Coronavirus update-Wednesday, March 18

DMV to close 

-The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will suspend all in-person transactions effective 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19. The DMV will continue to process registration and license renewals and various other services online, by mail, or via telephone. In-person transactions that cannot be completed using other delivery options — like exams, trainings, and hearings — will be postponed for the duration of the state of emergency. Additionally, Gov. Phil Scott directed the DMV to grant a 90-day extension for all license and registration renewals. Vermonters are encouraged to complete their renewals on time by using the online or mail option, but extensions will be in place during this time of need.

Department of Environmental Conservation pauses enforcement of bottle redemption

-The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will temporarily stop pursuing enforcement action against retailers or redemption centers who fail to redeem beverage containers subject to Vermont’s bottle bill law (10 VSA §1523).Vermont DEC has taken this step in allowing retailers and redemption centers to temporarily stop redemption services to reduce unnecessary person-to-person contact and possible virus transmission and to let grocers to focus on restocking food shelves and other needed work to assure availability of groceries.   This temporary period will end on April 30, 2020 unless extended by DEC. Decisions about whether to close or stop redeeming during this time are solely at the discretion of the retailer/redemption center.

Two new cases of COVID-19

Health Commissioner Mark Levine said there are now 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Vermont, up two from Tuesday night.

Online unemployment claims

The Department of Labor opened an online portal for unemployment claims arising from the COVID-19 outbreak. The electronic form is available here.