COVID update: Local cases tick upward; next vaccines aimed at 75+; school sports scrimmages OK’d
January 16, 2021 | By Lisa Scagliotti 
CORRECTION: This story was updated to explain when those with certain chronic health conditions would be eligible for the vaccine.
As Vermont settles in to daily triple-digit increases in COVID-19 cases, the state’s top health official Friday forecasted that the pandemic’s total will surpass 10,000 cases by next week.
Friday’s reported 142 new cases brought the statewide total to 9,734 since the start of the pandemic in March with the highest totals over the past two weeks recorded in Chittenden, Windsor, Addison and Bennington counties.
In the past week, Waterbury has seen an increase of 6 new cases between Jan. 7 and 13 for a total of 71, according to Vermont Health Department data.
Other nearby towns have seen slight increases in that time period as well: Stowe and Waitsfield each added 3 cases for a total of 68 and 26 respectively; Warren added 5 for a total of 22; in the past week for a new total of 71; Middlesex added 1 case for 17, and Moretown’s count remained unchanged at 19.
That’s according to Health Department town-by-town data released weekly on Fridays but current through Wednesdays each week. Several nearby towns still have not recorded case numbers greater than six. That is in part due to the fact that each of them -- Bolton, Duxbury and Fayston -- use zip codes shared with adjacent communities and the state records cases based on mailing addresses.
At Friday’s press briefing Gov. Phil Scott said he was signing an order to extend the ongoing state of emergency due to the pandemic for another month. He said he hoped to once again begin lifting public health restrictions and eventually end the emergency status when case counts subside.
A big factor to curb the spread of COVID-19 will be wide distribution of vaccines. That process began with the first group that included health care workers and elderly and disabled individuals in long-term care living settings and it’s nearly complete, officials said Friday.
Gov. Scott said the next group to be vaccinated will be those age 75 and older because data shows those are the individuals most at risk for death from the illness. That coupled with a limited supply of vaccines to date is driving the decision-making, Scott said, acknowledging that many are eager to get vaccinated as soon as possible. “We need everyone to be patient,” he said.
Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said that the registration process for the next group to sign up for a vaccine will be ready soon with an anticipated date of Jan. 25 to begin making appointments. The phone number and online address to sign up will be announced on or just before Jan. 25, he said.
Officials said subsequent groups will all be designated by age unless the quantity of vaccines increases significantly. Although Vermont has administered nearly 35,000 doses to date, the weekly allocation of vaccines is still less than anticipated, they said.
Human Services Secretary Mike Smith explained that people will be able to register for appointments both by phone and online. He suggested that younger family members to those in the 75-and-older group help parents and grandparents navigate the online method to not overwhelm the call center.
The next group will be those age 65-74, officials said, followed by those with high-risk health conditions. Dr. Levine said the latter will focus on people at increased risk for severe illness and death if they were to get infected with COVID-19, meaning they would likely need to be hospitalized and could need intervention to help breathe. Levine listed the conditions in this category: cancer, kidney disease, emphysema, heart disease, weakened immune system, severe obesity, pregnancy, type 2 diabetes, Down Syndrome and sickle cell disease.
Schools keeping COVID-19 at bay
Education Secretary Dan French reported several key trends for Vermont schools on Friday. He said from October through December half of the state’s K-12 students were in school using a hybrid schedule with some in-person and some remote learning; 30 percent were in-person full-time and 20 percent were fully remote.
Breaking that down, it’s students in the younger grades in person more frequently, French said. Half of elementary students are in person full time compared with just 20 percent of middle schoolers and only 10 percent of high school students.
French said that state education officials are hoping to make a push after the April school vacations to return most students to the classroom full-time. He said they will be reviewing distancing guidelines for students in grades 7-12 to see if adjustments could be made in order for more students to return together.
In addition, French said testing for school staff members continues with virtually no COVID-19 cases detected. The most recent round that tested some 2,200 teachers and staff turned up just one positive result. “That’s a good indicator that schools are operating safely,” French said.
School sports allowed to advance a little
Gov. Scott on Friday also announced one more small step forward for youth sports. School teams starting Jan. 18 will move into “phase 2” which will allow for scrimmages and practices within schools. No competitions or games with teams from other schools are allowed yet. Limited contact will be permitted and masks will be required, Scott said.
That announcement comes at a point when the winter season for high school and middle school sports is usually well under way. Teams have been allowed for the past three weeks to hold practices that stick to individual training and drills with no contact.
Scott said that he hopes to soon allow competitions but that call will be made based on data and advice from health experts.
While cases in school are sparse, Dr. Levine noted that the Health Department is monitoring dozens of outbreaks and several hundred “situations” that indicate continued community spread. Daily case reports over 100 and some days near or exceeding 200 still shows a trend in the wrong direction, he noted.
Local testing schedule
Testing for COVID-19 remains available and free locally at several locations staffed by Waterbury Ambulance Service personnel: the Waterbury Ambulance station at 1727 Guptil Road; at 3336 Airport Road in Berlin; and at Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, Old Country Road, Waitsfield.
Here is the testing schedule for Jan. 18-24 from Waterbury Ambulance Executive Director Mark Podgwaite:
Waterbury: Monday-Tuesday, Jan. 18-19, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, 5-8 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 21-23, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Berlin: Monday-Tuesday, Jan. 18-19, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Jan. 20, 4-6:30 p.m. and 6:30-7 for first responders only; Thursday, Jan. 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 22, 4-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 23-24, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Waitsfield: Sunday, Jan. 24, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
And although walk-ins often can be accommodated, Podgwaite recommends signing up for an appointment. Do so on the Vermont Department of Health website.