Saturday COVID-19 news: Schools i.d. new cases; state sees first Omicron infection

December 18, 2021 | By Lisa Scagliotti

As families with children in the local public schools received word of three more COVID-19 cases identified on Saturday, the Vermont Department of Health announced that it has confirmed the first case in Vermont attributed to the Omicron variant. 

The Harwood Unified Union School District issued two email blasts on Saturday. One in the morning announced a new case at Harwood Union High School that traces back to Tuesday and Bus Route 17. An afternoon message announced another case at Harwood Union High School along with a new case affecting third and fourth grades at Moretown Elementary School and elementary Bus 11 route. This is the first case at the Moretown school since mid-October. 

Saturday’s cases bring the December total for the school district to 20 so far and the total for the school year to date to 49 based on district announcements. Letters detailing the cases and steps being taken for contact tracing, etc. are on the district’s website homepage at HUUSD.org.  

In a news release late Saturday afternoon, the Health Department said that genetic sequencing has identified the new variant in a specimen collected on Dec. 8, from an individual who is a Lamoille County resident in their 30s. “The individual was fully vaccinated and had been experiencing mild symptoms,” the bulletin said. 

Earlier this week Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D., said he was anticipating the Omicron variant showing up soon in Vermont when city officials in Burlington announced that it had been detected in wastewater being monitored there. “We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw Omicron in our state, and made sequencing a priority,” he said.

The Health Department said it has partnered with the Broad Institute to perform genetic sequencing of samples collected from lab-confirmed COVID-positive cases. Global research is finding that the Omicron variant spreads faster and more efficiently than the Delta variant which has dominated cases in the current surge since late summer. Omicron so far has been identified in cases in more than 40 U.S. states and territories, according to the Health Department. 

In studying patterns with the new variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expect that those with an Omicron infection will be able to spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms, the Health Department’s announcement explained. 

Dr. Levine stressed the importance of the public getting vaccinated including booster shots. “As the effectiveness of the initial vaccines begins to wane, boosters provide the protection you need against bad outcomes, including serious illness, hospitalizations and death, especially for people whose age or health conditions make them vulnerable,” Levine said. “I can’t emphasize this enough: All Vermonters need to be as protected as possible, as soon as possible. So get vaccinated, get children age 5 and older vaccinated, and if you are due to get your booster shot, get it as soon as you can.” 

With the holidays approaching, the Health Department reminds Vermonters to take steps to help slow the spread of the virus including staying home if sick. Testing is important if someone has symptoms, has been a close contact of someone with COVID-19, or has traveled or been at a large gathering. 

Although Gov. Phil Scott and other state officials have been reluctant to impose new mask requirements in recent months as cases have surged, the Health Department’s Saturday bulletin recommends wearing a mask in “indoor public settings and around anyone at higher risk of COVID-19.” It also suggests keeping holiday gatherings small and for people to test prior to getting together. 

Information is online on the Health Department website healthvermont.gov regarding testing and vaccine and booster clinics. Testing continues daily at the Waterbury Ambulance Station on Guptil Road in Waterbury Center and a vaccine clinic is scheduled for Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Waterbury Area Senior Center, no appointment necessary. 

More on the Omicron variant is online from the CDC.