VDH: COVID deaths not seeing decline – Vermont Biz

February 5, 2024

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations remained relatively low last week after a long period of edging higher from last summer through early January. Cases and hospitalizations increased slightly for the week. However, fatalities have not seen a related spike nor decline. Deaths reported by the Vermont Department of Health continue to average about 6 a week, for a pandemic total now of 1,112 as of January 20, 2024 (the most recent data available). Total deaths in January are 23 so far and are nearing a monthly level not seen in a full year.

The VDH reported January 31, 2024, that COVID-19 hospitalizations were up 7 last week to a statewide total of 46. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. Reported cases last week were 307, up 32 for the week.

Of the total deaths to date, 895 have been of Vermonters 70 or older. There have been 3 deaths of Vermonters under 30 since the beginning of the pandemic.

CDC states that already an estimated 97% of Americans have some level of immunity, from either vaccination or infection or both, which they said will help keep down new transmission and lessen serious outcomes.

New COVID-19 variant JN.1: Experts explain symptoms, how to spot and treat the new strain

(see data tables below)

Report Timeframe: January 21 to January 27, 2024

The hospitalizations dataset contains day-level data reported from all Vermont hospitals each Tuesday. Reported numbers are subject to correction.

The number of reportable COVID-19 cases is still available in this report, below. Laboratory-confirmed and diagnosed COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 outbreaks must still be reported to the Vermont Department of Health.

There were 4 outbreaks last week, 1 at schools, and 3 at long-term care facilities (LTC). There were 9 outbreaks the week before.

Vermont Department of Health recommendations: Preventing COVID-19 (healthvermont.gov)

Vermont has the second lowest fatality rate in the US (128.7 per 100K; Hawaii 102.5/100K). Mississippi (441.1/100K) and Oklahoma (438.7/100K) have the highest rates. The US average is 294.1/100K (CDC data).

There has been a total of 1,174,626 COVID-related deaths to date in the US (CDC) and 7,023,271 globally (WHO).

Following an analysis of COVID-19 data, the VDH reported in January 2023 a cumulative 86 additional COVID-associated deaths that occurred over the course of the pandemic but had not been previously reported. Most of those deaths occurred in 2022.

COVID-19 Update for the United States

Early Indicators

Test Positivity

% Test Positivity

6.3%

(January 21 to January 27, 2024)

Trend in % Test Positivity

-4.6% in most recent week

Emergency Department Visits

% Diagnosed as COVID-19

2.0%

(January 21 to January 27, 2024)

Trend in % Emergency Department Visits

-11% in most recent week

These early indicators represent a portion of national COVID-19 tests and emergency department visits. Wastewater information also provides early indicators of spread.

Severity Indicators

Hospitalizations

Hospital Admissions

22,636

(January 21 to January 27, 2024)

Trend in Hospital Admissions

-10.9% in most recent week

Deaths

% of All Deaths in U.S. Due to COVID-19

3.6%

(January 21 to January 27, 2024)

Trend in % COVID-19 Deaths

No change in most recent week

Total Hospitalizations

6,771,932

CDC | Test Positivity data through: January 27, 2024; Emergency Department Visit data through: January 27, 2024; Hospitalization data through: January 27, 2024; Death data through: January 27, 2024. Posted: February 2, 2024 12:00 PM ET

The Delta variant took off in August 2021, which resulted in the heaviest number of deaths before vaccines and their boosters helped alleviate serious COVID cases. Multiple Omicron variants are now circulating and appear more virulent than previous variants, but perhaps not more dangerous, according to the CDC.

AP April 5, 2023: WHO downgrades COVID pandemic, says it's no longer a global health emergency

Walk-in vaccination clinics run by the state closed on January 31, 2023. Learn more

Vermonters are reminded that all state COVID testing sites were closed as of June 25, 2022. PCR and take-home tests are available through doctors' offices, pharmacies and via mail from the federal government. The federal government officially ended its pandemic response as of May 11, 2023. See more information BELOW or here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing.

Starting May 11, 2023, the CDC and Vermont Department of Health will no longer use the COVID-19 Community Level to measure COVID-19 activity in the U.S. and Vermont. Instead, Vermont's statewide COVID-19 level will be measured by the rate of COVID-19 in people being admitted to the hospital, per 100,000 residents.

Focusing on hospitalization data is a better estimate of how COVID-19 is impacting the community now that reported COVID-19 cases represent a smaller proportion of actual infections. This also allows us to compare Vermonts hospitalization levels with other parts of the country.

The Delta variant caused a surge in COVID-related fatalities last fall and into the winter.

The highest concentration of deaths was from September 2021 through February 2022. Overall, December 2020 and January 2022 were the worst months with 72 fatalities each.

The US confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on January 20, 2020.

Vermonters ages 6 months and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the safer way to build protection from serious illnesseven for those who have already had COVID-19. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines (CDC)

COVID-19 vaccines are free and widely available. Anyone can get vaccinated in Vermont, including those who live in another state, are non-U.S. citizens, or who have no insurance. See Vermont's current vaccine rates

Know your rights when getting free vaccines.

You are considered up-to-date if you are over the age of 6 years old and have received a bivalent (updated) COVID-19 vaccine.Learn more about kid vaccines

If you are unable or choose not to get a recommended bivalent mRNA vaccine, you will be up to date if you received the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine doses approved for your age group.

Find more on recommended doses from CDC

COVID Vaccine Information for Health Care Professionals

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