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ACCD: Reopening plan for retail on the way

Submitted by tim on

Governor Scott (with American Sign Language interpreter) at his Monday press briefing said retail stores may begin to reopen and will be allowed to sell general merchandise starting next Monday under strict conditions, which include limiting how many customers may be in the store at any one time. The administration also emphasized that the new health guidelines that allow for some outpatient elective procedures do not include things like dentistry and physical therapy. Image: Screen grab.

Agency of Commerce & Community Development Governor Phil Scott announced Monday that retail operations can begin reopening starting Monday, May 18th. In coordination with the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Health, ACCD will develop and release guidance this week on how the phased restart will work. Stores will be required to follow all health and safety guidelines and will need to limit the number of people in the store to 25 percent of a store’s maximum legal capacity.

VMEC Forum on Returning to Work

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center will present a live forum on Wednesday, May 13th at 1:30pm on returning to work, featuring Vermont manufacturers and health care and safety professionals. The forum will provide expert, practical guidance on the reopening of Vermont workplaces in a safe manner in the current COVID-19 environment.

Clarification for Health Care Providers

The Agency of Human Services (AHS) has clarified that the Phase 1 of reopening the healthcare sector includes elective procedures in an outpatient settings only. Acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, dentists, and many others must remain closed until sector-specific guidance is available. AHS has advised that these businesses should not assume reopening can occur after May 15th and emphasized that Phase 2 guidance for reopening these businesses will be forthcoming.

Template for Municipal Reopening Plan

While establishing a written COVID-19 Safety and Health Work Plan is not required for municipalities, it is considered a best practice. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns has developed a template to assist municipalities in creating their own COVID-19 work plan to ensure the safety of their employees.

Call to Action: Priorities for Recovery Survey

Vermont’s Local Support and Community Action Team of the Economic Mitigation and Recovery Task Force is asking for community input to help prioritize high-impact actions for local, regional, and statewide recovery. Share your priorities in this quick survey on or before Tuesday, May 12th.

Draft Consolidated FY19 Action Plan for CARES Act Funding Available

The Department of Housing and Community Development and the Agency of Human Services have issued a draft plan to use supplemental COVID-19 "CV" funding for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG-CV) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG-CV). Interested parties can learn more and submit written comments on the draft amendment by May 13th.

Web Marketing Series for Specialty Food Producers

The Vermont Specialty Foods Association presents a three-part webinar series on how to maximize the online presence of your business. This series, happening May 13th, 20th, and 27th, will focus on certain aspects of e-commerce for companies looking to expand, leverage, and grow their current e-commerce business.

Business Impact

ACCD wants to hear from all Vermont businesses impacted by the response to the COVID-19 virus. Please share these impacts via the ACCD Business Impact Form, which will help us assess the full impact as we work toward solutions.