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
Editor’s note: This story was updated on March 27 to include more information from state officials in answers to reader questions.
At 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, Gov. Phil Scott’s “stay home, stay safe” order will take effect.
The order directs Vermonters to leave their homes only for “essential reasons,” including personal safety, picking up food and medicine, and medical care. The order directs all businesses that are not essential to either switch to remote operations, or to shut down if remote work is not possible.
Public health officials hope that this stringent measure will help to decrease the rate that the virus spreads so the health system will have sufficient resources to treat everyone who needs care — what is often referred to as “flattening the curve.”
“I need you to stay home,” Scott said at a press conference Wednesday. “Doing so will save lives. It’s just that simple.”
What does this mean for Vermonters’ daily lives? VTDigger is answering questions about the governor’s latest order, which is in effect until April 15, though may be lengthened or shortened.
Scott urged Vermonters to be conservative. “If you’re unsure about something, whether you should be doing it or not, err on the side of caution,” he said.
Is my job essential?
Scott spelled out 18 categories considered to be essential work in his order.
Health care operations, law enforcement and first responders, mail and delivery services, trash collection, news media, and organizations that provide services to economically disadvantaged people can continue. Critical infrastructure, including utilities, telecommunication, airports and transportation, will continue to operate, and construction necessary for maintaining critical infrastructure is also exempt.
Farming, food and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and businesses involved in fuel supply can continue to operate. Retail stores deemed critical include grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, and stores that sell transportation and agricultural equipment parts — though they are asked to conduct business through delivery or curbside pickup as much as possible.
Consult this list published by ACCD of what types of businesses within different sectors are critical. ACCD also released guidance for businesses navigating whether they qualify as essential under the order. And read more from VTDigger about businesses navigating whether they qualify as essential.
What if I’m not sure if my business is essential, or I believe it is essential but it’s not on the governor’s list?
If you have questions about whether your business should continue to operate, submit a request for continuation of business operations for Vermont form on ACCD’s website.
Will nonessential businesses face penalties if they operate as usual?
State officials hope Vermonters will voluntarily comply with the order, as has largely happened so far. Commissioner of Public Safety Mike Schirling said the state will offer municipalities and local law enforcement guidance for enforcement, which emphasizes education and voluntary compliance.
“We really think this is largely a self-regulating event,” Schirling said.
However, he said, businesses could face penalties if they operate in violation of the executive order. If a restaurant is operating normally, for instance, there could be implications for their license or with the Health Department.
Will law enforcement stop me to check on my activities if I’m traveling or out and about?
No. Police would need to have reasonable grounds to believe someone committed a crime to stop someone — the same standard that is in place without the “stay home” order.
“The presence of someone out and about does not create the lawful ability to create a stop whether that’s in a motor vehicle or a person walking, because there are legitimate reasons for people to be moving,” Schirling said.
Guidance the Department of Public Safety issued March 25 states that police are “encouraged” to speak with people who are violating the order to remind them of the requirements. Officials also say that there will not be road closures or checkpoints because of the order.
Can I go to the store to buy food and supplies?
Yes. Grocery stores can stay open, and people can go to them as needed. Pharmacies are also considered essential, so you can go to the drug store to pick up medications.
While you’re out, follow social distancing protocols, like keeping 6 feet from others. If you have to cough or sneeze, do so into your elbow. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds frequently, or use hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your face.
Will restaurants be able to continue doing takeout business?
Yes. Restaurants may continue to provide takeout and delivery, according to ACCD Secretary Lindsay Kurrle. Restaurants and bars remain closed to dine-in under an order Scott issued earlier this month.
Can I go outside to exercise?
Yes. Take your dog for a walk. Grab your running shoes or your cross-country skis. But, Scott advised: “Keep your distance while doing so.”
The CDC recommends maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from those who are not in your household.
I split custody of my children with their other parent. What does Scott’s order mean for visitations? What about if that parent lives in a neighboring state?
The order does not change family custody arrangements. According to Stephanie Brackin of Vermont’s COVID-19 Joint Information Center, parent-child custody falls under the exemption in the order for “care for others.”
Vermont judges agree that the “stay home” order does not change parent-child contact arrangements set by existing court orders, Chief Superior Court Judge Brian Grearson said Thursday, so “those orders remain in effect unless modified by the court.”
If there is an emergency motion to change custody arrangements, the court would consider it. However, the order on its own does not constitute an emergency, he said.
Attorney Robert Appel, who spoke about questions related to Scott’s order generally and was not giving specific legal advice, said that if parties agree to change schedules, the likelihood of being found in contempt is low.
As with any activity that requires you to leave home right now, the state advises you to follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines.
Can I be evicted during the “stay home” order?
At this point, the state courts have not imposed a stay on evictions or foreclosures, Grearson said. Courts are looking to Scott or the Legislature to make a decision about relief.
However, courts have suspended all non-emergency proceedings. Functionally, Appel and others have noted, that means that evictions likely won’t move forward for a while. Grearson told lawmakers last week that trial judges would not treat eviction proceedings and other landlord-tenant issues as an emergency.
Asked about housing at Wednesday’s press conference, Scott said that he expected the state would come out with guidance “in the next day or so” about evictions. His administration is working with lawmakers on this issue. Brackin advised people to check their local city and town orders in the meantime.
Erhard Mahnke, of the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition, said there are measures under consideration at the state and federal level, including the bill the U.S. Senate passed this week, that hopefully will help many continue to be able to pay rent. The group is also hoping for a state relief package “that will help make both tenants and landlords whole.”
My boss says my company is essential but I’m concerned about my health and safety in the workplace. What should I do?
Talk to your employer, Appel said. If you can, provide your employer with some kind of notice from your doctor that you are at high risk from the virus, whether because of age or a medical condition.
If you can document that you’re high risk and your employer takes disciplinary action against you, you may be able to take action later, Appel said. However, the path forward is not clear. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with qualified disabilities from retaliation at work, but Appel said, it’s not clear whether that standard changes in light of a pandemic. “I don’t think we’ve seen those cases yet.”
The Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration is hearing increasingly from employees concerned about workplace safety during the outbreak, Brackin said. The state is directing employers to follow government-issued safety guidance and to post Department of Health factsheets to educate employees. If you are concerned about your safety, you can also notify VOSHA through this online form or by calling 1-800-287-2765.
I live in Vermont but work in a neighboring state where there is not a stay in place order. Should I continue to go to work?
Vermonters are “on the honor system to do what is right for their neighbors,” Brackin said. Whether you are going to work at a job considered essential in Vermont or to work in a different state, follow the guidelines for social distancing and hygiene. When you are not at work, follow the “stay home” order.
We spend the winters out of Vermont. Does the “stay home” order mean we can’t come home?
No. The order does not block you from coming home, Brackin said. However, you should self-quarantine if you’re coming from an area that has recommended it. Anybody who travels through New York City has been advised by the federal government to quarantine for 14 days.
The CDC does not issue advisories about travel within the United States, but has put out a list of things to consider before hitting the road.
In addition to thinking about where you’re coming from and where you’re going, also consider points of contact you’ll have along the way. An epidemiologist, who advises against long car trips right now, told the New York Times that longer car journeys require you to stop to get gas and food. It can be tough to maintain social distancing practices during those stops. If you must travel, AARP has a list of tips to decrease your risk of exposure.
Can I volunteer to help during the coronavirus crisis?
Yes. Vermonters can volunteer to help with coronavirus relief activities, as long as they are in a safe work environment, according to Mark Bosma of Vermont Emergency Management. Scott’s order allows “providers of necessities and services to economically disadvantaged populations.”
Kevin Wiberg of the Vermont Community Foundation also said volunteering for something like Meals on Wheels would be OK under the order, “as they are practicing social distancing and good hygiene practices — in this case probably gloves, sanitizer, leaving meals at the door, etc.”
VTDigger is keeping track of opportunities to donate or volunteer to help Vermont communities through the crisis. Find our list of opportunities here. Have a suggestion for how Vermonters can help? Email us at coronavirus@vtdigger.org with ASSISTANCE in the subject line.
Check out previous answers to frequently asked coronavirus questions; questions about contagion and social distancing; questions about the virus’ seasonality and immunity; and questions about testing in Vermont and restrictions on movement during the outbreak.
