Vermonters will be able to gather with one other trusted household under a new loosening of restrictions announced by Gov. Phil Scott on Tuesday.
The temporary lifting of some gathering restrictions will run from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2, allowing Vermonters to meet with another household for the holidays. But Scott warned that Vermonters must remain cautious during these two-household gatherings and consider getting tested seven days after.
“I want to stress, there’s a risk of Covid transmission when people gather, especially indoors,” Scott said, and urged Vermonters to wear masks, use common sense, and follow the state’s guidance — “the best way to limit risk for yourself and others.”
Scott also announced a loosening of restrictions on outdoor recreation such as skiing, snowshoeing and sledding. Multiple households may meet outside for those activities but must wear a mask for the activity.
School and youth recreational sports can resume some activities, too. They are allowed to hold practices, starting Dec. 26, working on individual skills and strength and conditioning drills. However, no physical contact will be allowed, and athletes must physically distance and wear a mask at all times in the schools on winter break. Spectators remain banned, and adult recreational leagues are still shut down.
Scott also said youth sports should remember to “arrive, play, leave,” citing the Montpelier hockey outbreak as a potential peril of tailgates and other social gatherings.
Dr. Mark Levine, head of the Department of Health, said holiday gatherings should stay as distanced as possible. Everyone should wear masks, avoid food and drink, keep the size small and stay 6 feet apart, even indoors.
“It’s been a tough year and many of us will still miss one another this holiday season with smaller celebrations that just won’t be the same,” he said. “But if we do spend a little time with just one other person or family safely, I hope it will give us the mental and emotional boost many of us need right now.”
Scott said the state will evaluate the data after the loosening of restrictions ends to evaluate whether it led to a rise in cases.
U.S. Rep. Peter Welch discussed the newly passed stimulus bill, a $900 billion package that includes a stimulus check for all Americans, an extension of unemployment and a variety of other measures intended to provide relief for nonprofits and businesses.
“We can see the other side, the vaccines there,” he said. “But as we make that journey, we’ve got to make sure that those businesses like our restaurants and others that have been hanging on by their fingernails can make it.”
Among the provisions is another round of Paycheck Protection Program loans, giving small businesses another opportunity to receive aid. The new bill also expands eligibility to small local news organizations that were previously excluded because they were owned by larger affiliates. (Disclosure: VTDigger received a PPP loan in April.)
“There’s never been a greater demand for local news than right now, but the economic model doesn’t support you, because those restaurants, those local organizations who would buy advertising in your publications are hammered,” Welch said.
Virus report update
There are some signs of slowdown in the Northeast, even as the country reaches 18 million Covid cases, said Commissioner Michael Pieciak, head of the Department of Financial Regulation.
Pieciak presented data showing that cases in Northeast states declined 4%, although the positivity rate rose in those states. Vermont’s cases also declined: The state reported 685 cases this week, down from 774 the previous week.
The state continues to have rising Covid cases in Chittenden and Bennington counties, which both have the highest number of active cases since the start of the latest wave.
Long-term care facilities continue to struggle with outbreaks. The state pronounced one outbreak over — Valley Vista in Bradford — but announced three more. Facilities reported 121 cases in the past week.
Long-term care facilities account for 70% of deaths from the virus, even though they have only 6 percent of current cases, Pieciak said.
Pieciak said early flu data showed encouraging signs, limiting fears about a dual wave of Covid and flu cases. “Plausible” flu projections say the state could have between 113 and 249 cases for the whole season.
Even under a pessimistic model, the flu numbers should remain within the state’s hospital capacity, the state presentation shows. Hospital visits for flu-like symptoms are down significantly so far this year, although the flu season doesn’t typically peak until January.
Flu vaccinations are up 11% over the previous year. It’s not too late to get a flu vaccine, Levine said.
Vaccines update
Vermont has vaccinated 3,100 people so far, Levine said. So far, it’s received 11,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine, and 3,900 Pfizer vaccine doses, which were reduced last week because of shipping issues.
Levine said the state hasn’t had the chance to use all of its doses because the state’s pharmacy partnership began Monday. The pharmacy contract will distribute the vaccine to long-term care facilities at high risk of outbreaks and Covid complications.
The state expects to have 35,000 doses by the end of the month, Levine said.
A federal vaccine advisory committee issued recommendations for the next group to be giving priority vaccines: People 75 or over and frontline essential workers, including first responders, food service workers and teachers.
Vermont’s advisory committee will meet this week to evaluate the federal recommendations and issue its own “Group 1B” recommendation, Levine said.
“They’re obviously going to pay attention to what the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices advises the CDC. It doesn’t mean they have to be in complete lockstep with that,” Levine said. “They don’t necessarily make the entire decision, but obviously these are people who have expertise, especially in the area of ethics.”
