Vermont issues business curfews, prohibits multi-household gatherings

Changes come one day after state reports record 109 COVID-19 cases

Changes come one day after state reports record 109 COVID-19 cases

HE HAS THE THE GOVERNOR OUTLINED HOW QUICKLY THE INFECTION RATE IS GROWING- FROM 42 NEW CASES EARLIE IN THE WEEK TO 109 .. THE LATEST NUMBER WAS 84 NEW CASES REPORTED LAST NIGHT. HE AND THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER SAY VERMONT IS DEALING WITH 17 SEPARATE OUTBREAKS AND AT LEAST 80 OTHER SITUATIONS... NOW -- TO KEEP THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FROM BEING OVERWHELMED AND TO KEEP BUSINESSES OPEN AND KIDS IN SCHOOL -- VERMONT HAS NEW RESTRICTIONS. <GOV. PHIL SCOTT, (R) VERMONT 14:29 "I WANT TO BE CLEAR. WE'RE IN A NEW PHASE OF THIS PANDEMIC. THE DAYS OF VERY LOW RISK ARE OVER." > GOVERNOR SCOTT AND VERMONT'S HEALTH COMMISSIONER SAY CONTACT TRACING SHOWS VERMONT'S DRAMATIC INCREASE IN COVID-19 CASES IS LARGELY DUE TO PRIVATE SOCIAL GATHERINGS, EVEN SMALL ONES, WHERE PEOPLE DIDN'T WEAR MASKS OR PROPERLY DISTANCE. <GOV. PHIL SCOTT, (R) VERMONT 15:32 "GIVEN OUR RECENT CASE GROWTH WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO RESTRICT SOCIAL GATHERINGS, WHETHER AT A HOME, A BAR, OR IN A PARKING LOT AFTER A GAME." > THE GOVERNOR ISSUED A NEW ORDER HE SAYS IS BASED ON DATA SHOWING WHERE THE BIGGEST RISK IS COMING FROM. THE ORDER INCLUDES RESTRICTING SOCIAL GATHERINGS TO MEMBERS OF ONLY ONE FAMILY. BARS AND SOCIAL CLUBS WILL BE CLOSED TO IN-PERSON BUSINESS .. RESTAURANTS HAVE TO CLOSE BY 10 P-M. AND RECREATIONAL SPORTS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE ARE BEING PUT ON HOLD. <MARK LEVINE, M.D., VERMONT HEALTH COMMISSIONER 32:31 "IF WE CAN ACT AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT IN TIME OUR ACTIONS WILL STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. REMEMBER OUR VERY BASIC PRIORITIES AND GOALS: KEEP PEOPLE WORKING KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL AND SAVE LIVES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS BY DECREASING THE NUMBER OF CASES." > THE STATE IS ALSO DIRECTING PEOPLE TO COMPLY WITH CONTACT TRACERS AND TELL THEM THE TRUTH. AND REMOTE WORK AND TELECONFERENCING IS REQUIRED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. GOVERNOR SCOTT SAID THE IMPORTANCE OF VERMONTERS COMPLYING WITH áALLá THESE NEW RULES CAN'T BE OVERSTATED AS MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE CORONAVIRUS. <GOV. PHIL SCOTT, (R) VERMONT 43:31 "THIS IS EXPLODING AND IT'S COMING TO OUR DOORSTEP AND WE HAVE TO DO ALL WE CAN TO TAKE THIS ON AND TO PROTECT OURSELVES, PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS, PROTECT OUR FAMILIES." > THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT, WHILE RESTRICTIONS ARE TIGHTENING UP AGAIN, IT'S THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT, WHILE RESTRICTIONS ARE TIGHTENING UP AGAIN, IT'S STILL DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE SAW DURING THE SHUTDOWN IN THE SPRING THE STATE HAS MORE INFORMATION ON HOW THE VIRUS HAS BEEN SPREADING MOST, AND SO THESE GUIDELINES ARE MORE TARGETED BASED ON THAT INFO THEY GO INTO EFFECT AT 10 P-M TOMORROW N

Vermont issues business curfews, prohibits multi-household gatherings

Changes come one day after state reports record 109 COVID-19 cases

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced new business curfews and gathering restrictions Friday, part of a renewed push to fight a COVID-19 surge in the state.Bars and social clubs across the state are now required to shutter in-person service, and restaurants will be required to close all services, except takeout, at 10 p.m. each night beginning Saturday. All customer-facing businesses, including gyms, must keep a visitor log to aide in potential contact tracing efforts. "I want to be clear: We're in a new phase of this pandemic," Scott said. "The days of low-risk are over." Read full guidanceVermont COVID-19 dataThe state is also prohibiting all multi-household gatherings — public or private — effective immediately. It's a move Scott said the state had "no choice" but to make after observing recent outbreak data. "Since Oct. 1, 71% of the cases that are associated with an outbreak are associated with an outbreak from a private party or social gathering," Health Commissioner Mark Levine said. "Seventy-one percent."It's no coincidence that the restrictions are coming two weeks after Halloween and just ahead of a Thanksgiving holiday typically defined by gatherings. State health officials said the case increase from Halloween parties was notable and are desperately trying to avoid another surge. Watch: Gov. Phil Scott announces new guidelinesA month ago, the state was reporting an average of 8.5 new cases each day. Now, Vermont's moving average has surged to 65 cases each day, including a record 109 new cases reported in the state on Thursday. The state's positivity rate sits at approximately 1.3%, according to Levine, but he also noted that number can change quickly if a continuing case increase worsens. "That data has shown us a clear picture of a rising tide that could have consequences," Levine said. The data also prompted Scott to put all recreational sports leagues on pause, a move he says will be reviewed on a week-by-week basis. One message was clear from all state leaders during Friday's COVID-19 briefing: People refusing to follow public safety guidelines are exacerbating already-climbing case numbers. "We want to get back to where we were, but we need your help," Levine said during his closing statements. "Accepting our situation and following the guidance the governor and I have described today is what we must do now."

MONTPELIER, Vt. —

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced new business curfews and gathering restrictions Friday, part of a renewed push to fight a COVID-19 surge in the state.

Bars and social clubs across the state are now required to shutter in-person service, and restaurants will be required to close all services, except takeout, at 10 p.m. each night beginning Saturday. All customer-facing businesses, including gyms, must keep a visitor log to aide in potential contact tracing efforts.

"I want to be clear: We're in a new phase of this pandemic," Scott said. "The days of low-risk are over."

The state is also prohibiting all multi-household gatherings — public or private — effective immediately. It's a move Scott said the state had "no choice" but to make after observing recent outbreak data.

"Since Oct. 1, 71% of the cases that are associated with an outbreak are associated with an outbreak from a private party or social gathering," Health Commissioner Mark Levine said. "Seventy-one percent."

It's no coincidence that the restrictions are coming two weeks after Halloween and just ahead of a Thanksgiving holiday typically defined by gatherings. State health officials said the case increase from Halloween parties was notable and are desperately trying to avoid another surge.

Watch: Gov. Phil Scott announces new guidelines

A month ago, the state was reporting an average of 8.5 new cases each day. Now, Vermont's moving average has surged to 65 cases each day, including a record 109 new cases reported in the state on Thursday.

The state's positivity rate sits at approximately 1.3%, according to Levine, but he also noted that number can change quickly if a continuing case increase worsens.

"That data has shown us a clear picture of a rising tide that could have consequences," Levine said.

The data also prompted Scott to put all recreational sports leagues on pause, a move he says will be reviewed on a week-by-week basis.

One message was clear from all state leaders during Friday's COVID-19 briefing: People refusing to follow public safety guidelines are exacerbating already-climbing case numbers.

"We want to get back to where we were, but we need your help," Levine said during his closing statements. "Accepting our situation and following the guidance the governor and I have described today is what we must do now."

Vermont issues business curfews, prohibits multi-household gatherings

Changes come one day after state reports record 109 COVID-19 cases

TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

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