School masking guidance extended until October 4

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott at his regular press briefing today extended the school masking guidance until October 4. The initial guidance was for just the first 10 days of school. He also added an extra incentive with a $2 million grant program for those schools that reach an 80 percent vaccination among eligible students.

As for when children under 12 could finally get vaccinated, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, was making no promises but believes that the CDC and FDA would offer an update by the end of October.

See current school guidance below.

The governor today also broadened mitigation measures for executive branch employees, which covers about 8,000 state workers. He said that unvaccinated employees would have to wear masks when working at a state site indoors and get tested weekly. He said the state employees union has been notified of this change.

This mandate broadens his previous requirement that requires masking and testing for all Department of Corrections staff.

Governor Scott also announced today a series of walk-in vaccination clinics that will be open at schools and other sites across Vermont this week for anyone age 12 or older. See full list below.

Just walk-in or visit www.healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine to make an appointment. You can also call 855-722-7878.

Human Services Secretary said that there are still many testing sites around the state, but urged people to make an appointment, preferably online, to avoid wait times.

The vaccination sites listed below also offer additional doses for those currently eligible based on guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some primary care providers and pharmacies are also offering additional doses. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Dr Levine expects more information from the CDC soon on those "third doses" for the general population soon.

Also today, the Vermont Department of Health is reporting 105 new cases of COVID-19 but no new deaths, which are holding at 282 statewide. There are 32 people hospitalized and 7 in the ICU. There were 13 in the ICU in yesterday's report. Hospitalizations have remained relatively high but steady the last few weeks.

Finance Commissioner Michael Pieciak said today that the Delta variant, which has caused the summer-time surge in COVID-19 cases, could be at its plateau. (See full modeling HERE)

Given evidence from places like Israel, Delta begins to wane at about nine weeks, which is where Vermont is now. The seven-day average suggests Vermont could soon see a drop in cases.

School Mask Recommendations

COVID-19 Prevention Strategies for the Opening of Schools

Stay Home When Sick

School health personnel should use the COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients Flow Chart (Pre-K – Grade 12) Triage, Evaluation, Testing, and Return to School in partnership with pediatric providers and families to guide medical decision-making.

Students and staff who are sick should stay home. This is the most important prevention message.

All students and staff should stay home if they:

• Show symptoms of COVID-19;

• Have a fever (temperature greater than 100.4°F); or

• Are currently in quarantine due to close contact with an individual with COVID-19 or in isolation due to testing positive for COVID-19.

If symptoms begin while at school, the student or staff member should be sent home as soon as possible, and the individual should be isolated from other staff and students until they can go home.

Masks

To allow school districts time to calculate the percentage of currently eligible students who have received two doses of a two-dose vaccine, schools should require universal masking for all students and staff when indoors until October 4, 2021. Currently, all Vermonters ages 12 and older are eligible to be vaccinated.

After October 4, 2021, masks should no longer be required for all those eligible for vaccination when the vaccination rate (two doses of a two-dose vaccine) among students is equal to or greater than 80% of the school’s currently eligible population.

Masks should be required indoors for students younger than 12, who are not eligible to be vaccinated at this time.

Masks, when required, may be removed when needed for instructional or operational purposes.

Masks are currently required for all passengers on buses per federal regulation, regardless of age or vaccination status.

Masks should not be required outdoors.

Guidance will be updated when vaccine eligibility expands.

Surveillance Testing and Contact Tracing

Surveillance testing will be offered to schools for both students and staff.

Schools should continue to participate in contact tracing as requested by the Health Department.

More information on what to do when there is a positive COVID-19 case in PreK-12 schools, childcare centers, camps and out of school programs and contact tracing can be found on the Vermont Department of Health website.

Vaccination Clinics

Human Services Secretary Mike Smith announced today a series of walk-in vaccination clinics that will be open at schools and other sites across Vermont this week for anyone age 12 or older.

You can just walk-in or visit www.healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine to make an appointment. You can also call 855-722-7878.

Here are the upcoming walk-in vaccination sites:

Make an appointment for a free vaccine

You can also walk-in at CVS, Hannaford Food and Drug, Walmart, Walgreens, Price Chopper/Market 32, Rite Aid, Shaw’s Supermarket, or Costco or get an appointment with Kinney Drugs, CVS, Walgreens, Northfield Pharmacy, or UVMMC Outpatient Pharmacies.

Vaccination & COVID-19 Dashboards