STATE EXPECTS UK VARIANT IMMINENTLY
Governor Phil Scott and members of his cabinet gave an update on the State’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic Tuesday morning. During that update, the County Courier asked the Governor and staff about a new variant of the virus, one that is showing a higher level of contagiousness.
The variant, which has yet to be named, is thought to have originated in the UK, but has now been located in at least four American States- Colorado, New York, Florida, and California.
In England, officials have ordered a six-week shutdown- the third of its kind there since the pandemic began almost a year ago.
The UK varient is expected to be seen in Vermont, according to Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark LeVine.
According to LeVine, the state has already been sending some of the samples to the CDC for further testing. This is a process that is being done nationwide.
Pressing for a more specific answer, the County Courier asked LeVine how many positive tests are tested for the new variant. He said the State is sending about 20 tests every two weeks to determine the strain.
With the state reporting 1,430 cases in the past 14 days, that means only about 1.3% of the positive cases are tested for any variants of the virus.
LeVine said the proximity of the variant being identified as close as Saratoga, New York, it’s a matter of time before the variant reaches the Green Mountains.
Reacting to a question from the County Courier, Governor Phil Scott said he will continue to assess the way the virus spreads to determine any changes to his policy to educate Vermont students in person, and to begin winter sports in earnest later this month.
As for the original strain of COVID-19, the bulk of the virus is showing a 20% increase in the Northeast, though numbers in Vermont continue to be better than other states in the region.
Today also marks a significant milestone with cases in Vermont having broken the 8,000 threshhold.
Vermont is ranking some of the lowest in the four categories health officials follow. For a seven-day rolling positivity rate, Vermont ranks third, behind North Dakota and Hawaii. As for total cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities, Vermont is second in all three of those categories, behind Hawaii.
Franklin County also has a new outbreak at a longterm facility, according to State officials. The outbreak is located at the Holiday House, next door to St. Albans Health and Rehab where an outbreak seems to be coming to an end.
Numbers for St. Albans Health and Rehab have topped out at 87 cases, with zero new cases in the past week.
The outbreak comes as the State continues to try to vaccinate the entire population of those in long term care facilities.
To date, the State has administered about 17,000 vaccines to Vermonters in the Healthcare system, EMS, and residents of long term care facilities.
The State has accepted about 30,000 doses, a mixture between Pfizer and Moderna, for dispersal since the vaccine began shipping in December.
About 3,900 additional doses are expected to arrive in the state in the next couple of days, with another 4,800 doses to arrive next week.
