By Ethan Weinstein Despite Gov. Phil Scott signing a legislation on Nov. 23 allowing cities and towns to create their own mask mandates, few municipalities seem keen to use the new power. The town of Rutland is one exception. On […]
Category: Covid-19 updates
Covid hospitalizations hit record, RRMC strained
By Ethan Weinstein As the public waits anxiously to learn more about the Omicron variant, Vermont is currently experiencing its highest number of Covid hospitalizations and Covid patients in ICU beds. “There’s still a lot we don’t know and it […]
Gov. Phil Scott orders ‘universal booster program’
On Nov. 17, Governor Phil Scott directed the Agency of Human Services to implement a universal booster program for Covid-19 vaccinations and is strongly encouraging every Vermonter over the age of 18 to get a Covid booster shot. Anyone who […]
Lawmakers react to being called back into session to allow town mask mandates
By Lola Duffort/VTDigger As soon as Gov. Scott told top lawmakers in a letter Monday afternoon, Nov. 15, that he would call them back into session and allow them to pass a measure clearing the way for time-limited municipal mask […]
Another week, another record for Covid cases; local mandates likely
By Ethan Weinstein Following a week of record cases, Gov. Phil Scott will call the Legislature back for a special session, allowing them to pass a law granting municipalities to install local mask mandates — but only on his terms. […]
Gov. Scott dons mask as state posts record Covid cases
By Ethan Weinstein As the state sets new records in both its seven day average case count and its single day case count, Governor Phil Scott and his administration addressed Vermonters while wearing masks for the first time in months […]
Kids, 5-11, can get vaccinated this week
By Ethan Weinstein If, as experts expect, the CDC endorses Pfizer’s vaccine for children 5-11 on Nov. 2 or 3, Vermonters in that age group will be able to receive their first shot this week, Gov. Phil Scott said at […]
Health officials: Horse, cattle sedative contributing to Vt opioid overdoses
By Tiffany Tan and Alan J. Keays/VTDigger State health officials learned something in October: An animal sedative is increasingly contributing to opioid overdose deaths among Vermonters. The drug, xylazine, is used as a sedative, muscle relaxant and pain reliever in […]
Vermont lawmakers implore Scott to declare Covid-19 emergency, protect children
By Sarah Mearhoff/VTDigger Vermont state lawmakers joined health care workers, teachers and others during a Monday afternoon press conference, Oct. 25, to increase pressure on Gov. Phil Scott to reinstate an emergency declaration amid rising coronavirus case counts in the […]
‘These are students in crisis’: educators grapple with student misbehavior
By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger Since starting school roughly six weeks ago, students at Bristol Elementary School have broken the school’s piano, destroyed computers and dented cars in the parking lot. In the Missisquoi Valley School District, more staff members may be […]