Vermont logged seven more COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 759, and another death in a nursing home in Chittenden County, marking 30 deaths in the state.
But Health Commissioner Mark Levine said overall, given the slowing of the infection rate and the steady number of hospitalizations in the state, he would “cautiously say that perhaps we are in that peak zone” of COVID-19 cases now, tracking with “best-case scenario” models.
He said it’s possible that the number of Vermonters who wind up infected by the new coronavirus could be under 10%, compared to the 50% in earlier projections, but that would also require continued social distancing, rigorous hand-washing, use of face coverings and “robust testing” into the future.
“As an indicator of how we are doing in the epidemic, we are doing very well,” Levine said of the latest numbers during a news conference on Wednesday, while also recognizing the pain of the deaths.
Levine said Vermont received 15 rapid test machines through the federal government last week but, like New Hampshire, only about 120 test kits to go with them, far fewer than the 1,800 he had anticipated previously.
He said that was because more testing material was sent to states with severe outbreaks.
“We are fortunate to be a ‘low-activity’ state right now, and I’d rather be a low-activity state than get into an argument with the federal government about why we didn’t get more testing material,” Levine said.
Gov. Phil Scott said he may ease some restrictions on farmers markets as early as Friday, though he seemed wary of public gatherings, and he noted that Vermont is within 300 miles of “some very significant sectors” where outbreaks are a major problem, notably New York City and Boston.
“This virus knows no boundaries, no state boundaries,” he said. “We need to make sure this does not start another fire here in Vermont.”
Scott, in answer to a question from a reporter, said he has not been tested for COVID-19 but takes his temperature every day and wears a mask in public.
Vermont continues to have trouble getting some of the thousands of workers who have lost their jobs into the unemployment insurance system so they can receive benefits.
Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington said the department had already brought on 30 people from other agencies to help “clear claims” and were adding another 25 on Wednesday, though they need training first.
“Our biggest concern, obviously, is people who have applied in the past (as far back as March) and haven’t received claims,” he said.
Scott said he takes responsibility for the trouble some Vermonters are having in getting money to pay bills and said, “I accept responsibility for this … Vermonters are in desperate need, I understand that, and we have an obligation to help out.”
New Hampshire has paid $31.7 million to more than 114,000 people, said Commissioner George Copadis. About 70% of claims have been paid so far. The federal government will cover 40% of those costs, he said.
Deputy Commissioner Richard Lavers said Tuesday marked New Hampshire’s largest payment day ever when 35,000 people were paid $9.8 million. In contrast, the state paid out about $40 million all of last year.
Granite State officials said 76 emergency service workers were in quarantine Wednesday: 48 police officers, 12 firefighters and 12 emergency medical technicians. A similar number of state law enforcement officers also were quarantine.
As of Wednesday, 1,139 people in New Hampshire have tested positive for the virus, and 32 have died. A total of 365 have recovered.
A group of more than 20 volunteer psychotherapists, licensed in Vermont and New Hampshire, is offering free telehealth support for front-line health care workers in the Upper Valley.
Through a website launched this month, https://uvcovidrelief.org, the group called Upper Valley COVID Relief for Health Care Workers is offering support to nurses; nursing assistants; doctors; physician assistants; orderlies; emergency medical technicians; paramedics; and nursing home, assisted-living, and home health care aides.
Through the website, health care workers in search of support can schedule a 30-minute video or phone appointment.
Each worker can schedule up to six appointments during the COVID crisis. The volunteers will work to get additional support to anyone who needs more.
The Vermont Arts Council has received $47,000 from the New England Foundation for the Arts to “support emergency relief” for Vermont artists who are suffering from economic fallout in the pandemic.
New Hampshire will get a like amount as NEFA distributes $282,000 across the six New England states.
The Vermont Arts Council was already providing up to $500 in hardship grants, and had given out $64,435 to 164 artists.
For more information, go to vermontartscouncil.org.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.