October 4, 2021
We can’t be in a perpetual state of emergency.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) on public policy in his state while New England sees a surge in cases.
- The rise in cases in states like Vermont contrasts with the South, where a surge in cases is now recently declining.
- The region of New England, in general, has a very high vaccination rate – but now public health officials say they need even higher levels: “What we’ve learned with delta and looking beyond delta, is because that’s where our focus is as well, to really reach those levels of vaccination, to give you that true population level protection, you need to be in excess of 90%,” said Tom McCarthy, the executive director of the Rhode Island Department of Health COVID Response Unit.
- Why This Matters: Last year, a summer rise in infections in the South preceded cases rising elsewhere in the winter. The difference this year? Vaccination and treatment options. Will this winter look different than last? TBD.
by Jenna Lee,
