Vermont Business Magazine Vermont continues to lead the nation, and is among world leaders, in vaccination rate. And now anyone 12 or older can get vaccinated in the state regardless of their residency. There are many sites around the state or at pharmacies that allow for walk-ins with no registration necessary. While Vermont's regular vaccine allotment will not change, it has been successful in obtaining thousands more Pfizer (2,340) and one-shot Johnson & Johnson (1,000) vaccines.
COVID-19 cases in Vermont and across the region are down, but there were two more deaths here for a statewide total of 254. Meanwhile, the Canadian border does not appear that it will open soon. Governor Scott hopes it will open sometime in mid-summer.
Vermont still has work to do on the vaccination front in order to fully re-open by the Fourth of July, state officials said. In particular, the vaccination uptake by those 19-29 is lagging well behind other age groups. The governor reminds everyone that you are protecting everyone by getting vaccinated, and that there are still gathering limitations and the bars and restaurants still have a curfew.
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COVID-19 Daily Update
May 18, 2021
New or updated information is in red and bold
This update is available online at healthvermont.gov/covid19
Click the “See the Daily Update” button
Mask guidance ‘adjustment period’ is OK, Dr. Levine says
Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD said at Tuesday’s press conference that it’s okay for Vermonters to take time to adjust to the new guidance that no longer requires masks for fully vaccinated people.
He reminded Vermonters that the vaccine works, it protects against the variants we’ve seen, and vaccinated people are unlikely to spread the virus.
“We have great vaccination rates here in Vermont, and we’re going to keep doing even better,” Dr. Levine said. “This is why we can ease up on masks and distancing for fully vaccinated people. And why the Vermont Forward plan makes sense – and is even possible.”
However, he acknowledged that businesses may still require masks, especially if their employees are not yet fully vaccinated.
Municipalities also can enact their own COVID rules with the state regulations as a minimum requirement.
“That is totally fine and I applaud their concern for the health of their staff,” said Dr. Levine. “This is why you should continue to keep a mask with you when out and about – to respect the policies of businesses and the settings you might find yourself in.”
He added: “It’s also OK for fully vaccinated people to be thoughtful about their decisions and observe how others behave before changing their own behaviors. Wanting to protect yourself and others has been so ingrained in us now, I can certainly understand. But know that when you’re ready, you can have confidence in the vaccine’s protection. Even if you unknowingly encounter an unvaccinated person, the vaccine is highly protective against all of the most serious outcomes.”
And if you’re not yet vaccinated, or you are just waiting for your full vaccination day to arrive – which is two weeks from your final dose -- please keep up masking and distancing so you don’t put others at risk, Dr. Levine said.
Keep checking healthvermont.gov for more walk-in vaccine opportunities near you!
Looking to walk in to a vaccine clinic without an appointment? You can! Check out the latest opportunities on our website: healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine and follow our social media feeds @healthvermont to stay up to date.
Remember that a clinic’s vaccine supply for walk-ins is limited, so the best way to guarantee your vaccination is to make an appointment through our website.
COVID-19 testing is important and available around the state
COVID-19 is a highly transmissible virus. Getting tested is not just the only way to know if you have the virus, it’s also how we protect our loved ones and our communities.
And if you have any symptom, no matter how mild, such as a headache, cough, fatigue or a runny nose, talk to your health care provider to get referred for testing. It’s also important to avoid going to work, school or other places until you receive a negative result.
Even if you don’t have symptoms, you can still have COVID-19 and not feel sick. If you don’t have symptoms and want to get tested, there are many test sites now available around the state. It’s free and easy!
COVID-19 Activity in Vermont
Data is updated daily.
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Description |
Number |
||
|
New cases |
34 (23,945 total) |
||
|
Currently hospitalized |
9 |
||
|
Hospitalized in ICU |
1 |
||
|
Hospitalized under investigation |
0 |
||
|
Percent Positive (7-day average) |
1.2% |
||
|
People tested |
389,564 |
||
|
Total tests |
1,666,379 |
||
|
Total people recovered |
22,232 |
||
|
Deaths |
254 |
Find more data on COVID-19 Activity at: healthvermont.gov/currentactivity.
COVID-19 Vaccine Data
As of 12 p.m. on May 18, 2021
Data is updated Tuesdays through Saturdays.
|
Description |
Number |
||
|
Total people who have received least one dose of vaccine |
394,846 |
||
|
Total people who have completed vaccination |
297,992 |
Find more vaccine data on the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard: healthvermont.gov/covid19-vaccine-data.
Additional Resources About Vaccination and More
