Staff report
The state reported 715 new Covid-19 cases, Tuesday, Jan. 18, with 116 hospitalized — a new record.
Just prior, the state reported 806 cases Monday, 2,217 on Sunday, and 1,766 cases Saturday. The seven-day average is 1,604 cases per day with a positivity rate of 12.8%.
The state has seen an increase of 245% in cases over the past 14 days.
The number of people hospitalized on Tuesday, Jan. 18, hit a record high. Hospitalizations had been hovering in the low 100s, but hit 115 on Sunday, then dropped to 104 patients on Monday, before hitting 116 on Tuesday. Of those hospitalized, 55% are unvaccinated. Of those in critical care, 63% are unvaccinated. As of Jan. 11, there were a total of 58 hospital beds and 11 ICU beds available statewide.
December 2021 was the second deadliest month in Vermont with 62 deaths. Only December 2020 topped it with 71.
The number of cases associated with long-term care facility outbreaks has also exploded — from 58 a week ago to 268 as of Tuesday, according to a report from the Department of Financial Regulation.
Rutland County
In Rutland County, there’s been 1,684 new cases in the past 14 days, 50 of those were reported Tuesday. In total, the county has had 4,561 cases — or about 7.8 cases per 100 residents — and seen 30 deaths. Rutland county has seen an 80.72% increase in cases from two weeks ago.
Windsor County
In Windsor County, there’s been 871 in the past 14 days, 10 of those were reported on Tuesday. In total the county has had 3,098 cases — or about 5.6 cases per 100 residents — and seen 32 deaths. Windsor County has seen a 48.97% increase in cases from two weeks ago.
The populations of Rutland and Windsor counties are comparable at about 58,000 and 55,000 respectively.
Vermont still leads the nation in vaccination rates with 97.9% of Vermonters aged 12-plus partially or fully vaccinated and 57% of Vermont children aged 5-11 having received at least one dose. The state also leads the nation in those boosted, but with significantly lower rates. Only 52.4% of Vermonters are fully vaccinated with a booster.
