Vermont COVID Cases Hit All-Time High

As Vermont marks and passes the year anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic, cases have risen to new heights despite the vaccines being regularly distributed and widely available.

Over a week ago, data about COVID and Vermont showed that many cities had large increases in the number of cases over a two-week period, anywhere from a 2% increase to a 25% increase.

The threat isn’t just to the community at Champlain College, but the surrounding area as well. The city of Burlington has had one of the largest spikes in COVID cases, with a 20% increase, and most of these cases to be found in 18 to 29-year-olds.

This sudden rise in cases has called into question the reopening plan that was recently introduced by Governor Phil Scott. The goal was a four-phase plan to eventually phase back into reopening Vermont again. However, this plan has had some problems, and the sudden COVID surge has only added to them.

With the gradual removal of protective measures, experts are concerned that this could exacerbate the growth of the number of cases. Anne Sosin, a policy fellow at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College, said “Rolling back protective measures during this period puts some Vermonters at elevated risk.”

No news has come out yet about any changes to the plan since the announcement of it and the rise of COVID cases in Vermont. With the COVID spike affecting many more people in the state and impacting communities, how lasting of an impact it will be and how that may affect the state getting back to normal remains to be seen.

By Cam Chrin

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