Waterbury logs most weekly COVID-19 cases yet
August 27, 2021 | By Lisa ScagliottiThe Vermont map on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 tracker site shows 11 of Vermont’s 14 counties with “high” spread of the coronavirus. Screenshot
The spread of COVID-19 in Waterbury this month is not letting up as new data from the Vermont Department of Health out this morning notes 24 new cases for the past week ending Wednesday, Aug. 25.
That represents the single-largest weekly increase of the pandemic for the community and brings the case total for Waterbury to 265 since March 2020. Community specific data is released weekly by the Health Department with the reporting dates on Wednesdays. The latest new case count was from the period Aug. 18-25.
Since July 28, Waterbury has recorded 79 new cases, nearly one-third of all of the community’s cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The surge also represents 33% of the 238 new cases in all of Washington County for the same period, according to Health Department data.
For comparison, the cities of Montpelier and Barre since July 28 have logged 24 and 46 new COVID-19 cases respectively.
The spike in Waterbury comes as the state is experiencing triple-digit case increases daily. New deaths attributed to COVID-19 this week bring that count to 273, according to the Health Department as of Thursday.
Earlier this week, the Health Department said it had added just one new case to the group of cases linked to the Waterbury town summer recreation camp outbreak earlier this month, bringing that total to 32 cases. Most of those affected were children under age 12 who are not eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and none were hospitalized, according to the Health Department.
Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine on Tuesday said what was about two dozen other cases recorded for Waterbury at that time were the result of spread in the community.
Waterbury Roundabout has inquired for more detail about the latest local surge in cases regarding ages of those testing positive and vaccination status. This story will be updated when new information is available.
Meanwhile, other nearby communities have seen some increases in the past week, but none to the extent that Waterbury is experiencing. Stowe recorded six new cases; Warren had five; Moretown logged two; both Middlesex and Waitsfield had just one apiece.
One outlier was Bolton which for the first week of the pandemic was added to the state data list with six cases. State health department staff months ago noted that some communities where addresses are linked to neighboring zip codes will be recorded in adjacent towns. Data for Waterbury, for example, comes with a caveat that it likely includes some cases from adjacent Bolton and Duxbury which have not had any cases reported in the community-specific data until this week. Duxbury is still not listed with any cases. Fayston is in a similar situation as its addresses use the zip code from adjacent Waitsfield, for example.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updates an online tracking tool daily showing the rate of COVID-19 spread across the county by county. Currently 11 of Vermont’s 14 counties are listed with “high” transmission, including Washington County. Three counties are at the “substantial” level.
The CDC recommends that people wear masks in indoor public settings where transmission is high or substantial, regardless of vaccination status as vaccinated individuals have been shown to both contract and transmit the latest extremely contagious Delta variant of the virus. In Vermont, individuals are not required to wear masks although public health officials recommend so indoors. All official COVID-19 statewide mandates ended in June before the latest surge took hold and when vaccination levels reached 80% of those eligible.
Gov. Phil Scott and Dr. Levine are facing a growing chorus of requests for the state to take stronger steps to curb the spread of the virus. Legislative leaders earlier this week called for more restrictions and dozens of Health Department staff weighed in with a letter to the administration this week as first reported by VTDigger.org. Currently individual businesses and institutions such as hospitals and universities have put requirements in place. Some municipalities including Burlington, Montpelier and Barre are requiring masks on individuals indoors in city offices and facilities.
Waterbury Select Board members this week discussed whether the town should issue any new mask guidelines but did not take any action. Gov. Scott this week noted that absent the statewide state of emergency declaration that was in place from March 2020 until June, municipalities may make policies for their own properties, but cannot impose them on other entities in their communities.
Vermont’s K-12 schools are opening now with recommendations from the Health Department and Agency of Education regarding mask-wearing and protocols but no direct requirements. The Harwood Unified Union School District opened Thursday with all staff and students wearing masks indoors until further notice.
Waterbury Ambulance Service continues to offer COVID-19 testing daily at its station on Guptil Road in Waterbury Center and COVID-19 vaccines several days a week. Testing is available today through 6 p.m. On Saturday, testing and vaccines will be available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday has testing 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Through Sept. 6, the schedule will be: Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, 1-7 p.m. (vaccines and testing); Thursdays, 1-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (vaccines and testing); Sundays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome; appointments for testing and vaccines are appreciated and can be made online at healthvermont.gov/covid-19.
Ambulance service staff also have a booth at the Waterbury Farmers Market on Thursdays, 4-7 p.m., at Rusty Parker Park downtown offering both testing and vaccines.
This weekend, a vaccine clinic is scheduled Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crossett Brook Middle School in Duxbury offering the Pfizer vaccine for individuals age 12 and older. Walk-ins are welcome including school student and any community members.
Local pharmacies including Shaw’s and Kinney Drugs are offering vaccinations as well.
Find the most up-to-date testing and vaccine times and locations statewide on the state Health Department website.