Vermont reported 178 new Covid cases Thursday, a new daily record. But health officials warned not to jump to conclusions about the hike — yes, the totals could be the first wave of a Thanksgiving-related surge, but they’re also partly the result of testing changes and reporting errors.
The University of Vermont Medical Center failed to report about 50 test results between Nov. 22 and Nov. 29, hospital President Stephen Leffler told reporters. He attributed the delay to technical issues, as the hospital restarted its electronic health records system after a cyberattack in late October.
Leffler apologized “for the error and any impact that had on any of our patients, or community.” Sixteen of those tests are included in Thursday’s results. The remainder will be added to tomorrow’s totals, according to state epidemiologist Patsy Kelso.
When patients were tested between Nov. 22 and Nov. 29, doctors received the results and notified those who tested positive. But the hospital did not report those results to the Vermont Department of Health. State officials reached out to the hospital on Nov. 30, after a week of no test results from Vermont’s largest hospital, Kelso said. She vowed that contact tracers would follow up today with the patients who had tested positive.
The hospital will revert to faxing test results to the state until medical center officials are sure the electronic reporting is working properly, Leffler said.
The rising case numbers could be the start of a spike related to Thanksgiving gatherings, but Health Commissioner Mark Levine warned Vermonters to wait for all the facts.
“One day does not represent a trend,” he said. “But one day should give us pause.” He encouraged Vermonters to “examine our own recent behaviors” and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The health department reported one new death on Thursday, bringing the total Covid deaths in the state to 75.
Levine and his colleagues have been publicly predicting higher numbers of cases as colder weather sets in and people spend more time indoors. “I don’t want this number to create alarm. I also don’t think we should all be surprised by it at all,” Levine said.
Still, the total could continue to rise over the next week or so. National researchers warned that the case count could double if a high percentage of Vermonters gathered for Thanksgiving despite state warnings.
At a press conference Thursday, Levine could not provide details about the recent cases, or offer updates on outbreaks, or on test results in elder care homes. Today, the state’s 48 contact tracers were calling each of the people who had tested positive, he said, and he promised more details on Friday.
Chittenden County reported 64 new cases of the virus, its highest daily total since the start of the pandemic. Caledonia County also reported a rise in cases Wednesday, and Franklin County has had a recent increase.
The state reported that 29 people were currently hospitalized for the virus, another rise from previous days. Three of those people were in the ICU. The health department reported one new death.
Vermont has had a surge in cases at elder care homes, and outbreaks across the state. In response, the Department of Health has set up new testing sites, and bolstered its contact tracing.
It’s set to receive its first batch of vaccine by Dec. 15.
In spite of the reporting error, UVM Medical Center will continue to offer tests, according to Leffler. He said no other reports to the state were affected, and vowed to monitor the results more carefully.
The patients who tested positive were contacted by their doctors, assured Human Services Secretary Mike Smith.
“Everyone should have been notified by the provider of their positive results and should be isolating at home,” he said. If they haven’t heard from a contact tracer, “they now will be contacted by the health department,” Smith said.
