The writer of the article is talking specific about the ‘infection rate.’
That is different from the death rate and what even used to be called ‘cases,’ which has been redefined from ‘requiring medical attention to treat’ to ‘testing positive.’
Not sure why you sound so hostile.
Because it is disingenuous to yell about Vermont's high infection/vaccination rate withought once mentioning that Vermont has the lowest covid death rate in the US.