Vermonters can now meet with members of one other household at a time, Gov. Phil Scott said at a press conference Friday.
The new rule is a change from guidance that has restricted any multihousehold gatherings since November. Only two households can gather at a time, but Vermonters are not limited to that household for other meetings.
“We’re taking incremental steps as more Vermonters are vaccinated,” he said.
Scott also lifted some restrictions on restaurant dining. Restaurants can now seat up to six people at a table, and the customers don’t have to be from the same household.
Dr. Mark Levine, commissioner of the Department of Health, encouraged Vermonters to continue to follow social distancing guidelines, including keeping a mask and staying 6 feet apart.
“Choose activities where you can keep masks on and maintain your distance, and, of course, avoid any gathering if you have any symptoms of illness,” he said.
The latest turn of the spigot also follows new guidance that allows vaccinated people to gather indoors with any other person, even an unvaccinated household. Any vaccinated households in a gathering won’t count toward the two-household limit, Scott said.
The change also follows an announcement from President Joe Biden that he will mandate that states open up eligibility for vaccinations to all adults by May 1. He aims to have the country back to normal by the Fourth of July.
Vermont currently allows any person with a high-risk condition, any person 65 and older, school and child care staff, and correctional officers to get the vaccine. Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said 21,700 high-risk Vermonters and 11,000 school and child care staff have registered so far.
On Friday, the state hit a new benchmark in its vaccination progress: Over 25% of the state’s adult population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to Department of Health data.
But the state is still struggling to recover from a recent Covid surge, led by an outbreak at Northern State Correctional Facility. The state reported 121 new cases and one new death Friday, bringing total deaths to 212.
Levine emphasized the importance of continued testing — more than 340,000 people in the state have been tested at least once.
“The more we are around others again, the more we need to remember testing,” he said.
Sanders outlines federal aid to Vermont
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., appeared at the press conference by video for the first time Friday to explain how a recent federal aid bill would affect Vermont.
In total, Vermont should receive about $1.3 billion, much of it going directly to the state, he said. The aid includes a $1,400 supplement for all Vermonters who qualify and a $300 weekly bonus to those receiving unemployment assistance.
“I have believed for a long time the most important thing we could do is just get cash into the hands of struggling families,” he said.
The bill allows for a $10,000 tax deduction on unemployment assistance and a $3,000 increase in the child tax credit, he said.
Money will also go to rent and mortgage relief, education programs assistance, community health centers and youth summer programs, he said.
