last week (3 the week before), with 3 in Long-Term Care Facilities and 0 in schools. Like hospitalizations, outbreaks increased slightly from mid-summer and have since fallen.
Overall Viral Activity Levels categories: Very Low, Low, Moderate, High, Very High. Trend categories: Increase (>10%), Stable, Decrease (<10%) over the last 28 days.
WastewaterSCAN
A few updates:
-
Nationwide, Flu A has moved from the “Low” category to the “High” category, marking the start of flu season in wastewater. Flu A concentrations have increased 260% nationally since November.
-
Vermont sites in South Burlington, Essex Junction, and Montpelier are in the “High” category for Flu A.
-
-
Nationwide, COVID-19 is now in the “High” category, with aggregated measurements showing medium concentrations and an upward trend. COVID-19 concentrations have increased 21% nationally since November.
-
Vermont sites in South Burlington, Essex Junction, and Montpelier are in the “High” category for COVID-19.
-
-
Nationwide, Norovirus is in the “Medium” category with an upward trend. Median concentrations are up 45% compared to November.
-
Vermont sites in South Burlington, Essex Junction, and Montpelier are in the “Medium” category for norovirus.
-
Respiratory Viruses
COVID-19
-
Vermont
-
COVID-19 is in the “High” category in South Burlington, Essex Junction, and Montpelier.
-
-
National
-
COVID-19 is in the “High” category with medium concentrations and an upward trend over the past 21 days.
-
Concentrations are up 21% since November, with median concentrations at 14.8k copies/gram (cp/g) over the past 21 days.
-
Sequencing data shows that XFG (Stratus) is the dominant variant and accounts for 78.5% of samples.
-
Influenza
-
Vermont
-
Influenza A is now in the “High” category in South Burlington, Essex Junction, and Montpelier.
-
Influenza B is in the “Low” category at all Vermont sites and not in season.
-
-
National
-
Influenza A is in the “Low” category nationally; however, the Northeast and South have officially moved into flu season in wastewater. The Northeast is in the “High” category.
-
260% increase in concentrations since November, with median concentrations at 6.3k cp/g over the past 21 days.
-
RSV
-
Vermont
-
RSV is in the “Low” category at all Vermont sites and not yet in season.
-
-
National
-
RSV is in the “Low” category nationally and not yet in season.
-
Avian Flu
-
Vermont
-
H5 has not been detected in Vermont in the last three weeks.
-
-
National
-
H5 (the flu A subtype associated with H5N1 or avian influenza) has been detected at 80 WastewaterSCAN sites across 27 states since monitoring began.
-
In December, there has been 1 positive measles detection in California.
-
A heat map of H5 detections is linked here.
-
Gastrointestinal Viruses
Norovirus
-
Vermont
-
Norovirus remains in the “Medium” category in South Burlington, Essex Junction, and Montpelier.
-
-
National
-
Norovirus is in the “High” category nationally with an upward trend and medium concentrations.
-
Norovirus median concentrations are up 45% compared to November.
-
To support vital journalism, access our archives and get unique features like our award-winning profiles, Book of Lists & Business-to-Business Directory, subscribe HERE!
