MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont health officials say the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state should be a “wake-up call” and that it is important for all residents to try and bring those numbers down.
The state registered 29 new cases on Monday alone, the latest in a string of high case counts that officials say marks the third uptick since the start of the pandemic. Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said he’s concerned because “Vermont has started to experience multiple simultaneous outbreaks.” One of those outbreaks at St. Michael’s College in Colchester has turned into a quarantined campus with remote classes and athletics canceled. Another cluster stems from the hockey and broomball leagues in the Montpelier area. Those infections were most likely spread off the ice, Levine said. He said it appears small or modest-sized gatherings among friends and families are fueling growth in Vermont. Some are likely tied to guests arriving without quarantine or Vermonters leaving the state and getting exposed. He said what is especially concerning are the threads of infections that impact several workplaces and schools.
State health officials Monday changed guidelines for recreational sports. They include no out-of-state travel and only Vermont-based teams can participate. There are also strict limits on spectators for indoor events with one spectator per family and no spectators at all for adult events, including games.
UVM VACCINE TRIAL
The University of Vermont will take part in a phase-three trial of a COVID vaccine. Officials the trial of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine can test up to 250 volunteers.
COVID MODELING AND TRAVEL MAP
DFR Commissioner Mike Pieciak presented the latest modeling and travel map. He says the state now has 25 cases in 19 different K-12 schools. It’s the first time Vermont has seen a reported case in every county in Vermont. Because the state had a week of high case growth, it’s on a very different trajectory and the state is forecasting a higher number of cases in the next few weeks. Pieciak says the good news is that Vermont still has a low hospitalization rate, a low positivity rate compared to the number of people being tested, and the lowest number of deaths per capita. He also says that if Vermonters are diligent in following state guidelines, the recent case growth can be reduced.
COVID cases are also up in the surrounding region by 21-percent. Cases are up in 15 surrounding counties and so the safe travel map continues to shrink -- down to just 880,000 people now allowed to travel to Vermont without a quarantine. Vermont counties remain exempt from the travel map rules even though they Chittenden County would be red by the state’s standards.
As of Tuesday, Vermont health officials reported a total of 2,113 coronavirus cases in the state and 58 deaths. A total of 186,291 tests have been conducted, 399 travelers are being monitored, 10,169 have completed monitoring and 1,766 have recovered.
COVID VOTING PROTOCOLS
We are one week away from Election Day and Vt. Secretary of State Jim Condos says the state continues to lead the nation in early-voting with 208,000 Vermonters having cast their ballots so far. That’s about two-thirds of all the votes in 2016. Vermonters can still vote early by dropping ballots off at their town clerk, in a ballot box, or you can bring your ballot with you to the polls on Election Day. Polls will be open and strict safety measures are in place. Any questions can be directed to your town clerk.
Copyright 2020 WCAX. All rights reserved.
"case" - Google News
October 27, 2020 at 05:29PM
https://ift.tt/3jCwqNQ
Rising virus case count should be 'wake-up call' to Vermonters - WCAX
"case" - Google News
https://ift.tt/37dicO5
https://ift.tt/2VTi5Ee
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Rising virus case count should be 'wake-up call' to Vermonters - WCAX"
Post a Comment