The Vermont Department of Health reported 114 new Covid cases on Thursday, the highest one-day total so far in the latest surge of the pandemic.
It also reported an additional person hospitalized for Covid. In total, 25 people are hospitalized, including eight people in the ICU.
One additional death was added to the data, bringing the state’s total to 264. Four deaths have been reported so far in just a dozen days this month, compared to two deaths in July.
It’s unclear how many cases, hospitalizations and deaths on Thursday were among vaccinated or unvaccinated people. The Health Department does not regularly report that data, although cumulative data for the past few weeks shows that vaccinated people are still getting sick at far lower rates than those who are unvaccinated.
Twelve of Vermont’s 14 counties reported new cases Thursday, with the highest total in Chittenden County, with 52 positives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports five counties have high community transmission: Chittenden, Washington, Franklin, Orleans and Essex counties.
Five other counties have substantial transmission: Lamoille, Caledonia, Addison, Bennington and Windham counties.
That means, in total, 10 of the state’s 14 counties meet the threshold for the CDC to recommend that everyone vaccinated or not, to wear masks indoors.
As of Thursday, 84.7% of Vermonters age 12 and over have gotten at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. That includes 38,400 people who have started vaccination and 431,500 people who have completed it, according to the health department.
Correction: This story has been corrected to describe accurately the CDC's recommendation for universal indoor masking in high-Covid counties.
