Thread by @JaneLindholm

No press briefing today (1/4/22), but there was a new modeling report. You can see all 60 slides, as always, on the DFR website. Here’s the link to today’s report: dfr.vermont.gov/sites/finreg/f…

I’ll share a few slides that stuck out to me in a 🧵. Here’s the overall summary.

Cases are up, a lot. And the forecast is for a lot more.

Although the case rate is increasing at a higher level for vaccinated individuals, those who are unvaccinated are still much more likely to have serious complications or death.

Here is some data on young Vermonters. The percentage of 5-11yos starting the vaccination process has gone up, to more than 55%, and Vermont continues to lead the nation in the vaccination rate for this group. Hospitalization rates remain low for young Vermonters.

Hospitalizations are up over the past week. Unvaccinated individuals make up a majority of the Covid patients in hospital and ICU settings. However most patients in the hospital in general are not suffering from Covid, but from other ailments.

60 deaths in December, the 2nd highest monthly death rate since the start of the pandemic. Full trajectory in the first slide. Deaths likely to increase in the next several weeks.

Regional and national stats here. The northeast is experiencing its highest surge since the start of the pandemic and the highest case rate in the nation. However, Vermont’s case rate remains lower than most other states. (MA, NY and CT are in the top 10.)

Omicron is the dominant strain throughout our region and is 98% of cases in New York state. CDC says omicron accounts for 95% of cases nationwide.

You can find all of the state’s modeling reports here: dfr.vermont.gov/about-us/covid…

That’s it from me for now. The press briefing will be back next week. #vted #vtpoli #covid19vt #omicron