Vermont to require face masks
Shoppers walk through downtown Woodstock, Vermont, on Friday afternoon. Woodstock enacted a face-covering requirement on July 9, and a statewide mandate is going into effect on Aug. 1. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
On Aug. 1, Vermont will require everyone over age 2 to wear facial coverings in public spaces where six-foot social distancing is not possible, though the law includes exceptions.
Wary of possible conflict about the new law, Gov. Phil Scott urged respect when differences arise and asked Vermonters to “lead by example.”
The statewide mandate, which includes indoor and outdoor spaces, has no fines for non-compliance. Additionally, all businesses, nonprofits and government agencies must display signage stating the mask requirement. Exceptions to the requirement include those who are eating or drinking, engaged in strenuous activity or have health conditions that would be impacted by wearing a mask.
At his Friday press conference, Gov. Phil Scott said current data drove the decision. While Vermont's COVID-19 caseload remains the lowest in the nation, trends elsewhere in the country are troubling, and Scott said that compelled the state to take this action to prevent a possible surge here. The U.S. overall passed 4 million cases on Thursday, with many of them in the south and west. But some states in the wider Northeast region have seen more new cases recently, including Ohio and Pennsylvania.
"I feel we need to act now to protect our gains, which has allowed us to reopen the economy," Scott said. "This is a much better approach than having to roll things back like they've done in states like California and Texas."
Right now, state data modeling for the Northeast region shows new cases are 20 percent higher this week than in the same week in June, and more case growth is projected in the coming weeks.
Still, on Friday, Scott emphasized that Vermont is "still in good shape" and the new mandate is meant to be proactive against the coronavirus, especially with school reopening preparations underway and more traffic coming into the state. The governor said he believed the mandate, if followed, will pave the way for more reopening of the economy. State Health Commissioner Mark Levine said masks have proven to be effective.
“We know that mask-wearing can substantially slow the spread of the virus, but only if a substantial majority of the population who is able to, does so,” Levine said.
Until now, Scott had been wary of a mask mandate, because of the difficulty of enforcement and also given the state's encouraging COVID-19 data without a mandate. He remained concerned on Friday about the potential for conflict among Vermonters about wearing masks, noting the matter had been politicized. He addressed those individuals who, without an impacted health concern, have refused to wear a facial covering so far.
"I'm asking you to look at the data, the real data, not just something you've seen on Facebook, and realize that the science is real," Scott said.
The mandate will help keep family members and friends safe, and put the state in a position to reopen the economy further, he added.
"So please, help us out, not because it's mandated, but because it's the right thing to do, for our seniors, for our kids, for our own health and for our economy."
The governor also urged people to be respectful of each other as this situation unfolds.
"To those who have been wearing masks, who are concerned about those who aren't, I ask you to give them the benefit of the doubt, because attacking, shaming and judging isn't going to help," Scott said. "But understanding, educating, meeting people where they are, and maybe using a little kindness and understanding, might."
He urged, "Let's do things the Vermont way, by being role models and leading by example."
— Gareth Henderson
