Vt. governor: We can still defeat COVID
Late-afternoon sunlight breaks through onto Fletcher Schoolhouse Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said the people of this state can still halt a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, by working together to follow the rules which helped Vermont suppress the virus earlier in the year.
The state’s recent case growth has coincided with a sustained national increase — the U.S. topped 11 million cases on Monday. Last week, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott enacted a ban on multi-family social gatherings, including those in private homes. Other restrictions took effect Saturday, including closing all bars and social clubs for in-person service. As of Monday, no visitors to Vermont hospitals are permitted until further notice, with some limited exceptions.
Recent days also brought major updates about vaccines, when the companies Pfizer and Moderna announced their vaccines were highly effective based on early analysis. That was “reason for optimism,” Scott said at a Tuesday press conference.
“As Dr. (Anthony) Fauci said recently, there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
But challenges remain. Vermont hit a single-day record of 122 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, followed by 95 on Tuesday. Scott urged Vermonters to follow the new gathering restriction in order to slow the spread of the virus and reduce hospitalizations. That’s crucial to maintaining in-person instruction for schools and sustaining jobs, he said.
“In the environment we’re in, we’ve got to prioritize need over want,” Scott said. “In my view, in-person education, protecting our health care system and keeping people working, as long as we can do it safely, are things we need. Parties and cookouts, hanging out with people you don’t know just to socialize, may be fun, but they’re wants — not needs — and they put a lot of people at risk.”
He pointed out that from Oct. 1 to Friday, 71% of the cases associated with outbreaks in the state were linked to social events, such as parties at homes or at bars and clubs. The common denominator was people being lax about mask-wearing and social distancing at those gatherings, Scott noted.
He also expressed sympathy about the fact that the gathering rule comes so close to the holidays.
“I know for many, getting together with family and friends over the last few months has been so important,” Scott said. “I’m hoping, by laying out what’s at stake, it will motivate Vermonters to follow this guidance, so we can get back together soon, and safely.”
Speaking to his critics, Scott acknowledged the state can’t make everyone comply with public health guidance, but he still urged people to follow the rules.
“The skeptics are right, they can do what they want, but please, don’t call it patriotic. Don’t pretend it’s about freedom, because real patriots serve and sacrifice for all, whether they agree with them or not,” Scott said, adding, “You can question our methods, but I’m asking you to please do your part to help.”
Also this week, the state has opened five COVID-19 testing centers in Burlington, Middlebury, Waterbury, Rutland and Brattleboro. As a result, two-thirds of Vermonters will be within a half-hour drive of a testing site, the governor announced. Additionally, the state has started offering surveillance testing for all teachers and school staff, with about 1,700 tested on Monday.
Vermont has also brought on additional contact-tracing staff, with 40 now working full time. Another 20 from the Vermont National Guard, and 10 from the Department of Public Safety, will join that staff over the next two weeks.
Throughout the summer, officials lauded Vermonters' steadfast adherence to public health guidelines as the main reason the state was able to limit spread of the virus. Scott was confident Vermonters could work together and turn the tide against the virus in the coming weeks.
“We know we can change our trajectory when we all pull in the same direction, because we’ve done it before, and we can do it again.”
— Gareth Henderson
