COVID-19

Governor signs mask ordinance bill

MONTPELIER- At his COVID-19 press briefing Tuesday morning, Gov. Phil Scott announced that he had signed a bill, passed by the Legislature on Monday, that allows municipalities to mandate the wearing of masks in places open to the public. The authority sunsets at the end of April 2022.
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Senators participated in person and by Zoom during Monday's Special Session.

Bill gives towns green light to impose masking rules

Local legislators vote in favor of proposal
MONTPELIER - In a special legislative session on Monday, the Legislature passed a bill that will allow municipalities to institute mask mandates until April, 30, 2022, if they choose. In addition, the Senate passed a resolution...

Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine File photo

Pandemic not over, top doc says

MONTPELIER- “The pandemic is not over,” warned Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine at Tuesday afternoon’s COVID-19 press briefing. Levine and other officials urged Vermonters to take steps to avoid spreading the virus over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
Levine said the...

Dover, Wardsboro schools drop break academies

DOVER- On Monday, November 1, the River Valleys Unified School District board heard updates on the learning academies, COVID-19 protocols in the schools, and International Baccalaureate programming at Dover School.
At previous board meetings, school administrators discussed their plan to...

COVID rate takes a big jump, state says

MONTPELIER- Administration officials at Tuesday’s press briefing said COVID-19 cases increased by about 42% over the past week, with an elevated number of cases in Bennington County. Current COVID modeling doesn’t anticipate that cases will fall over the next four weeks.
Gov. Phil Scott...

Officials host virtual info sessions

BRATTLEBORO- The Vermont chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is hosting virtual informational meetings about COVID-19 vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds throughout the state. Their Windham County meeting with Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s Dr. Kristan Outwater was held on Wednesday. ...

Douglas Jowett accompanies his children, Claira-Jane Jowett, 8, and Timothy Jowett, 6, at the registration desk at Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s clinic for children. Photo courtesy of Ashley Jowett.

Now eligible, children line up to get their vaccine shot

Kids-only clinic a festive affair BENNINGTON - On the afternoon of Friday, November 5, kids ages 5 to 11 streamed into the former Southern Vermont College gymnasium to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.
That afternoon, the gymnasium, which has been used by Southwestern...

State getting ready for youth vaccinations, numbers dropping

MONTPELIER- The state is gearing up to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds and administer more boosters, as COVID-19 rates continue to decline, administration officials said Tuesday.
Reporting on his discussion with White House officials and governors earlier in the day, Gov. Phil Scott said the...

Agency of Education Secretary Dan French

Keeping schools safe

Local districts working out logistics on test to stay NEWFANE - In late September, Secretary of Education Dan French announced the state would pivot to a test to stay approach for limiting the spread of COVID-19 in schools. Locally, school administrators are grappling with how...

Governor urges “personal responsibility”

MONTPELIER - At his weekly press conference, Gov. Phil Scott urged “personal responsibility” to control the COVID-19 pandemic, now in its 19th month. Officials at the press conference discussed rising cases in the state, vaccinations for children under 12, the prospect of mixing and matching...