MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Half of Vermont’s 14 counties have been rated as having high community levels of COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rankings are based on a handful of factors including new hospital admissions for COVID-19, recent case counts, and the community’s overall hospital capacity.

Washington County reported the highest number of cases per 100,000 individuals, followed by Chittenden County and Bennington County. The other counties with high community levels of the virus are Addison, Franklin, Grand Isle and Orleans.

Windham, Rutland and Essex counties have been given a “low” rating by the CDC, with the remaining counties rated at medium risk.

The agency recommends people in counties with high community levels of COVID-19 take actions to reduce transmission, such as wearing a mask in indoor public spaces.

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