Vermont leaders are carefully watching the state’s intensive care unit capacity as patient numbers rise due to COVID-19 and other factors.Gov. Phil Scott said that ICU capacity is now the state’s “biggest concern” in managing the pandemic. During his Tuesday afternoon briefing, he said patients being treated for COVID-19 comprise between 10-15% of total patients in intensive care during recent weeks.At times, Scott said, there have been days when fewer than a dozen ICU beds were open across the state. “This has put more strain on our hospitals,” he added. “Which are already under stress from an increase in patients needing care for health issues that are not related to COVID.”Vermont had the eight-fewest COVID-19 hospitalizations per capita at the time of this report, according to data provided by state and federal health groups. The governor and state health officials said the current strain cannot be attributed only to patients infected with the virus — also noting factors like delayed healthcare availability are playing a role. He added that “plans are made” should the state reach its ICU capacity in the coming weeks, but declined to comment publicly on what those contingency efforts might look like. While comments of rising concern were clear at the pandemic briefing, Scott said he will not support a possible return to a statewide mask mandate or other public health measures seen earlier in the pandemic. He, along with Health Commissioner Mark Levine, are recommending residents continue to follow at-will public health measures like wearing masks in indoor spaces and utilizing COVID-19 testing availability. COVID-19 modeling updateKnown infections rose 42% over the past week and state models show case numbers are expected to remain at a heightened level for at least another month.Counties in the state’s Northeast Kingdom — Calendonia, Essex and Orleans — continue to report a disproportionate number of COVID-19 infections, causing state leadership to reiterate their concerns about the area’s trajectory. The three counties have reported 659 cases over the past two weeks, according to Department of Health data. Chittenden County, which has more than double the population of the entire Northeast Kingdom, reported 641 new COVID-19 cases during the same period. Across the state, children between ages 5 and 11 are the leading all age groups in infections per capita by a wide margin. The information has prompted Scott to double down on urging parents to register for the recently-approved pediatric COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine rollout for young kids underwayVermont began administering COVID-19 vaccines for children between ages 5 and 11 on Monday, following recent approval on the pediatric doses from federal health groups. Roughly one-third of the age group has registered for a vaccine appointment through the state, according to Scott. Additional appointments may have been scheduled through pharmacies or other groups as well. The White House approved a state request for additional doses, planning to ship 3,900 more vaccines next week. Roughly 9,000 are now slated to be sent to the state. Health officials also provided an update on booster doses for Vermonters age 65 or older, saying nearly 48% of the age group has already received one; the most of any state in the country.
Vermont leaders are carefully watching the state’s intensive care unit capacity as patient numbers rise due to COVID-19 and other factors.
Gov. Phil Scott said that ICU capacity is now the state’s “biggest concern” in managing the pandemic. During his Tuesday afternoon briefing, he said patients being treated for COVID-19 comprise between 10-15% of total patients in intensive care during recent weeks.
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At times, Scott said, there have been days when fewer than a dozen ICU beds were open across the state.
“This has put more strain on our hospitals,” he added. “Which are already under stress from an increase in patients needing care for health issues that are not related to COVID.”
Vermont had the eight-fewest COVID-19 hospitalizations per capita at the time of this report, according to data provided by state and federal health groups. The governor and state health officials said the current strain cannot be attributed only to patients infected with the virus — also noting factors like delayed healthcare availability are playing a role.
He added that “plans are made” should the state reach its ICU capacity in the coming weeks, but declined to comment publicly on what those contingency efforts might look like.
While comments of rising concern were clear at the pandemic briefing, Scott said he will not support a possible return to a statewide mask mandate or other public health measures seen earlier in the pandemic.
He, along with Health Commissioner Mark Levine, are recommending residents continue to follow at-will public health measures like wearing masks in indoor spaces and utilizing COVID-19 testing availability.
COVID-19 modeling update
Known infections rose 42% over the past week and state models show case numbers are expected to remain at a heightened level for at least another month.
Counties in the state’s Northeast Kingdom — Calendonia, Essex and Orleans — continue to report a disproportionate number of COVID-19 infections, causing state leadership to reiterate their concerns about the area’s trajectory.
The three counties have reported 659 cases over the past two weeks, according to Department of Health data. Chittenden County, which has more than double the population of the entire Northeast Kingdom, reported 641 new COVID-19 cases during the same period.
Across the state, children between ages 5 and 11 are the leading all age groups in infections per capita by a wide margin.
The information has prompted Scott to double down on urging parents to register for the recently-approved pediatric COVID-19 vaccines.
Vaccine rollout for young kids underway
Vermont began administering COVID-19 vaccines for children between ages 5 and 11 on Monday, following recent approval on the pediatric doses from federal health groups.
Roughly one-third of the age group has registered for a vaccine appointment through the state, according to Scott. Additional appointments may have been scheduled through pharmacies or other groups as well.
The White House approved a state request for additional doses, planning to ship 3,900 more vaccines next week. Roughly 9,000 are now slated to be sent to the state.
Health officials also provided an update on booster doses for Vermonters age 65 or older, saying nearly 48% of the age group has already received one; the most of any state in the country.
