More than a year after Covid-19 invaded Vermont, Covid-19 cases are higher than ever, and its largest city seems to be struggling, too.
The state reported 201 cases Friday, topping off the week with a record-breaking seven-day average for the pandemic. In the past two weeks, cases have reached new highs in Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Orange and Rutland counties, with some signs of rising cases in nearly every county in the state.
The latest town data reflects that trend. Two weeks ago, the state reported 14 communities were in the highest category of case rate relative to their population — more than 80 cases per 10,000 population in two weeks.
Now, there are 21 communities in that bracket: Alburgh, Castleton, Charleston, Concord, Danville, Eden, Enosburgh, Guildhall, Hardwick, Killington, Lyndon, Newport City, Peru, Proctor, St. Albans City, Sheffield, Stowe, Troy, Westfield, Wallingford — and Burlington, the state’s largest city.
Burlington in particular is cause for concern. The city passed the 2,000-case mark this week, reporting 2,110 cases in total, a 21% increase in two weeks. Its case totals are more than double the next-highest city on the list, Bennington, with 709 cases.
The Queen City’s case numbers may reflect a trend officials have discussed at length in recent weeks: the rising surge of cases in young people, particularly 18- to 29-year-olds. Burlington is the youngest city in Vermont.
Although Burlington’s case total is more than five times what it was in mid-November — specifically, 361 as of Nov. 11 — most of that growth has been gradual week-to-week rather than a sudden jump. This week is the first week since December that it has been in Vermont’s highest case category.
There’s reason to believe that variant strains of the virus could be a factor as well. Chittenden County has so far reported the most cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, with 12 cases reported so far, according to new health department data.
That total likely underestimates the number of variant cases to a huge degree, since only a small percentage of Covid cases are checked to see if they have a variant strain, officials said Friday.
A few other counties with rising cases, such as Franklin and Rutland, have also reported cases of the variant. But it’s unclear if that’s because the variant is driving cases there, or it’s just being detected more because of the higher case numbers.
Check out the table above to see how cases are growing in your community, or see the Department of Health map to better understand how cases compare to your town’s population.
