COVID-19: Two from Weathersfield School test positive for virus

Two students at the Weathersfield School tested positive for COVID-19 late last week, according to the Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union superintendent.

Other students and staff members who may have been exposed to the virus have been notified, David Baker, the superintendent, said in a Monday message to families.

Another patient has tested positive for COVID-19 in the Sullivan County nursing home outbreak in Unity.

With the finding for the patient at the Stearns 1 level at Sullivan County Health Care, a total of 31 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a letter on Tuesday  to relatives and friends of residents from nursing home Administrator Ted Purdy.

The outbreak also has involved 18 staff members, with 6 who have recovered and returned to work, Purdy wrote.

“Appropriate enhanced precautions, including full PPE (personal protective equipment), remain on each unit,” he said.

Staff and residents are also being tested weekly, he wrote.

The number of new cases of COVID-19 being reported in Vermont is starting to decrease and state officials are cautiously optimistic it marks the end of the third wave of the virus.

In addition to the reduction in the new cases in Vermont and across the region, hospitalizations are down slightly and it’s been several days since Vermont has seen a COVID-19 fatality, officials said Tuesday.

But the numbers are still significantly higher than they were several months ago, and it’s unclear how long it will take before those numbers decrease enough to begin further loosening of restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus.

That comes as state officials are planning for the second phase of the vaccine campaign, for people over age 75. But the vaccination efforts are hampered by not knowing how much vaccine the state will receive, officials say.

“Uncertainty about the allocations coming to Vermont means there is no real opportunity to change our approach currently,” Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said Tuesday during the twice-weekly virus briefing. “The age-prioritization approach to saving lives is indeed our north star. It is data-driven and simple.”

After older Vermonters are vaccinated, the focus will shift to people between 18 and 64 who have underlying conditions that make them more susceptible to complications from the virus.

CONCORD — The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has updated its instructions to health care providers about registering medically vulnerable patients for the coronavirus vaccine.

Vaccination under “Phase 1b” begins Jan. 26, with registration starting Friday, for residents age 65 and older, those with certain medical conditions, residents and staff of facilities for people with developmental disabilities, corrections officers and health care workers not previously vaccinated.

Residents ages 65 and older should register to be vaccinated at one of the state’s fixed site clinics by visiting https://vaccines.nh.gov or by calling 2-1-1. There are different processes for those with medical conditions, according to a health alert message issued Sunday.

Providers who plan to vaccinate their own patients will register and schedule eligible patients and report data to the state’s immunization information system. Those that do not have access to the vaccine or plan to refer patients to fixed sites will enter patient information into the state’s vaccine management system, which will generate an email invitation to the patient to schedule an appointment. For providers who don’t have access to the system or for patients that do not have email, the provider will pass along information to the state about eligible patients, and the state will call them to schedule appointments.

When vaccine supply is limited, the Division of Public Health Services recommends that providers prioritize within the eligible group.