While the thrice-weekly COVID-19 updates from Governor Scott and his administration generally have been serious and even somber affairs, the governor got a chuckle when asked how his hair looked so good with salons being closed. "I trim it myself," he said, and use "a little product" to keep it in check. Also with Scott are the American Sign Language interpreter and Human Services Secretary Mike Smith. Screen grab image from Orca Media YouTube video.
by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine As Vermont continues to show positive health data related to COVID-19, Governor Phil Scott said at today’s press briefing that he will have more economic assistance announcements this Wednesday and Friday. Scott has been holding press briefings every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for several weeks in an effort to keep the public informed and to stay vigilant in the effort to stay healthy.
Several metrics show Vermont now has the lowest infection rate in the nation and by far the most effective mitigation efforts in the Northeast.
Scott began the briefing today by emphasizing that despite the state’s good news regarding COVID-19 results, including only 15 new cases and one death in the last week, neighboring states are still struggling.
During that same week, New Hampshire had 400 new cases, Massachusetts over 6,600 more and New York state had about 14,500.
Scott has been cautious about relaxing restrictions on out-of-state visitors because of those numbers, even as he relaxes local orders and opens up more and more sectors of the economy.
Even as he “turns the spigot” to reopen hair salons, outdoor seating at restaurants and state parks on June 1, he noted that deciding which sectors to reopen has been perhaps a more difficult task than deciding which to close at the beginning of the pandemic back in March.
Health Commissioner Mark Levin, MD, reiterated the success Vermont has witnessed with the volume of new COVID-19 tests has produced very few new cases.
On Sunday, the state received results on about 700 tests and there were no positive cases.
To date, there have been 940 cases of COVID-19 in Vermont and 54 deaths.
“We continue to flatten the curve,” Levine said.
He said the percent of positive test results is in the 1-3 percent range as part of their “syndromic surveillance.”
Levine noted that there is basically no “regular” flu running around Vermont, so if you do have flu-like symptoms you should definitely call your healthcare provider to get a COVID-19 test.
He also defined the difference between “isolation” and “quarantine.”
Those people who are isolated either have tested positive for COVID-19 and do not need hospitalization or have COVID-19 symptoms and are awaiting a test or test results.
Those in quarantine either have come in contact with someone who has COVID-19 (or likely exposure) or someone who has come from out-of-state and must wait 14-days before resuming normal activity, like going out for groceries.
For those in isolation, Levine said they should have their own bedroom and own bathroom and not leave there for the duration of the isolation period, which will depend on the medical determination.
He said, as Scott has said, that Vermonters must not let their guard down.
Levine noted that over the weekend a single party in Plattsburgh, New York, led to nine new cases, with 27 close contacts and 46 total people traced.
“COVID-19 hasn’t disappeared and hasn’t been wiped off the Earth’s surface,” he said.
Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore also spoke live at the press briefing.
(Most state officials, like most reporters, access the briefings via conference call. Governor Scott, Levine, Human Services Secretary Mike Smith and the governor’s personal staff typically are the only ones in attendance at the Pavilion auditorium in Montpelier. During specific presentations other state officials will also attend.)
Moore gave a synopsis on outdoor facilities.
While the State Parks are open and will soon be staffed, there will be restrictions on their use.
Again, as with lodging restrictions, these venues are intended for Vermonters only, or out-of-staters who have quarantined in Vermont for 14 days.
Moore said that when the State Parks officially open the cabins found there will not be cabins for rent, or pools open (like at Button Bay) or concessions. Ice, drinking water, portable toilets and firewood will be available, but picnic tables have been removed and parking will be limited to reduce crowding.
Overnight campsites will be available starting June 26, but she hinted that if the health data continued positive, that that could happen sooner.
Bring your own tablecloth and hand sanitizer, she said, and mask as you interact with others and staff.
She also urged Vermonters to literally, if not figuratively, go off-road to enjoy the outdoors. Say, avoid the crowded Burlington bike path in favor of one of the 55 Wildlife Management Areas scattered across the state.
Governor Scott is urging limited movement across the borders, including urging Vermonters not to cross the border either. He’d like to see Vermonters take a “staycation” this summer.
Reporter Q&A
What if an employee at a larger employer cannot work because a family-member has COVID-19 or he can’t work for childcare reasons?
Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington said that under those conditions, similar to any worker at a large or small business, they will qualify for unemployment insurance, even if it’s very temporary, say for one week.
(For all COVID-related questions, readers can click through to Vermont.gov to be directed to specific departments.)
What is your reaction to the legal action taken against a Rutland gym owner?
Scott said, “It’s unfortunate.”
He said the owner has been contacted several times over the last couple of weeks to close and stay closed.
At first he closed and then reopened in defiance of the governor’s executive order.
Scott agreed that Attorney General TJ Donovan “had no choice” to ask the court for a temporary restraining order last Friday. By Friday night Rutland Superior Court had granted the order.
Scott said he agreed with the attorney general not to make a criminal case.
This is the only legal action the state has taken against anyone violating the executive order.
The governor said, ”If he’d only remained patient” he would have found that he would have had good news soon.
He said that otherwise, the compliance with the “Stay Safe” orders “has been remarkable.”
This suggests that personal services like gyms, physical therapy, massage and other health-related sectors could be given the green light to reopen by the end of this week, perhaps for a June 1 restart.
All these reopenings will likely look like the guidance for retail, which allows for 25 percent capacity or 10 people, whichever is greater, with social distancing and hygiene requirements.
When asked about whether he would even need “the stick” of enforcement, Scott said, “I’d rather deal with the carrots.”
Treatment of non-COVID illness is down, is that a concern?
Dr Levine said he is concerned about that and knows that heart disease and other serious illnesses have not just gone away just because the hospitals are not seeing the same number of cases.
He acknowledged that there are fewer hospital visits for non-COVID medical issues.
Levine urged Vermonters to attend to their health needs. He said the hospitals are safe and there have not been any COVID-19 cases at a hospital in some time.
Vermonters should feel safe going to health care facilities, he said, which are well prepared to keep patients and staff safe.
Levine said the Health Department is also working with the state Medical Examiner to determine if there has been an increase in mortality. To date, he said, they have not seen increase in cases.
However, that does not mean, he said, that people aren’t at home and getting sicker because they’re afraid of getting to the doctor.
Canadian border opening hurting northern tourism, what can do?
Scott said the economic package he will announce on Wednesday will include assistance for the general hospitality industry. He did not offer more detail on that.
But, he added, Canada seems in no hurry to open its borders, so there is little he can do about that. He cannot do more than monitor the borders with adjoining states while working with the tourism industry to do the most they can with health and safety concerns as the bottom line.
Another reporter asked about a report of two-dozen motorcyclists with New York plates visiting Ludlow over the weekend.
Again, Scott said he hopes guidance and education will keep transgressions to a minimum. He also noted that people who live in another state but work in Vermont can, in fact, recreate in Vermont, so seeing an out-of-state license plate does not mean they’re not supposed to be here.