Cavendish Update 7/15/22 News/Events
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7/15/22
1. Cavendish Protecting Self & Community
2. Cavendish Info
3. Covid update
4. Events
1. CAVENDISH PROTECTING SELF AND COMMUNITY : The BA.5 variant of omicron, is sweeping the country including Vermont. Why the Omicron offshoot BA.5 is a big deal. It’s been very successful in dominating as its able to infect those who have been vaccinated as well as those who may have had previous infections. If you had Covid, even if it was just a month ago, you can be reinfected with this strain.
There is new research showing that the more you become infected with Covid, the more likely you are to develop long covid, other illnesses, along with increase chances of hospitalization and even death.
We have the tools in our community to fight Covid:
- Free KN95 masks and hand sanitizer are available 24/7 @ the CHS Cares Closet next to the steps of the CHS Museum
- Free Test kits, masks and hand sanitizer are available @ the Cavendish Fire Dept, 9-4 Monday-Friday. Test kits are limited, so only request them when you no longer have a kit at home and suspect you, or a family member, is infected. Each kit has 2 tests. If you are in need of these supplies on the weekend, please e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com and we will arrange a drop off. You can also call 802-226-7807
- Free Test Kits and masks are available at the Springfield-VT Dept of Health. Located at 100 Mineral St., Suite 104. They are open Monday-Friday from 7:45-4:30. They are located in the same building as the DMV. Go past the DMV to the end of the hall for the Dept. of Health Office.
- Test kits are available at the Ludlow Rite Aid.
- PCR testing is available at Rite Aid and the Ludlow Health Center
- Vaccinate/Boost: The vaccines continue to protect against severe cases of illnesses, but as the time lengthens between vaccination/booster, protection is reduced. If you are 50+ and/or immunocompromised, and your last boost was over six months ago, consider getting boosted again with the current vaccine to keep your protection strong. This can be done at the Ludlow Health Center or Rite Aid.
Wear a well-fitted N95 or KN95 Mask when you are indoors and you’re not able to socially distance from people outside of your household.
If you test positive: Call your medical provider who can prescribe medication, that if taken within five days of infection, significantly reduces the risk of serious disease, hospitalization and death. Paxlovid and Lagevrio require a prescription from a healthcare professional. You must have tested positive for COVID-19 and your symptoms must have started no later than within the last 5 days. Lagevrio is prescribed for those 18 and up, while Paxlovid, is for those 12 and up, weighing at least 88 pounds. Note that the FDA has recently authorized state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid. The drug is free.
2. CAVENDISH INFO
• July 20 Concert Morning Dudes: The next in the annual summer music series will take place on Wednesday, July 20 at 6 p.m. at the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville, featuring The Morning Dudes, who play songs from the wide and varied repertoire of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, including folk, blues, country, bluegrass, and improvisatory rock. Note concerts are being recorded and are available at the Okemo Valley TV website.
• Cavendish Planning Commission: The July 6 meeting is now available to watch at the Okemo Valley TV website.
• Cavendish Ballot for Primary A sample ballot for the Aug. 9 primary is now available at the Municipal website. You can arrange for a mail in ballot by contacting Diane McNamara, Cavendish Town Clerk 802-226-7291. The polls-Proctorsville Fire Hall-are open 10-7 on Aug. 9. Please note that Chris Morrow has withdrawn from the State Senate race in the Democratic Primary.
• Cavendish 1927 Flood: The VT Journal recently posted at article on the 1927 flood and its impact on Cavendish. The Cavendish Historical Society, open Sundays 2-4 and by appointment, has a number of photographs and information about the 1927 flood, including copies of letters to President Calvin Coolidge, who was very concerned about his family living in Proctorsville.
• Heavy rain, winds wallop Chester
• Forum for candidates to U.S. Congress in Ludlow: Five candidates seeking their party’s nomination for the Vermont seat in the United States House of Representatives will participate in a candidates’ forum in the Ludlow Town Hall’s Heald Auditorium on Thursday, July 21 at 7 p.m. VT Journal
3. COVID UPDATE: For local information on testing, vaccinations, boosters, notifying contacts as well as other resources, including for Long Covid, please see the Cavendish COVID-19 Resource Guide.
Long Term Care Facilities: Cedar Hill in Windsor currently has an outbreak
State: The current VT Dept of Health Weekly Report July 3 to July 9, continues to report statewide community levels as low, with two counties (Bennington & Rutland) reporting medium levels.
Now that the PCR testing sites are closed, the VT Dept of Health (VDH) is relying on hospitalizations and other measures to determine how the virus is spreading:
• New hospital admissions with Covid: 33 (decrease from 53 last week).
• Percent of staffed inpatients occupied with Covid: 1.77% (decrease from last week’s 2.08%)
• Waste Water Treatment: Of the seven sites reporting data, six are showing an increase Bennington; Essex Junction; Johnson; Morrisville; St. Albans; and Winooski. The only decrease was in Troy/Jay. However, the reporting of this data has been problematic. See article below.
• Deaths: There has been one additional death, bringing July’s total to 4. Current total for VT is 688.
• Outbreaks: As of Tuesday, there were nine active outbreaks of Covid, up by one from last week, including 4 long-term care facilities, two correctional facilities, and one each non-Long Term Care Facility and a school/childcare.
Where’s the Waste Water Data?: As has been noted in previous posts, the VT Dept. of Health must rely on other data sets now that the PCR testing sites have been closed, and most are doing tests at home and not reporting results. . Hospitalizations, ER visits with Covid symptoms, deaths and municipal waste water treatment data continue to be studied. Waste water is potentially the best indicator of what the actual incidence of Covid might be and would be a good warning system when the virus was on the rise. Unfortunately, Springfield, the closest system testing, has dropped out of the program as it required more testing and reporting than they had time and staff to perform. However, the data is not appearing or is confusing in the weekly surveillance reports from the state. No one seems to know exactly why the data isn’t available. Vermont’s missing Covid wastewater data is a mystery to government officials and contractors
4. EVENTS
JULY 20 (WEDNESDAY): Summer concert series continues featuring Morning Dudes, celebrating the repertoire of The Grateful Dead. Music starts at 6:00 pm on the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville. In case of rain, check the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Facebook page for postponement and rescheduling information. All concerts are free and open to the public. For more information email CavendishCommunityConservation@gmail.com.
JULY 27 (WEDNESDAY) Summer concert series continues featuring Sammy Blanchette.. Music starts at 6:00 pm on the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville. In case of rain, check the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Facebook page for postponement and rescheduling information. All concerts are free and open to the public. For more information email CavendishCommunityConservation@gmail.com.
JULY 30 (SATURDAY): Cavendish’s Annual Town Wide Tag Sale, 9-2.
AUGUST 3 (WEDNESDAY: Summer concert series continues featuring Beecharmer, an acoustic duo from Wilder.. Music starts at 6:00 pm on the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville. In case of rain, check the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Facebook page for postponement and rescheduling information. All concerts are free and open to the public. For more information email CavendishCommunityConservation@gmail.com.
AUGUST 9 (TUESDAY): Statewide Primary. Town office Closed. Voting is from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Dept.
AUGUST 10 (WEDNESDAY): Summer concert series continues featuring the Gully Boys.. Music starts at 6:00 pm on the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville. In case of rain, check the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association Facebook page for postponement and rescheduling information. All concerts are free and open to the public. For more information email CavendishCommunityConservation@gmail.com.
AUGUST 15 (MONDAY): 1ST Quarter Property Taxes Due
AUGUST 31 (WEDNESDAY): First Day of School
SEPTEMBER 5 (MONDAY): Labor Day, Town Office Closed