Vermont Business Magazine As the number of counties eligible for quarantine-free travel has dropped to only two, the cross-state travel map is being temporarily suspended effective immediately. A 14-day quarantine – or 7 days followed by a negative COVID-19 test – is now required following any non-essential out-of-state travel by Vermonters and for all travelers entering Vermont from another state. Essential travel includes travel to attend PreK-12 school and college if commuting daily, or for work, personal safety, medical care, care of others, parental shared custody, or for food, beverage or medicine.
The regional map will continue to be maintained on the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the Department of Financial Regulation websites for informational purposes only. The regional map will continue to be updated weekly on Tuesdays.
Of the approximate 3,100 counties in the US, only about 30 would meet the standard. In Vermont, only Rutland and Franklin counties are under the 400 per million guardrail. There are only two others in the entire Northeast, one in upstate New York and one in far northern Maine.
The Vermont Department of Health reported Wednesday morning that the state has set a one day record with 72 new cases of COVID-19, with 11 in Chittenden and Rutland counties and 19 in Washington County.
Washington County was the original site of the recreational sports "hockey" outbreak from October which as of Tuesday resulted in 125 total cases, including 76 at St Michael's College in Chittenden County.
The VDH also reported Tuesday an outbreak at Rutland Health & Rehab which so far has accounted for eight new cases.
Governor Scott is also limiting family gatherings to 10 and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, is urging Vermonters to keep Thanksgiving to as small a group as possible and to neither travel for the holiday nor have family members travel to Vermont from out of state.
On his Twitter feed Wednesday, Governor Scott said:
"Today we reported 72 new COVID-19 cases – the highest daily number since the start of the pandemic and nearly double what was reported yesterday. With the growth we’ve seen in recent days, I’ve directed our emergency response team to prepare to re-deploy field hospital sites as a precautionary measure. We need all Vermonters to recommit to slowing the spread: Limit your contacts and avoid gatherings, even small ones. Wear a mask. Keep 6 ft. apart. And follow our travel policy, which now requires quarantine for all non-essential travel. The fact is the clusters and outbreaks we’re seeing often trace back to Vermonters traveling out of state and to social gatherings like baby showers, Halloween parties, deer camps and other small gatherings where masking and physical distancing breakdown. I understand Vermonters feel fatigued from the pandemic and the sacrifices it has required. But we must all do our part to slow the spread, protect our neighbors, keep kids in school and keep our economy open."
Get more information on testing and the latest safety guidance from @HealthVermont and https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19.
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Source: ACCD 11.10.2020