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Monday, March 9, 2020:

Williston Schools Get a Deep Clean

Allen Brook School and Williston Central School were closed Monday over concerns that a staff member may have been exposed to coronavirus at a conference in Boston. After consulting with state health and education officials, the Champlain Valley School District decided to keep the schools closed on Tuesday to complete a deep clean, the district said in press releases.

"The original decision to close today [Monday] was based on the information available to the administration Sunday evening, without the benefit of guidance" from the Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont Department of Health, the district said.

The schools will reopen on Wednesday, once janitors who have been trained in proper use of disinfectants clean the buildings and school buses "top to bottom."

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Courts May Postpone Trials

Vermont's state courtrooms will make changes designed to limit coronavirus exposure, including delaying or modifying hearings.

State court administrator Patricia Gabel and Chief Superior Court Judge Brian Grearson sent a memo to members of the judiciary on Monday "recommending" a series of actions. They include: holding hearings by video and telephone when possible; excusing litigants from routine hearings; and "liberally" considering requests for juror excusals due to illness.

The memo further states that superior court judges may decide to postpone jury draws and trials upon consultation with the state.

In Chittenden County, Judge Helen Toor issued a temporary standing order allowing any lawyer or client with cold symptoms to appear by phone for most hearings, according to a statement that circulated online.

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Tech Conference Postponed

Organizers of the upcoming Women in Data Science conference in Burlington say they're postponing the event indefinitely.

Maureen McElaney, one of the organizers, told Seven Days in an email that the group decided to cancel the March 21 conference after reading last week about a New Hampshire individual who attended a mixer in White River Junction despite guidance from health officials. The man was later diagnosed as the state's first case of coronavirus.

"We care deeply about the health and safety of our community and did not want to risk hosting a large, free event where someone might get sick," McElaney wrote, adding that tech conferences around the world have been canceled as the virus spreads. McElaney said organizers were particularly concerned about being able to provide a venue that is accessible to immunocompromised attendees.

The conference is a locally planned offshoot of the international network of events tied to the Women in Data Science conference held last week at Stanford University in California. It drew about 80 participants last year.

McElaney said organizers hope to reschedule the event at a later date.

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Norwich Hockey Team Will Play in an Empty Arena

Norwich University's women's hockey team will play its first NCAA playoff game Wednesday in Amherst, Mass. — but no tickets will be for sale.

Amherst College — the Cadets' opponents — made the call on Monday to bar spectators from the arena over coronavirus concerns.

"We are taking these actions out of an abundance of caution and being mindful of the health of the Amherst community, including the teams that are competing," Amherst said in a press release.

Norwich won its fourth consecutive New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) title over the weekend. The Vermont university apologized to fans who were planning to travel for the playoff game.

The game will be streamed live online.

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Bishop Suspends Communion

Catholic parishes across Vermont won't be offering communion from the cup "until further notice," per order of Bishop Christopher Coyne.

The bishop's March 4 order also included changes to churchgoing custom meant to reduce physical contact during mass. Further, Coyne said, churchgoing Catholics who feel ill should not attend.

"The obligation to attend Mass in such cases is lifted," Coyne wrote.

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VA Limits Visitation

Beginning Tuesday, March 10, the VA Medical Center in White River Junction will restrict access to its facilities, executive director Brett Rusch announced.

Veterans and "essential visitors" will only be able to enter through the main entrance, according to a press release. The VA recommends that no children accompany patients to the facility, and that patients with cold- or flu-like symptoms call a patient care line at 802-295-9363 (ext. 6364) before coming in for treatment.