The Vermont Department of Health reported 2,188 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, the first time the state has reported more than 2,000 cases in a single day.
The latest data follows a trend of steep upward growth that began right before the new year. The state is now averaging more than 1,000 cases a day, compared with about 400 cases a day on Christmas, and about 750 cases a day on New Year’s Eve.
Vermont is not the only state to report a surge of the highly contagious Omicron variant. Cases have risen nearly 250% nationally over the past two weeks, according to The New York Times. Vermont’s have risen a more modest 111% by comparison, and it has the 19th-highest overall case rate.
Case data may be affected by changes in the way Vermonters are getting tested. Wth the rise of antigen tests, the Department of Health asks people to self-report the results, while PCR tests are automatically logged. About 18% of reported cases were “probable cases,” meaning that they were people with positive antigen tests who also have symptoms or case exposure.
Vermont also came close to breaking another record Thursday — for the number of patients hospitalized for Covid-19. Ninety-one patients were hospitalized with the virus, according to the Department of Health, close to the record 92 patients on Dec. 8.
There are currently 17 patients in intensive care units, still much lower than the 31 recorded on Dec. 17.
No new deaths were reported Thursday. In total, 482 Vermonters have died during the pandemic, including two so far in January.
Where does Vermont stand on vaccinations?
On Thursday, the state launched its Pfizer booster effort for 12- to 15-year-olds, following federal approval.
Boosters were made available for 16- and 17-year-olds in December. But many people in Vermont have yet to receive their booster dose, including adults.
Only 58% of Vermonters 16 and older, and 54% of people 18 and older, have received a booster shot or additional dose of the vaccine, according to Department of Health and Department of Financial Regulation data.
Booster rates are highest among the older population: Nearly three-quarters of people 65 and older have received them, according to the state's statistics. In comparison, only about one-third of Vermonters 16 to 29 have gotten a booster.
More details on the booster are available on the Department of Health website.
