Current News

Vermont Business Magazine This evening, Mayor Miro Weinberger signed two emergency regulations. One relates to enforcement of the Governor’s emergency order and goes into effect at 6:30 p.m. tonight, and the second relates to the creation of the City’s “shared streets for social distancing” initiative and goes into effect at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. For additional information, please see the Mayor’s daily briefings from Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3.

COVID-19 Emergency Regulation 1 (to be cited as CER 1):

(a) The purpose of this regulation is to preserve the public health and safety.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued an order clarifying the expiration date for two previous directives to ensure all are complying with his Stay Home, Stay Safe order until April 15 or beyond. This new order makes clear that any previous orders or directives that had an expiration date prior to April 15, are subject to the Stay Home, Stay Safe order, which means they must follow the in-person operation closure guidance until April 15.

Vermont Business Magazine There will soon be guidance on what Vermonters should and must be wearing cloth face masks, according to Governor Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD. This update came today at the governor's press conference. They are waiting for further instruction from the CDC on what can be worn and by whom. It could be as simple as a scarf and could include everyone still working out in the public. Scott also said that within the next few days he will extend and give more detail on his "Stay Home, Stay Safe Order." He also said that he will not begin to allow businesses to renew operations, even outdoor businesses, until he's confident that the state has reached a peak in COVID-19 cases. Yesterday, state officials said that peak is expected by early May under current modeling.

Vermont Business Magazine The 158th Fighter Wing out of Burlington International Airport will continue flying operations as scheduled in order to maintain federal mission readiness requirements while also supporting the State of Vermont response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement issued Friday afternoon from VTANG.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation distributed the first round of grants, totaling nearly $380,000, from its Vermont COVID-19 Response Fund during the week of March 23. The grants ranged from $5,000 to $30,000 and were made specifically to entities addressing homelessness, working on the frontlines with vulnerable populations, and providing basic needs, such as meals and food access to homebound seniors.

A portion of the grants went to community-based organizations like community-action agencies and coordinated-entry lead agencies that have critical programs for individuals and families experiencing poverty, including food shelves, housing, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today published Attorney General’s Directive to Law Enforcement on the Enforcement of COVID-19 Emergency Order. The directive is geared toward law enforcement, including state’s attorneys, sheriffs, and police. The directive establishes that the Attorney General will bring all enforcement actions related to the COVID-19 Emergency Order and provides steps for how law enforcement should approach noncompliant businesses and individuals.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos announced a directive, issued March 31^st by the Secretary in agreement with the Governor under the authority grated in Act 92, §3 (2020), allowing for the postponement of municipal elections.

“The current public health crisis has been a serious test for all of us, and it’s also testing our democracy,” said Secretary Condos. “Enabling municipalities to postpone upcoming mandated local elections to a later date is in the best interest of the public’s health, and the health of poll workers and municipal officials, during this critical stage of effort to slow community spread of the coronavirus.”

Vermont Business Magazine For the nearly 36 million Americans who experience panic attacks, the coronavirus pandemic is a potentially significant new trigger, a recent story in the Washington Post reported. For panic attack sufferers facing these new anxieties, there is little recourse. Medication is minimally effective and has side effects. Cognitive behavioral therapy doesn’t work for nearly two-thirds of panic sufferers. And bio-feedback, which has shown promise, is cumbersome and impractical to use outside a laboratory or clinical setting.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Service wants you to know that Vermont’s broadband networks have enough bandwidth to support widespread telehealth and distance learning. That said, you need to know that there are households and businesses in Vermont that may not have enough bandwidth for multiple users at one time.

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the US Department of Homeland Security is giving public notice of its intent to provide financial assistance to the State of Vermont, local governments, and private nonprofit organizations under the national emergency declaration issued by the President on March 13, 2020, as a result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Vermont Business Magazine As the enormity of the impact of COVID-19 has become clear, Vermonters across the state are stepping forward to support their neighbors, connecting those in need with those that can help. Community response teams and mutual aid networks are emerging across Vermont to recruit willing volunteers and connect them with neighbors who are looking for help. Volunteer efforts include grocery and medicine delivery, accessing key benefits and resources, phone trees to check in on vulnerable neighbors, technology support, pet care, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont unemployment insurance claims increased exponentially last week as layoffs and business closures caused as expected a severe spiked in the number of claims. At the height of the Great Recession in 2009, under 39,000 claims were filed for the entire year. Last week alone 14,633 new claims were filed, an increase of 10,849 in one week. As reported today, the US unemployment rate for March jumped to 4.4 percent in March, the highest rate since August 2017.