Vermont’s Covid-19 community levels were “low” in the past week, the state Department of Health reported Wednesday.
The department reported 17 hospital admissions for the disease in the past week, the same as the week before. Overall, hospital admissions have fallen from a peak of about eight admissions per day in mid-December to between three and four per day in recent weeks.
There were 142 Covid cases reported in the past week, similar to the 139 cases reported the week before, according to the department. Case data is mainly based on PCR testing and does not include at-home antigen tests.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 13 of Vermont’s 14 counties have “low” Covid levels, while Rutland County rose from “low” to “medium” Covid levels this week.
CDC community levels are based on three factors: hospital admissions, the weekly case rate and the percent of hospital beds occupied by Covid patients. It recommends that high-risk people in medium-level counties wear masks and take other steps to protect themselves.
The health department reported nine additional Covid deaths, bringing April’s total to 11 deaths so far from the disease. If that trend continues, it would put April on track to exceed March’s 15 deaths.
In total, 957 people have died of Covid in Vermont since the beginning of the pandemic.