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Vermont Research News Vermont’s policy to allow COVID-19 positive tested individuals to leave quarantine at 7 days if they tested negative was the subject of a study conducted by the CDC. The CDC found that this method was effective at catching COVID-19 among asymptomatic people in quarantine, while also allowing people who were not infected to return to “normal” life sooner. The CDC suggested that other states should consider this policy.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont recorded its 10,000th COVID19 case. It is the last state to reach 10K - taking 315 days from its 1st case to today. DFR Commissioner Michael Pieciak said on Twitter that, "Although cases remain high, per capita, VT has the fewest cases, lowest hospitalizations & 2nd fewest deaths. Your sacrifices continue to save lives."

Vermont Business Magazine New research examining more than 800,000 traffic stops in Vermont over the course of five years substantiates the term “driving while Black and Brown.” Compared to white drivers, Black and Latinx drivers in Vermont are more likely to be stopped, ticketed, arrested, and searched. But they are less likely to be found with contraband than white drivers. The report finds evidence not only of racial disparities but also racial bias in policing. What’s more, a number of these gaps widened over the years examined in the report. With such comprehensive data encompassing the state of Vermont, the authors also found that Vermont police stop cars at a rate of 255 per 1,000 residents, which is more than three times higher than the national average of 86 stops per 1,000 residents.

Vermont State Police The enhanced law-enforcement presence in place at the Capitol Complex in Montpelier throughout the day is continuing. There have been no reports of any incidents, arrests or citations.

Vermont Business Magazine Consistent with a history that is rife with medical discrimination and abuse against Black people, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected BIPOC communities in the U.S., who are disproportionally employed as essential workers. Now, as vaccines are distributed to specific populations in phases, concerns are rising that this health disparity gap may widen. On Wednesday, January 20, Leon McDougle, MD, MPH, president of the National Medical Association, will address health care inequities as the Keynote Speaker for the University of Vermont's annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.

Vermont Business Magazine As the US Small Business Administration (SBA) opens the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application portal to lenders, ACCD is encouraging businesses to explore applying for the more than $284 billion has been allocated to this program nationally. Friday, the portal was opened to lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications. The portal will fully open on Tuesday, January 19th to all participating PPP lenders.

Leonine Public Affairs This week the House and Senate passed H.48, An act relating to authorizing alternative procedures for 2021 annual municipal meetings in response to COVID-19. The bill was sent to the governor's desk on Friday and he is expected to sign it. The bill authorizes municipalities to move the dates of their 2021 annual municipal meetings. It also permits a municipality to mail to all of the active registered voters in the municipality the Australian ballot to be used at the 2021 annual municipal meeting to encourage absentee voting.

​Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is urging safety for customers as crews work to restore power and forecasters predict that more heavy wet snow will continue to pile up across much of Vermont, especially the south and central regions of the state. Winds are also forecasted to continue to be high enough to cause outages into the afternoon, increasing the possibility for toppling trees which could tear down lines, causing more outages. So far, crews have restored power to more than 3,200 customers, and about 14,000 are out, with new reports coming in.

Vermont Business Magazine Lawmakers in the House and Senate Friday renewed their efforts to require the federal government to cover the full costs to the National Guard and their states for COVID-19 response efforts. President-elect Biden has announced that his administration intends to provide 100 percent reimbursement to states for the Guard’s COVID-19 support. Leahy is the incoming chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the longtime co-chair of the Senate National Guard Caucus.

Public Assets Institute As the legislature gets into full swing this month, dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 on Vermonters will be at the top of the list. At the end of 2020, Washington approved another round of pandemic relief, adding more funds and extending the spending deadline for the federal aid sent last spring. Vermont expects up to $2.5 billion from this new round of aid, with $1.8 billion accounted for so far. The aid includes funds for businesses, broadband investments, food, COVID-19 response, and other priorities.

Vermont Business Magazine The Snelling Center for Government has announced the graduates of the Vermont School Leadership Project Class of 2020. The VSLP Class of 2020 experienced many unique elements over the course of the 17-month program. Most notably, the program was interrupted by the COVID-19 shutdown in the spring, but associates soon adapted to new ways of meeting, both in-person and virtually, that allowed momentum to gather over the summer and fall.

Vermont Business Magazine State officials announced at Friday’s press conference that registration for the COVID-19 vaccine for people who are 75 years and older will begin on January 25. Vaccine clinics will start on January 27. People will register online, or by calling a phone number. The website and phone number will be announced on or before January 25, in addition to other details. The VDH also reported 142 new cases of COVID-19 statewide and one more death for 163.