Vermont reported 104 new Covid-19 cases and four new deaths Wednesday, according to data from the state Department of Health.
The state has reported 37 deaths in September, making this the second-deadliest month of the pandemic. (The state reported 71 deaths in December 2020.)
The 57 deaths reported since the Delta variant began surging in late July now match the number of deaths recorded during the first wave of the pandemic, from March through July 2020.
Three new deaths were reported Wednesday among people 80 or older, and one death was reported in a person age 40-49.
According to the health department, 44 people are hospitalized with Covid-19 in Vermont with 12 in intensive care. Two more people are hospitalized with suspected cases.
The seven-day average test positivity rate is 3%.
The state does not report on the vaccination status of new deaths on a daily basis, but recent data specific to the Delta wave shows that Covid-19 deaths are mostly among older Vermonters, in many cases regardless of the person’s vaccination status.
That’s one reason the state is encouraging older Vermonters to sign up for booster shots. As of Wednesday morning, people 70 and older who received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago are eligible to sign up for a booster appointment or request one at a pharmacy or health care provider.
Starting Friday at 8:15 a.m., eligibility will open to all people 65 and older, as well as those with high-risk health conditions, those who work in certain occupations and those who live in congregate settings.
The full list of eligible occupations, which can be found on the health department website, includes health care and long-term care workers, law enforcement, first responders, corrections staff, grocery store workers, food service and restaurant workers, education staff, public transit workers, and people who work in manufacturing.
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