Updated at 2:30 p.m.
Vermont reported 107 new Covid-19 cases and no new deaths on Friday. Health department data shows 23 people hospitalized with the virus, with seven in intensive care and one person hospitalized with a suspected case.
The department also updated Thursday's tally to 166 cases, from 114 previously reported.
State officials expect cases to remain elevated through mid-September while the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread, according to modeling data presented earlier this week.
All but one of Vermont’s 14 counties — Grand Isle — now show at least “substantial” spread of the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency recommends that all people in those counties wear masks in indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status.
Five counties — Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Orleans and Washington — show “high” transmission, the most severe category tracked by the CDC.
Gov. Phil Scott said Tuesday that masking should be “a personal choice” based on individual risk factors.
Cases were reported Friday in every county except Lamoille. The highest total was reported in Chittenden County, with 26 positives.
The seven-day average test positivity rate was 3.3%.
As of Friday, 84.6% of Vermonters age 12 and over have gotten at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. That includes 38,669 people who have started vaccination and 431,950 people who have completed it, according to the health department.
Those who have yet to be vaccinated can find availability at pharmacies, hospitals and walk-in clinics.
