Progress with caution
Stepping out my front door this morning, the air greeted me with that precious summer warmth. It’s a welcome feeling, especially here in the northeast, where that stubborn chill in the air had persisted for a bit too long.
As nature turns the page to a new season, we, too, embrace progress, but it comes with a note of caution.
Memorial Day Weekend marks the first major holiday weekend during the reopening phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, state officials are asking people to stay vigilant and keep using the precautions that have allowed northeastern states to make progress against the virus, as crowds begin to swell in the region. The common phrase: We’re not out of the woods yet.
On Friday, Vermont took further steps toward reopening its economy, as announced by Gov. Phil Scott. Bars and restaurants can reopen for outdoor seating under restrictions, effective on Friday. As of Saturday, churches are allowed to reopen under a limit of 25-percent capacity. And on May 29, hair salons and barbershops can reopen under state-imposed limits and safety measures.
It wasn’t all good news, though. Scott announced that all traditional fairs and festivals are cancelled for the season. Fairgrounds can still be used for events that meet state requirements, the governor added.
“Even with the steps we’ve taken, the reality is, we’re still far from being back to normal,” Scott said.
Friday was also a big day for the health sector, as certain medical procedures and health services were allowed to resume immediately. Those included inpatient surgeries and procedures; outpatient services, including clinic visits, diagnostic imaging and limited outpatient surgeries and procedures; and elective dental services. Full dental services were expected to resume by June 1, according to Health Commissioner Mark Levine.
Though we expect the best weekend weather we’ve seen all year, the public is urged to continue to follow precautions such as wearing a mask in public, frequent hand-washing and six feet of social distancing. Governors from the bordering states of New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts also emphasized those points in their Friday press briefings.
In the past several weeks, multiple Vermont sectors have been glad to get back to business, though under state restrictions. The holiday weekend will indeed be a test of our progress thus far, but not only from a data standpoint. It will begin to answer the question, “Will all that good will and kindness experienced during the pandemic stick around?”
On Monday, the first day of reopening retail stores, the hearts of shoppers and shopkeepers were lifted up as they saw each other in person again, though under social distancing. It was clear: We all want to see each other do well. We’re all thirsting for joy in our lives. So, as people try to navigate this situation, it’s an ideal time to share kindness and compassion. The beautiful thing is, even after these recent weeks, there still seems to be plenty of it to go around.
— Gareth Henderson
