The number of new recruits training at the Vermont Police Academy who have tested positive for Covid-19 has climbed to 18 of the 23-member class. The facility is now expected to stay closed until early next year.
Last week William Sheets, the academy’s interim executive director, reported that eight members of the class training to become full-time officers for agencies around Vermont had tested positive for the coronavirus.
At that time he said there would be additional testing of recruits as well as staff at the Pittsford facility.
The results of the latest round of testing has revealed 10 more recruits have tested positive, bringing the total number to 18, Sheets said Thursday. That’s roughly 78% of the entire class.
The most recent testing has shown that one staff member at the academy was also positive for the coronavirus, according to Sheets.
None of those who have tested positive have required hospitalization. Some have had minor symptoms. Others have been asymptomatic.
Following the earlier news that eight recruits had tested positive, the academy facility was shut down and the training went online.
Recruits will return to in-person training Jan. 4 when the academy reopens to complete the final days of the 16-week program.
“Hopefully, if all goes well, on Jan. 8 they will officially graduate,” Sheets said.
The academy had taken steps to prevent an outbreak, he said, including providing single rooms for recruits, mask wearing and classes held in a gym rather than classrooms.
According to Katie Warchut, a spokesperson for the state Department of Health, the department has reviewed the academy’s infection control protocols and has provided quarantine and isolation guidance.
Warchut said in an email Thursday afternoon that the academy was following safety protocols.
“Their setting is challenging to prevent transmission (the students live and go to school together all week),” Warchut wrote, “and they were taking steps to mitigate the risk of transmission.”
The Vermont State Police has 10 recruits in the class.
