Vermont’s progress gets national spotlight
Vermont’s steady progress against the coronavirus has grabbed the national spotlight.
On Wednesday, CNN Health highlighted Vermont along with New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut as states that have “tamed the coronavirus, even after reopening.”
The article emphasizes Vermont’s contact-tracing program which has helped contain the virus as well as several outbreaks.
“Vermont has the lowest test positivity rate in the nation - 0.78% as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University,” the CNN article states “It also has the 3rd lowest number of coronavirus cases per capita and the 10th lowest Covid-19 death rate of any state.”
Gov. Phil Scott officially extended Vermont’s state of emergency on Wednesday to help the state manage the crisis and respond to outbreaks. The state is currently responding to a possible outbreak in Manchester.
It’s worth noting that local communities have been a big part of keeping the state’s overall pandemic numbers low. Woodstock last week became the latest Vermont town to enact a face-covering ordinance. The emergency ordinance passed by Woodstock Village Trustees requires that face-coverings be worn in all municipal buildings and establishments in the village, and also at village-owned public outdoor spaces including sidewalks and public parks. Some exceptions are included in the new requirement, which the town Select Board passed as a resolution. The ordinance and resolution will be in effect until the state of emergency ends, or the trustees lift the requirement, whichever happens first.
So far, businesses in Woodstock Village report most shoppers have been compliant with the new rule, and appreciate that it’s there (more on this Thursday). That shows the best response to the pandemic, is a community response, and it seems to be having a statewide impact in Vermont, and in other states which have shown the greatest progress in combating the virus. One of the most important points: More progress means more reopening, while of course monitoring what’s happening elsewhere.
As Gov. Phil Scott said Tuesday: "As long as the data stays consistent, we will stick with our effort to incrementally lift restrictions and get closer to a point where this (emergency) order is no longer necessary."
— Gareth Henderson
