By Peg Bolgioni Since Dec. 15, 2020, Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) has delivered the coronavirus vaccine to around 6,000 individuals. To break it down further, they have vaccinated the 1-A group, which included 1,452 RRMC employees and 2,539 frontline healthcare workers. Approximately two weeks ago they began vaccinating the 75-plus age group, and as…

Enrollment opens at 8:15 a.m. Monday, March 1 By Polly Mikula Vermonters ages 65 or older can register for the Covid-19 vaccine beginning at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, March 1, officials said at a press conference Tuesday, Feb. 23. State officials recommend that the 42,000 Vermonters in this age category make appointments on the Department of…

Starting 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, people in Vermont who are age 70 and older were eligible to make their appointment to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. As of the 11 a.m. regular press conference, 11,000 had already done so — about a third of the population in that age bracket, state officials said. Call…

Tests of Burlington wastewater point to virus strain known as the “UK variant” Burlington’s testing of wastewater has detected the presence of two Covid-19 virus mutations that are associated with the B.1.1.7 variant, first detected in the United Kingdom. Detection of these two mutations is a strong indicator that the B.1.1.7 variant is present in…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger School and youth leagues will be able to resume competitions Feb. 12, state officials said at a press conference Friday, Feb. 5. The games will have some restrictions, such as limiting the teams to two games a week and forcing competitions to be spaced three days apart, said Julie Moore, head of the…

On the eve of Super Bowl weekend, the Rutland Regional Medical Center COVID-19 Task Force is asking community members to refrain from going to or hosting Super Bowl parties. The Task Force which is made up of physician leaders, infection prevention specialists, and nurse leaders, is concerned that Super Bowl parties could further add to…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger Vermont is now getting 22% more vaccine doses per week from the federal government than its previous allocation just weeks ago, Gov. Phil Scott announced Tuesday, Feb. 2. Scott learned in a call with other governors that morning that doses would increase another 5%, on top of an 8% increase announced last week…

Rutland Regional Medical Center has restricted visitor access to its Inpatient Medical Oncology Unit (MOU)* after a fifth staff member on the unit tested positive for COVID-19. The hospital has been working closely with the Vermont Department of Health to conduct contact tracing and has expanded testing for any staff or patients who may have…

Registration opened Monday, Jan. 25, for Vermonters age 75 and older to get a Covid-19 vaccination. By the end of the day Monday, 21,100 had been scheduled for vaccination. Appointments can be made online at healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine. Eligible Vermonters will be asked to create an account on the website, then log in to make their appointment. A…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger The nation has experienced its first sustained decline in Covid since July, an early sign that the virus has hit its peak in the U.S., Vermont officials said at a press conference Tuesday, Jan. 19. The trend is not regional, either. In fact, 41 states experienced case declines over the past week,…

The first round of shots for Vermonters age 75+ begin Monday, Jan. 25 Staff report State officials announced that registration for the Covid-19 vaccine for people who are 75 years and older will begin on Jan. 25. There are estimated to be about 49,000 Vermonters in that age group category. “Now that Vermonters know more about…

By Emma Cotton and Katie Jickling/VTDigger Ski patrols count as health care workers. The state is currently distributing the Covid-19 vaccine to “health care workers likely to be exposed/treat Covid-19 patients” and “long-term care facility residents and staff who have patient contact,” as part of group 1a, according to state guidelines. But who qualifies under that definition has evolved,…

By Polly Mikula As the contagious effect that the Christmas and New Year's holidays have had on the spread of Covid-19 in Vermont becomes better known, the state's prognosis for the coming month worsens. Just last week the plateau in cases was predicted to max out at around 200 cases per day — now it's…

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State officials urge all Vermonters who recently gathered with others or traveled to get tested By Polly Mikula Governor Phil Scott and State Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine encouraged Vermonters to go get a Covid-19 test, at the regular press conference Tuesday, Jan. 5. The governor had temporarily permitted households to gather with one trusted…