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Vermont Business Magazine In times of crisis, separating fact from fiction is more important than ever. But doing so can also be more difficult. That’s why the Vermont Department of Public Safety strongly encourages residents to avoid spreading rumors, speculation and disinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Vermonters should turn to trusted sources including their municipal and state governments, established local and national news outlets, and fact-checking and myth-busting resources from federal authorities.

Vermont Business Magaziner The Vermont Retail & Grocers Association is issuing an urgent call to action for all retailers remaining open to provide designated hours for vulnerable populations to shop or provide curbside delivery to ensure the safest condition possible for them to acquire the products they need.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Saturday reported 16 new positive cases of novel coronavirus COVID-19 statewide. Seven of those cases are residents of the Burlington Health & Rehabilitation Center (BHR). Health Department epidemiologists have been on site and issued updated guidance for this facility and all long-term care facilities statewide with a known infection. Health officials have also spoken with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Burlington Health & Rehabilitation Center has been following CDC guidance on treatment and isolation of COVID-19 patients since Monday, March 16, 2020. The Health Department has prioritized identifying and testing any symptomatic patients and health care workers at the facility following the initial positive tests. The facility is checking the temperature of all staff before they enter the building and having employees who are symptomatic stay at home.

Leonine Public Affairs As with all aspects of life in Vermont, the tenth week of the 2020 legislative session was unprecedented in nature and unlike any week in modern history. The novel COVID-19 pandemic caused the Vermont statehouse to shut down. In the grand scheme of things this was a minor event because over the past week Governor Phil Scott has ordered the shut-down of the state’s schools, licensed child care centers, bars and restaurants and prohibited non-essential gatherings of more than 50 people as the virus spreads rapidly throughout the state. Hospitals and healthcare providers are bracing for what is expected to be a wave of infections that will strain resources while large portions of the workforce grapple with sudden unemployment. Vermonters are being encouraged to practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) led 165 lawmakers in calling on House and Senate leadership to dramatically increase long-term funding for community health centers (CHCs) in the third coronavirus legislative package being drafted by Congress to address the immediate economic and public-health emergency needs caused by the pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced additional community mitigation measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He ordered gatherings to be limited to 10 and to close gyms, salons and tattoo parlors and similar "close-contact" businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Weinberger on Thursday shared the following update with the public regarding COVID-19 in Burlington. Good afternoon. I want to start by acknowledging what a challenging time this is for everyone. Hourly workers, parents of young children and children of elderly parents, health care workers, grocery store workers, first responders, renters and homeowners and people experiencing homelessness, small business operators and large companies, the young and the old, officials at all levels of government – all of us – are facing issues that just a couple weeks ago would have been difficult to imagine.

by Rachel Feldman, Vermont Business Magazine The wellbeing of Vermonters, students, Vermont businesses and employees in the face of COVID-19 was apparent in both the words and actions at Governor Phil Scott’s Friday press conference in Montpelier. Joined with Scott at 6-foot intervals were Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith, Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lindsay Kurrle, and other state officials, making it clear that all were respecting “social distancing” while presenting a united front during this pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine I know this is an incredibly difficult time with disruption most of us have never experienced, and there’s a lot of uncertainty, fear and anxiety across the nation. I understand how tough things are right now and will continue to be. But what’s really important is to focus on and complete our first mission: to work together as one community to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced Vermont small business owners suffering economic injury due the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans, following a statewide disaster declaration.

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) offer up to $2 million in assistance per business, providing economic support to overcome temporary loss of revenue. EIDLs may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for private non-profit organizations, which are also eligible for EIDLs.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services has announced that operations at 12 Travel Information Centers on I-89 and I-91 were suspended at the close of business on Thursday March 19. Those centers closed were Alburgh, Bradford, Derby Line, Fair Haven, Georgia North, Georgia South, Hartford, Lyndonville, Montpelier, Randolph, Sharon, and Waterford. The remaining four centers: Bennington, Guilford, and Williston North and Williston South remained open on Friday March 20 from 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. and then ceased operations.

Vermont Business Magazine A Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) provider has been confirmed as COVID-19 positive. The employee interacted with a small group of patients and staff while asymptomatic, and has been in self-isolation since becoming symptomatic. After receiving the positive notification from Vermont Department of Health, hospital clinical and human resources teams immediately traced and notified contacts of their possible exposure. Self-quarantine and monitoring for symptoms have been recommended to those potentially affected. CVMC is not able to share more details due to HIPPA restrictions.