Tuesday, October 13, 2020
The Department of Health is also currently investigating school-based COVID-19 cases in Windsor and Manchester, as well as cases connected to youth and adult hockey teams that play at Central Vermont Memorial Civic Center in Montpelier, Health Commissioner Mark Levine said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Before last weekend, the state had recorded just six total coronavirus cases at five different schools. Four of those cases were classified as “recovered” and two were listed as “current," according to data the Department of Health last updated on October 9.
Vermont’s school-related COVID-19 cases are well below other northern New England states, Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak said Tuesday. In New Hampshire, there have been more than 100 cases of coronavirus in 68 schools since the school year started. And in Maine, he said, there have been 71 cases associated with its schools.
Tags: education , Vermont , COVID-19 , coronavirus , Chittenden County , schools , Web Only , Image
Monday, October 5, 2020
Champlain Orchards in Shoreham closed its shop and popular pick-your-own operation to the public over the weekend after a worker tested positive on Friday. Douglas Orchards, a nearby operation that Champlain Orchards acquired earlier this year, also closed for the weekend.
As of Monday, testing had revealed 26 cases among workers at the two orchards, according to health commissioner Mark Levine, who spoke at an afternoon briefing on the outbreak.
Tags: Champlain Orchards , Douglas Orchards , H-2A , apples , Web Only , Image
Friday, September 18, 2020
Bars may resume counter service, Gov. Phil Scott announced on Friday, as long as patrons sit six feet apart and businesses install a clear plastic barrier between customers and bartenders.
Also on Friday, Scott said hotels can now book 100 percent of their rooms. They'd been operating at a 50-percent cap since June.
Tags: Amy Spear , Mike Piecek , Coronavirus , covid-19 , vermont tourism , lodging industry , hotel restrictions , bar restrictions , counter service , Web Only , Image
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
The nation’s top infectious disease official praised Vermont’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic but urged residents to remain vigilant as children go back to school and cooler weather sends more people indoors.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appeared via live video feed at Gov. Phil Scott’s Tuesday press conference and said he wished he “could bottle” Vermont’s recipe for success and communicate it effectively to other states.
“Please, you’ve done so well, don’t let your guard down,” Fauci said. “This virus is a formidable foe — you give it an opportunity to reemerge its ugly head, whether you are in the beautiful rural areas of Vermont or the middle of Manhattan or the Bronx, the virus is going to take advantage of that.”
Fauci, the most trusted member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, praised state leaders for their “prudent” response to the virus. Heading into the fall, the state’s low infection rate means “you are starting the game on your side.”
Tags: Dr. Anthony Fauci , Gov. Phil Scott , COVID-19 , Vermont , coronavirus , response , pandemic , Web Only , Image
Monday, September 14, 2020
Gov. Phil Scott's office announced Monday that Fauci will appear for a limited time by video at the 11 a.m. briefing.
"Dr. Fauci will provide a brief perspective" about the "ongoing response to COVID-19 before moving on to questions," reads a media advisory Scott's office released.
The general public can view the press conference live here.
A member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Fauci has at times contradicted President Donald Trump's statements about the virus.
Vermont's response to the pandemic has earned its leaders, including Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, widespread praise.
The Green Mountain State has the lowest per capita COVID-19 active infection rate in the nation.
Tags: Dr. Anthony Fauci , COVID-19 , Gov. Phil Scott , Web Only , Image
Friday, September 11, 2020
The move marks the sixth time Scott has re-upped the state of emergency designation since March. The order, which is now set to expire on October 15, allows him to enact broad measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, such as closing down certain business sectors and limiting gathering sizes.
"While our numbers have been low in Vermont, the measures in place have helped keep it that way," Scott said at a regular press briefing on Friday. "This is a vehicle that allows us to manage and continue to suppress this virus and make sure that supports for workers and families remain available."
Tags: vaccine , Gov. Phil Scott , state of emergency , Mark Levine , health commissioner , COVID-19 , coronavirus , briefing , Web Only , Image
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Burlington officials are exploring how city sewage might help them find the next COVID-19 outbreak. Early results are promising, they say.
The city this week is wrapping up a pilot program it quietly undertook in August to look for viral markers in wastewater. But municipal leaders are already looking for ways to expand the program this fall.
"I'm excited about this as an early warning system," Mayor Miro Weinberger said. "I think this really has the potential to give us a sense of an outbreak starting to happen at the very early stages."
Tags: Carolyn Felix , Megan Moir , Miro Weinberger , coronavirus , COVID-19 , wastewater epidemiology , wastewater COVID monitoring , Burlington , coronavirus testing , sewage , Web Only , Image
Thursday, August 20, 2020
The measures, very similar to those proposed on Tuesday by Mayor Miro Weinberger, are intended to reduce the risk of coronavirus outbreaks once university and K-12 classes resume.
Three councilors were not present for the final vote, but the nine who were unanimously passed the emergency resolution over objections from some downtown bar owners who said their businesses were being unfairly targeted.
"We have been completely compliant, and it's not fair to scapegoat the bar industry," said Sean McKenzie, beverage director at the Archives arcade bar on College Street, adding that he would need to lay off employees as a result.
Tags: COVID-19 , coronavirus , City of Burlington , gathering size limits , alcohol sales , Miro Weinberger , Brian Pine , Sarah Carpenter , The Archives , Sean McKenzie , Ruben James , college reopening , superspreader events , Kelly Devine , Burlington Business Association , Web Only , Image
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
“We’re here today to discuss differences between the bodies,” Rep. John Gannon (D-Wilmington) said. “But I think it’s important to appreciate how fundamentally close we are in many ways with respect to the bill.”
Sen. Dick Sears (D-Bennington) said that many of the differences amounted to little more than “word-smithing” that could be ironed out easily enough.
But it quickly became clear the House and Senate remain deeply divided on a number of core issues that could prove significant hurdles to forging a compromise during the brief upcoming legislative budget session.
Tags: cannabis , pot , marijuana , legalization , Vermont , Web Only , Image
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
The mayor on Tuesday proposed limiting outdoor residential gatherings to 25 people, indoor ones to 10, and to end all alcohol sales at 10 p.m. The indoor gathering limit would be 15 if at least five of the attendees are household members.
He's requested an emergency city council meeting for Thursday to approve the new rules.
Tags: Mayor Miro Weinberger , City of Burlington , University of Vermont , Suresh Garimella , coronavirus , covid-19 , gathering size limits , Web Only , Image