10 times as many daily cases/capita than Florida
Scott backs Biden ‘Winter Plan’
By Guy Page
A record 604 new cases of Covid-19 in Vermont were reported on the Dept. of Health Covid daily dashboard for Dec. 2.
That’s almost one in every 1000 Vermonters, based on an estimated population of 623,000 [source: WorldPopulationReview.com]. By contrast, the State of Florida (pop. 22 million) had 2266 positive cases on Dec. 1, its most in three weeks. That’s about one in every 10,000 Floridians. Florida is about 60% fully vaccinated, compared to Vermont’s 72% rate.
Today’s dashboard report shows 482, below the previous high of 591 from Nov. 11. 81 people suffering from Covid are currently hospitalized, with 22 in intensive care.
On Dec. 1, 17,215 tests were reported, the fifth highest total ever.
Commissioner Mark Levine said Thanksgiving gatherings are likely contributors to the Dec. 2 high case rate.
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With his mass vaccination plan apparently dead or at least interrupted by federal court injunctions, President Joe Biden yesterday announced a COVID-19 Winter Action Plan emphasizing increased access to voluntary vaccination, treatment such as monoclonal antibodies, and testing. Biden also “called on” businesses to impose their own employee mandates.
Not surprisingly, pro-vaccination Governor Phil Scott backs the plan, as shown in this statement released yesterday:
“President Biden today outlined a strong plan to confront COVID-19 that will help the country keep moving forward. Like Vermont’s current policies, it strongly prioritizes vaccines, boosters and testing. I share the President’s commitment to progress by prioritizing what we know will work best, which are not the broad restrictions of 2020, because we need to be able to bring Americans and Vermonters along with us 20+ months into the pandemic.
“We are in a much different place today than we were a year ago with incredibly safe and effective vaccines for those five and older, boosters available to maximize protection, advanced therapeutics and more. This pandemic is still being driven by the unvaccinated, and it’s more important than ever, as we head into the winter, to prioritize these proven strategies that work best, as we have in Vermont.
“Vaccination efforts, significantly expanding access to at-home testing, exporting Vermont’s ‘Test to Stay’ program across the country to keep kids in school, and other initiatives outlined today are how we’ll continue moving from pandemic to endemic management of this virus.
“The President’s focus and commitment is appreciated. My team and I look forward to our continued work with him and his Administration to make progress, keep Americans safe, the economy open and our country moving forward.”