MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont Gov. Phil Scott Friday said he will extend the state’s emergency order to September 15 and urged Vermonters to remain vigilant in their efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19.
It’s the fifth time Scott has extended the emergency order since he first imposed it in March. It allows the state and local municipalities to make rules to contain the virus. The governor says giving towns, especially college towns where large gatherings and parties are more likely, the ability to create curfews and other emergency actions is critical. Scott said Burlington is clearly at the most risk as compared to a place like Island Pond, and instead of statewide restrictions, the emergency order leaves it up to cities and towns to decide.
HEALTH UPDATE
Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine says testing has begun at college campuses and that a few students have already tested positive and he expects more positive tests in the coming days. He says that’s proof their protocols are working.
As of Friday, Vermont health officials reported 1,501 coronavirus cases with 17 new cases spread between Chittenden, Franklin, Windham, Windsor, and Orleans Counties. Two people were hospitalized and the death toll remains at 58. A total of 107,417 tests have been conducted, 943 travelers are being monitored, 6,399 have completed monitoring and 1,321 have recovered.
The health commissioner says it’s not clear when a vaccine will be ready. He says a government-wide task force is already planning how it will be distributed and stored and how the state can get its fair share. He says health care workers and vulnerable groups will get the initial delivery before it goes to the general population.
Governor Scott says pop-up testing will continue across the state and will even be ramped up. The health commissioner says they are expanding capacity and are working to get test results faster. And the health department is looking into how effective rapid saliva tests are. Levine says it looks like the tests are almost ready for “prime-time.”
EXPANDED TRAVEL MAP
Gov. Scott said Vermont still has the lowest number of COVID cases per capita in the country.
Vt. Department of Financial Regulation Commissioner Mike Pieciak gave new numbers that show a drop in weekly cases around the region -- the second week of declines in the Northeast that allow an additional population of 700,000 people to travel to Vermont.
RETURN TO SCHOOL
The governor responded to criticism from the Vermont-NEA about restarting school and concerns about teacher safety. He says it’s important that students get in-person learning so they don’t slip through the cracks and he’s confident because cases are so low. He also disputed claims that the state is not giving schools enough guidance and listed the protocols provided to districts.
REACTION TO QUIROS GUILTY PLEA
The governor and commissioner Pieciak said they were pleased to see that Ariel Quiros pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges in the Kingdom Con, the state’s largest fraud case ever. But the commissioner acknowledged it won’t undo the damage done to the Northeast Kingdom and the economy there.
Copyright 2020 WCAX. All rights reserved.
"emergency" - Google News
August 14, 2020 at 06:53PM
https://ift.tt/3kMtX5m
Scott extends COVID-19 state of emergency to September 15 - WCAX
"emergency" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2VVGGYQ
https://ift.tt/3d7MC6X
emergency
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Scott extends COVID-19 state of emergency to September 15 - WCAX"
Post a Comment