Vermont’s Covid-19 community levels were “low” in the past week, the state Department of Health reported Wednesday.
The latest update shows that Burlington’s wastewater plants reported normal levels of the Covid virus in their samples as of Jan. 23, after reporting a record-high spike the previous week.
Other wastewater collection sites reported varying Covid levels for the same time period, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC also reported that five counties, all located on the western side of the state bordering New York, had their Covid levels rise from “low” to “medium” as of Thursday. Rutland County rose to “high” levels.
Some Covid metrics showed signs of an increase, such as the state’s hospital admissions, which ticked up from 41 to 48 in the past week, the department reported. But the metrics still remained within the state’s “low” category overall.
The department reported 41 people were hospitalized for Covid as of Wednesday, including eight in intensive care.
There were 501 Covid cases reported this week, up from 455 the week before, the department said. Covid case data is primarily based on PCR test results and does not include at-home antigen testing.
The department also reported an additional five Covid deaths this week, raising January’s total to 17, compared with 20 in December. January’s total may continue to rise, as the department often reports Covid deaths retroactively as death certificates are completed. In total, 894 people in Vermont have died of Covid since the beginning of the pandemic.