New Covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths are at their lowest in six months in Vermont largely because of the state’s high vaccination rate, officials said at a press conference Tuesday.
The state also reported zero active outbreaks in long-term care facilities, the first time that has happened since it began reporting that data in November. Vaccinations for long-term care residents and staff began in December.
The central cause of improving metrics is “Vermonters’ willingness to protect themselves and one another” by getting the vaccine, said Dr. Mark Levine, state health commissioner.
“Each and every newly vaccinated person is an additional step toward the pandemic finish line,” he said. “As the saying goes, a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. And thanks to each of you, we are almost there.”
Vermont dropped its residency requirement for getting the vaccine on Tuesday. Anyone who lives in or visits Vermont can get the vaccine here, said Mike Smith, secretary of the Agency of Human Services.
Smith said about 74% of Vermonters 12 and older — including the newly eligible 12-to-15-year-olds — have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
That’s 65% of Vermonters of any age, including children who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, he said, putting Vermont first in the nation for the percent of its population that has started vaccination.
Cases are dropping in every age group, but they have fallen the most in age groups with a high vaccination rate, said Michael Pieciak, commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation.
Overall, the state’s seven-day average case count has fallen 75% since April 1, around the peak of the pandemic. May has had five deaths so far, and is on track to have the lowest monthly death total since October.
Cases in nearby states have dropped as well, Pieciak said. The six New England states are also all in the top 10 for their vaccination rates.
Levine said Vermont’s vaccine rate should help protect the state from the rise of variants. Maine recently reported its first case of B.1.617.2, a variant first uncovered in India.
“And if the virus does come into Vermont, even if it’s a variant, our high vaccination rates create a wall of immunity that stops it from spreading further,” Levine said.
Scott said that on the 19th of this month, the state will once again lower its flags to half-staff in honor of the 254 Vermonters who have lost their lives to Covid.
“I think that should be incentive enough” to get vaccinated, he said.
EMS clinics begin during appreciation week
Vermont has planned 30 walk-in clinics at Emergency Medical Services headquarters this week, which is EMS appreciation week, Smith said.
Officials thanked EMS volunteers and workers for their efforts during the pandemic to test Vermonters, run mobile clinics, and train nurses at long-term care facilities, among other duties.
“When we asked EMS to mobilize and vaccinate homebound Vermonters, they were excited and ready,” Smith said. “When we asked them to facilitate mobile clinics, they did so with flawless execution.”
Vermont is also holding walk-in clinics at sites across the state, including schools and hospitality businesses, Smith said. Other walk-in locations include North Beach in Burlington and the Holiday Inn in Rutland.
Scott, Levine address unmasking unease
Vermont eased indoor masking restrictions for fully vaccinated people on Friday, citing CDC guidance that vaccinated people are at low risk of contracting or spreading the virus.
But Levine urged that others be patient with those who may choose to continue to mask up. He said people should keep a mask on hand and respect business restrictions on masking.
“Please don’t judge,” he said. “None of us can know anyone’s unique situation. Maybe there’s a staffer who goes home to people who can’t be vaccinated, or who might be immunocompromised.”
Scott said that, just as it took time to get used to wearing a mask, it’s natural to take time now to get used to not masking.
But asked about municipalities that have decided to keep their mask orders in place, Scott emphasized that the CDC has determined it is safe for fully vaccinated people not to wear a mask.
“It seems as though most everyone across Vermont has believed in the science until it conflicts with their fear, or the ideology, or their politics, and then they don’t believe the science,” he said. “But our team is going to continue to believe in the science.”
Other topics
- Scott said he doesn’t believe the Canadian border will reopen in the near future, since Canada has struggled to get its vaccination rate up and many provinces are in lockdown. He hopes for a border opening in midsummer, but thinks late summer is more likely. However, he still believes summer tourism will be high. “There’s pent-up demand” from other parts of the United States, he said.
- Scott disagrees with the idea of a “litmus test” for Republicans over whether they support former President Donald Trump. He said he hopes governors like him across the country will continue to stand up against problematic behavior.
- Scott and the Vermont Legislature have not yet reached an agreement on the state’s budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. “I’m still hopeful that we’ll have a broader perspective, broader plan” for broadband and other needs, rather than filling day-to-day needs with federal funding, he said. “Over the last week we’ve made significant strides in that regard as well,” he added.
