Camp outbreak reaches 31 cases as Waterbury logs biggest uptick of the pandemic
August 17, 2021 | By Lisa Scagliotti
Waterbury summer recreation campers and counselors spent much of their time outdoors. Photo by Gordon Miller
UPDATE: The Vermont Health Department said as of Monday, the Waterbury outbreak of COVID-19 cases involved 31 children, none of who were hospitalized.
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The state’s investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak that began with children in the town summer recreation day camp has now confirmed 30 cases according to the Vermont Department of Health.
That’s the case total identified with this outbreak as of Friday. “All appear to be among campers,” said Health Department spokesman Ben Truman, who noted that fewer than six of the cases were in children aged 12 or older who would be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. None are hospitalized, he said.
The camp outbreak is part of the highest two-week new case total of the entire COVID-19 pandemic as 40 new cases were recorded for Waterbury from July 28 through Aug. 11. That’s based on state Health Department data broken down by community and released on Friday. Waterbury’s case total stands at 229 since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020, according to the latest state information.
Cases across the country -- including in Vermont -- have been on the rise over the past six weeks, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus and spreading particularly among the unvaccinated which includes young children. Vermont overall reported 273 new cases between Thursday and Friday. So far this month, four more Vermonters have died from COVID-19, bringing that total to 264; the state saw just two COVID-related deaths in July, according to the Health Department.
Meanwhile, the Health Department’s investigation continues into the Waterbury situation as the overall group where the cases have occurred involved more than 100 youngsters in the camp program. “In total, we know of 127 cases and contacts associated with this outbreak investigation,” Truman said.
Once the outbreak was confirmed more than a week ago, children who attended camp were not allowed to return for the final week of the program that ended Friday.
Recreation Director Nick Nadeau said fewer than 20 children attended this past week. Overall this summer, 170 children took part in the program, he said. Some registered for the entire eight weeks, while others signed up for one or several weeks. There were over 100 campers in attendance meeting in three locations during the first week of August when the first cases emerged, initially all in one group.
The process of communicating with camp families and contact tracing to track the spread of the virus through the community has been slow. “It’s been frustrating,” said Nadeau, who has been at the center of the situation. “I had a parent chew me out and then apologize to me the next day saying they took out their frustration on me.”
Health Department communication has been spotty and slow to keep the program informed of growing case counts. Some families expecting to hear from health officials in the contact tracing process have told Nadeau they have not been called.
Asked about the process this week, Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said that the department’s “priority is communicating with those who have been identified as cases or as contacts and with the camp administration … and that continues.”
Levine said daily updates would not change advice to families with cases or close contacts. “But I do respect that people are hungry for information when they know that they may have had a family member who could have been exposed,” he said.
VTDigger this week reported that the state this summer has turned to an out-of-state contractor to manage contact tracing resulting in complaints from others dealing with new cases in youth programs regarding inadequate and untimely communication.
In Waterbury’s case, the program paused the group with the initial COVID cases for one day but it was not advised to close the program entirely to those in attendance once cases popped up until the end of the first week.
Nadeau said he’s received messages that state officials would be willing to discuss how communication was handled but noted how that would essentially be useful for future instances. “It’s already here,” he said. “Maybe we could have prevented some of this. We don’t know.”
Nadeau said he advised families to take advantage of free COVID-19 testing and all camp staff were tested as well. Waterbury Ambulance Service last week extended testing hours to accommodate the increased demand.
Given the situation, those running programs involving young children are being vigilant about symptoms and contacts in a small close-knit community. In Duxbury this week, for example, the Children’s Early Learning Space child care center and preschool closed for several days after a positive case was identified in one child. Board president Lindsay Sullivan said the move was out of an abundance of caution to allow families to get tested and not risk additional contact.
A check with several other centers and home child care providers found no other closures, but some families were keeping children home after possible contacts connected with rec camp.
Rec camp on Friday concluded for the summer and families were invited to a drive-through farewell for kids to see their counselors one more time, pick up a bag of treats, and enjoy ice cream cones courtesy of Ben & Jerry's. Nadeau said it was busy and a nice way to end on a positive note given the circumstances.
The Waterbury Recreation Department has just one remaining summer program coming up next week -- a hiking and fishing camp for about 18 children in grades 1-7 that will meet outdoors in two groups. “I asked them to get tested before it starts,” Nadeau said.
Virus spread is ‘substantial’ and ‘high’ across Vermont
This new schedule for COVID-19 testing was posted by Waterbury Ambulance Service today, Aug. 14. Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome. Schedule an appointment online at healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing/where-get-tested. WASI offers vaccines on Wednesdays and Saturdays at its station; testing and vaccines Thursdays at the Waterbury Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m.
The state Department of Health data released on Friday with community breakdowns shows a map of cases recorded in Vermont towns from July 15 to Aug. 11. It also includes a running total count since March 2020. This map and chart are now updated every two weeks by the Health Department.
The latest two-week case totals are calculated by comparing the current information with the previous update from July 28. Since then, the camp outbreak has occurred, so the 40 new cases for Waterbury would include many from recreation camp.
It’s important to note that based on how cases are recorded by the state, some cases from adjacent communities such as Bolton, Duxbury, and even Moretown may be included in figures for Waterbury due to addresses.
A look at case counts for towns adjacent to Waterbury and in the Harwood Unified Union School District finds upticks over the past two weeks in all of the communities for which data is available:
Seven new cases were reported for Stowe in the two-week period bringing the total there for the pandemic to 216.
Six new cases were identified in Moretown for a total of 46
Waitsfield had four new cases bringing its total to 73.
Warren and Middlesex each added two, bringing totals there to 38 and 26 respectively.
Prior to June, the state reported community data weekly. Based on that information, Waterbury since mid-April had single-digit case increases each week. At various points in the pandemic -- last November, in February and in early April -- there were individual weeks with 16 new cases each. In all of those instances, however, previous and subsequent weeks saw fewer than 10 new cases. That’s how the latest two-week increase of 40 cases measures as the largest two-week uptick.
Across Vermont, the spread of the virus is considered either substantial or high in 13 of the state’s 14 counties, according to the standards used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chittenden, Washington, Franklin, Essex and Orleans counties are in the high range; all other counties are considered substantial with the exception of Orange County where the case growth is still in the lower moderate range.
The CDC recommends that people counties with substantial or high virus spread wear masks in indoor public settings regardless of their vaccination status. In Vermont, there currently are no public mandates regarding mask-wearing since they were dropped in mid-June when vaccination levels reached 80% of those eligible.
Gov. Phil Scott this week said he’s still comfortable leaving the decision to wear a mask up to individuals. “I think you have to do your own risk assessment and then make your own decision,” he said.
Some communities, colleges and universities, and businesses across Vermont, however, are asking individuals to return to mask-wearing anyway. Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger has called upon people to wear masks in indoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status as have officials at the University of Vermont, St. Michael’s College, and Community College of Vermont ahead of fall semester starting soon.
Locally some businesses are asking patrons to mask up given the increased prevalence of the virus. For example, Stowe Street Cafe this week said it would adopt the CDC recommendation as its policy staff and guests.
Red Hen Baking Co. in nearby Middlesex said the same will go into effect starting today. “We wanted to ignore the numbers, just like you wanted to ignore the numbers. But ignoring unpleasant facts doesn't make them go away. In fact, it usually makes things worse,” the company said in a Facebook post where it reiterated the CDC guidance. “We are not going to wait for a state mandate.”
The mask policy applies to everyone indoors at Red Hen, except when people are eating. Management also appeals to customers to be considerate of the staff who will be in the uncomfortable position of having to enforce this policy. “They have no choice, if you are unmasked you will be asked to mask up or leave. PLEASE, remember that we are all in this together and we are only doing what we think is best for ourselves and our community,” the announcement says. “We strive at all times to treat our customers with dignity and respect. We ask the same in return.”
More information on COVID-19 testing, vaccines and data is online at healthvermont.gov/covid-19.