Vermont

Vermont to stop updating COVID dashboard

Published

3 years ago

May 11, 2022

The Vermont Division of Well being plans to “section out” the COVID-19 case dashboard that has been the centerpiece of its information reporting since March 2020, Well being Commissioner Mark Levine stated at a information convention Tuesday.

The dashboard — a part of a set of COVID information accessible on the division’s web site — publishes the day by day variety of instances, hospitalizations, deaths and the p.c positivity price, in addition to analyzing developments over time within the geography, demographics and vaccine standing of COVID infections.

However Levine stated the division has cautioned for months that information factors reminiscent of instances and p.c positivity “lack a variety of relevance at this time limit.”

“We’ve spoken many occasions right here about information reporting and the necessity to give attention to the bigger image of COVID: its affect on our well being and on our well being care techniques,” he stated.

Levine stated the division’s epidemiologists are engaged on a brand new “COVID surveillance report,” revealed weekly, that might analyze COVID the best way that the division analyzes different infectious illnesses such because the flu.

The primary surveillance report is scheduled for this Wednesday, whereas the dashboard’s final replace will come on Could 18, he stated.

Included within the weekly report might be matters reminiscent of affect on hospital capability, outbreaks, vaccination charges, wastewater surveillance and the proportion of variants over time, he stated.

It may also embrace particulars on “syndromic surveillance,” the monitoring of individuals coming to emergency departments or well being care facilities with COVID-like signs, he stated. That metric is a key information level within the division’s influenza surveillance reviews.

Much less clear is how Vermonters will be capable of entry information on instances or take a look at positivity, the proportion of PCR exams that come again constructive for COVID. Levine at first stated that case developments could also be included within the report, however, when requested if the reviews would come with weekly case counts, he stated “no.”

“The widespread use of at-home exams has already made case counts a lot much less significant, along with different information reminiscent of p.c positivity,” he stated. “Nor do the variety of instances replicate the quantity of extreme illness in our communities, which is our important concern relating to COVID.”

He stated the uncooked information ought to nonetheless be accessible by the Vermont Heart for Geographic Info, however Vermonters shouldn’t depend on day-to-day case counts to make selections about their particular person danger.

Specialists have cautioned that the shortage of case information within the newest BA.2 subvariant-led surge might make it harder for Vermonters to take early motion to forestall hospitalizations and deaths.

Wastewater information — the extent of the COVID-19 virus in sewage samples taken at wastewater remedy plans — might assist make up the hole as soon as Vermont develops a extra sturdy program for it, consultants informed VTDigger in April.

Levine stated the newest Burlington wastewater information confirmed viral exercise that was elevated, however not rising. Different remedy plans throughout the state have switched contractors and have quickly stopped reporting information.

The division additionally publishes self-submitted information from Vermonters on their antigen take a look at outcomes. The most recent replace, for the week of Could 1, exhibits a continued rise within the variety of individuals reporting a constructive antigen take a look at.

The Division of Monetary Regulation didn’t launch its common Tuesday COVID modeling replace because of the lack of former commissioner Mike Pieciak, who stepped all the way down to run for state treasurer, and one other information particular person on the group, Levine stated.

He stated instances had elevated about 4% up to now week, suggesting that case progress was “static.” The state reported a mean of 334 instances per day up to now week.

Hospitalizations have hit their highest degree because the BA.2 surge started, in response to the well being division dashboard. As of Tuesday, 75 Vermonters have been hospitalized with COVID, together with 10 in intensive care.

The division additionally reported 4 extra deaths, for a complete of eight deaths to this point in Could. In complete, 648 individuals have died because the pandemic started in March 2020.

The most recent week of knowledge on breakthrough instances and hospitalizations exhibits that the hole between vaccinated and unvaccinated Vermonters stays slender.

Division information exhibits 2 unvaccinated Vermonters have been hospitalized final week, for a price of 1.4 hospitalizations per 100,000 unvaccinated individuals. That’s in comparison with 11 vaccinated individuals being hospitalized for a price of two.3 per 100,000 vaccinated individuals.

Nonetheless, there are main caveats to the information. Though the division doesn’t monitor its information by booster standing, Levine stated many vaccinated Vermonters who’ve been hospitalized weren’t updated on their vaccines, together with the primary or second booster for immunocompromised Vermonters or these 50 and older.

He additionally stated about half of Vermonters hospitalized for COVID got here to the hospital for different circumstances, slightly than being admitted due to COVID.

Source link

Vermont

Vermont Sued for New Law Requiring Big Oil to Pay for Climate Damage | Common Dreams

Published

8 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Vermont Sued for New Law Requiring Big Oil to Pay for Climate Damage | Common Dreams

The US Chamber of Commerce and the American Petroleum Institute – representing the biggest fossil fuel companies in the world – are suing the State of Vermont over its new law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a share of the state’s damage caused by climate change.

The lawsuit, filed last Monday in the US District Court for the District of Vermont, asks a state court to prevent Vermont from enforcing the law passed last year. Vermont became the first state in the country to enact the law after it suffered over $1 billion in damages from catastrophic summer flooding and other extreme weather.

Vermont’s Attorney General’s Office said as of Friday, Jan. 3, they had not been served with the lawsuit.

The lawsuit argues that the U.S. Constitution precludes the act and that the federal Clean Air Act preempts state law. It also claims that the law violates domestic and foreign commerce clauses by discriminating “against the important interest of other states by targeting large energy companies located outside of Vermont.”

The Chamber and the American Petroleum Institute argue that the federal government is already addressing climate change. Because greenhouse gases come from billions of individual sources, they claim it has been impossible to measure “accurately and fairly” the impact of emissions from a particular entity in a specific location over decades.

“For too long, giant fossil fuel companies have knowingly lit the match of climate disruption without being required to do a thing to put out the fire,” Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said in a statement. “Finally, maybe for the first time anywhere, Vermont is going to hold the companies most responsible for climate-driven floods, fires and heat waves financially accountable for a fair share of the damages they’ve caused.”

The complaint is an essential legal test as more states consider holding fossil fuels liable for expensive global warming-intensified events like floods, fires, and more. Maryland and Massachusetts are among the states expected to pursue similar legislation, modeled after the federal law known as Superfund, in 2025.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a similar climate bill into law – the Climate Change Superfund Act- on Dec. 26, pointing to the need to fund climate adaptation projects.

Downtown Montpelier, Vermont was under water on Monday, July 10, 2023 caused by the flooding of the Winooski River.
(Photo: John Tully for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Heavy Rains Cause Catastrophic Flooding In Southern Vermont
(Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

Flooding is seen in downtown Montpelier, Vermont
(Photo: John Tully for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Source link

Vermont

Man Shot Near Central and Vermont: Police and Rescue Respond – ABQ RAW

Published

15 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Man Shot Near Central and Vermont: Police and Rescue Respond – ABQ RAW

Albuquerque –

Just after 5:25 PM, a shot rang out in near Central and Vermont. A person reported being shot in the 8310 block of Central Ave NE. Officers from the Albuquerque Police Department were dispatched, but fortunately, the New Mexico State Police happened to be in the vicinity and arrived promptly. Officers promptly rendered life saving measures, while Albuquerque Fire Rescue dispatched a rescue unit from Station 5 to the scene.

The man, who was shot in the leg, will be transported to a local area hospital by AFR. Presently, their condition is not known, but if we learn more, we will update you.

APD’s gun violence reduction unit (GVRU) is being called out to investigate this shooting.

Source link

Vermont

U.S. Chamber, Oil Industry Sue Vermont Over Law Requiring Companies To Pay For Climate Change Damage

Published

23 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

U.S. Chamber, Oil Industry Sue Vermont Over Law Requiring Companies To Pay For Climate Change Damage

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a top oil and gas industry trade group are suing Vermont over its new law requiring that fossil fuel companies pay a share of the damage caused over several decades by climate change.

The federal lawsuit filed Monday asks a state court to prevent Vermont from enforcing the law, which was passed last year. Vermont became the first state in the country to enact the law after it suffered catastrophic summer flooding and damage from other extreme weather. The state is working to estimate the cost of climate change dating back to Jan. 1, 1995.

The lawsuit argues the U.S. Constitution precludes the act and that the state law is preempted by the federal Clean Air Act. It also argues that the law violates domestic and foreign commerce clauses by discriminating “against the important interest of other states by targeting large energy companies located outside of Vermont.”

The Chamber and the other plaintiff in the lawsuit, the American Petroleum Institute, argue that the federal government is already addressing climate change. And because greenhouse gases come from billions of individual sources, they argue it is impossible to measure “accurately and fairly” the impact of emissions from a particular entity in a particular location over decades.

“Vermont wants to impose massive retroactive penalties going back 30 years for lawful, out-of-state conduct that was regulated by Congress under the Clean Air Act,” said Tara Morrissey, senior vice president and deputy chief counsel of the Chamber’s litigation center. “That is unlawful and violates the structure of the U.S. Constitution — one state can’t try to regulate a global issue best left to the federal government. Vermont’s penalties will ultimately raise costs for consumers in Vermont and across the country.”

A spokesman for the state’s Agency of Natural Resources said it had not been formally served with this lawsuit.

Anthony Iarrapino, a Vermont-based lobbyist with the Conservation Law Foundation, said the lawsuit was the fossil fuel industry’s way of “trying to avoid accountability for the damage their products have caused in Vermont and beyond.”

“More states are following Vermont’s lead holding Big Oil accountable for the disaster recovery and cleanup costs from severe storms fueled by climate change, ensuring that families and businesses no longer have to foot the entire bill time and time again,” Iarrapino added.

Under the law, the Vermont state treasurer, in consultation with the Agency of Natural Resources, is to issue a report by Jan. 15, 2026, on the total cost to Vermonters and the state from the emission of greenhouse gases from Jan. 1, 1995, to Dec. 31, 2024. The assessment would look at the effects on public health, natural resources, agriculture, economic development, housing and other areas. The state would use federal data to determine the amount of covered greenhouse gas emissions attributed to a fossil fuel company.

It’s a polluter-pays model affecting companies engaged in the trade or business of extracting fossil fuel or refining crude oil attributable to more than 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions during the time period. The funds could be used by the state for such things as improving stormwater drainage systems; upgrading roads, bridges and railroads; relocating, elevating or retrofitting sewage treatment plants; and making energy efficient weatherization upgrades to public and private buildings. It’s modeled after the federal Superfund pollution cleanup program.

We Need Your Support

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can’t do it without you.

Can’t afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You’ve supported HuffPost before, and we’ll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can’t do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

The approach taken by Vermont has drawn interest from other states, including New York, where Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law a similar bill in December.

The New York law requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state fund for infrastructure projects meant to repair or avoid future damage from climate change. The biggest emitters of greenhouse gases between 2000 and 2018 would be subjected to the fines.

Source link