Coronavirus Roundup: 2 die from COVID-19, confirmed cases at 22

Jon St. Amour, owner of the Jericho Center Country Store, puts a food delivery order in the back of daughter Kayley St. Amour’s vehicle on Thursday, March 19, 2020. St. Amour began offering the delivery service on Wednesday. The service is one of the adjustments the owner of Vermont’s oldest continually operating general store has had to make in the wake of the coronavirus. “We’re trying to switch gears and become something new,” said St. Amour. “We just want to survive.” Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

VTDigger is posting regular updates on the coronavirus in Vermont on this page. You can also subscribe here for regular email updates on the coronavirus. If you have any questions, thoughts or updates on how Vermont is responding to COVID-19, contact us at coronavirus@vtdigger.org

Vermont marked its first deaths from COVID-19, announced by Gov. Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine Thursday evening. One was a male Windsor County resident who had been hospitalized at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, The second was a female resident of the Burlington Health & Rehab facility. Read VTDigger’s story

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Vermont has nearly tripled in four days, according to data just released from the Vermont Department of Health. There are 22 confirmed cases in the state. Read VTDigger’s story

The COVID-19 pandemic is poised to put a massive strain on Vermont’s tax coffers, as fiscal analysts project that in the next three months the state could face a revenue shortfall of $200 million due to diminished economic activity and delayed tax payments. Read VTDigger’s story

The Vermont Department of Public Safety has added grocery store workers to its list of essential persons such as law enforcement officers, utility and telecommunications workers, and health professionals. Read VTDigger’s story

State lawmakers are concerned that a paid leave provision in a recently passed federal stimulus package doesn’t do enough to help businesses survive the coronavirus crisis. Lawmakers aired their concerns to representatives of the congressional delegation during a conference call Thursday. Read VTDigger’s story

The Burlington School District offered meals to students starting Wednesday as schools were closed for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The district prepared 284 breakfasts and 316 lunches Wednesday, available for any child under the age of 18. Read VTDigger’s story