The Vermont Department of Health reported Wednesday that 10 people are currently hospitalized from Covid, the greatest number of such hospitalizations since May 27.
The state reported 51 new cases of the virus as well, bringing the seven-day average to 45 cases per day — the highest average since May 17.
Cases have been rising steadily since early July. Yet thus far, hospitalizations had remained low and even declined slightly in recent weeks.
At a press conference Tuesday, officials pointed to the low number of hospitalizations as a sign that vaccines were preventing the most severe complications from the disease.
But reported hospitalizations often lag behind reported cases, as it takes time for people to get tested and develop severe illness that requires them to go to the hospital. People also remain at the hospital for weeks or even months, meaning that hospitalizations remain high after the peak of cases is over.
During the winter wave, for example, cases peaked on Jan. 11 with a seven-day average of 181 cases per day, but hospitalizations peaked on Feb. 7 with 65 people hospitalized.
The 10 hospitalized patients reported on Wednesday included three people in the ICU for Covid. The age distribution of newly hospitalized patients is unclear; in previous waves, older Vermonters had been more at risk of Covid, but more than 90% of Vermonters over 65 are now vaccinated.
On Tuesday, officials presented data showing cases were highest in the 20-to-29-year-old age group.
