COVID-19 pandemic in Vermont
[15] On March 17, 2020, the publisher of three newspapers in southern Vermont, Brattleboro Reformer, Bennington Banner and Manchester Journal indicated that all full-time staff members would be furloughed for one of the next five weeks.
[16] On March 20, 2020, the Barre Montpelier Times Argus and Rutland Herald newspapers announced that due to the financial impact of the pandemic they would be reducing their print publishing to three days a week and temporarily laying off 20 staffers.
[21] On March 13, a COVID-19 task force was set up[22] and Governor Phil Scott issued Executive Order 01-20 which declared a State of Emergency until April 15.
It also suspended traveling by state employees for non-essential government business and prohibited most mass gatherings, excluding transit, most offices, and grocery and commercial stores.
[12][27] On March 16, Governor Scott announced his emergency declaration would be amended to limit public gatherings to either 50 people or 50% occupancy.
[29][30] On March 17, Governor Scott ordered the closure of all Vermont child care programs, except for those that serve people "essential" to responding to the pandemic, through April 6.
[31] Essential persons included healthcare providers, criminal justice personnel; public health employees; firefighters; Vermont National Guard personnel; other first responders and state employees; and staff and providers of necessary childcare services.
[39][40] On March 26, Governor Scott ordered all schools in Vermont to remain closed for in-person classes for the rest of the academic year.
The agency also ordered stores to close showrooms and garden sections of home improvement centers.
[43] Also, Governor Phil Scott announced the launch of a new website where Vermonters could sign up to volunteer to help in the state's response to COVID-19.
[49] An April 3 directive from Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan provided police with guidelines on how to enforce the state's stay-at-home order.
Law enforcement officers were directed to provide education and request voluntary compliance when encountering businesses and individuals in violation of the order, while civil and criminal penalties were outlined for instances of continued non-compliance.
[51] On April 4, the Vermont National Guard started building a 400-bed overflow hospital inside the Champlain Valley Exposition center.
[54] On April 14, the Vermont Economic Mitigation and Recovery Task Force was established by Governor Scott under the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
[55][56] On April 16, Governor Scott and the Vermont Department of Public Service announced a partnership with Microsoft, RTO Wireless, and Up And Running I.T to deploy public WiFi access points in communities around Vermont that lacked Internet access.
The order also allowed businesses, government entities, and non-profit organizations to resume outdoor recreation or fitness activities that involve low or no direct physical contact.
[65] On June 14, 2022, Vermont's Health Commissioner Mark Levine described COVID-19 as endemic and stated that "COVID-19 is still with us and will continue to evolve, but so has our knowledge of the virus and how to respond," and went on to encourage the use of at-home tests.
Acknowledging declining positivity rates, Governor Scott stressed the importance of socialization and strengthening communities.
