By Curt Peterson Sherry Sousa’s “Superintendent’s Report” was scheduled for five minutes on the Windsor Central Supervisory Union board meeting agenda, but the ensuing discussion helped put the meeting into overtime – totaling three hours. Maintaining a high level of learning while coping with masks, social distancing, hybrid and remote learning, frequent testing and a…

The University of Vermont Medical Center and Vaccine Testing Center at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine have been selected to take part in a Phase 3 trial for a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and manufactured by AstraZeneca. Governor Phil Scott announced the plans at the regular press conference, Tuesday, Oct.…

Governor Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, detailed the state’s framework for distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine, at the press conference Friday, Oct. 23. The plan will be ready for once a vaccine is produced and distributed to the state. The state has submitted responses to a series of questions from the Centers…

Research released in CDC report An investigation conducted by Vermont Dept. of Health scientists and released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that transmission of Covid-19 can occur during multiple brief exposures with someone who is infected. Staff from the Health Dept. and the Dept. of Corrections looked into an instance in…

As officials investigate school-based cases, students and teachers are not considered contacts if masking, social distancing protocols adhered to By Lola Duffort/VTDigger On contact-tracing Covid-19 cases within schools, the state is following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and generally considers anyone who comes within 6 feet of a confirmed or probable case for at…

Staff report On Oct. 25, Windsor Central Supervisory Union (WCSU) Interim Superintendent Sherry Sousa wrote two emails to families in the district alerting them of a positive case of Covid-19 in the district and its effect on the community. After a positive diagnoses of Covid-19 was discovered on Saturday, Oct. 24, Sousa wrote. “Those who…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger Vermont’s Covid outbreaks have spread past single cases to broader community transmission, contributing to some of the highest case totals the state has had since spring, officials said at a press conference Tuesday, Oct. 27. An outbreak that began at an ice rink in Montpelier has now infected 57 people, many of whom…

Governor Phil Scott announced Oct. 15 that the state of emergency is now extended to Nov.15 to ensure the state can continue to suppress the spread of Covid-19. The executive order has been extended with no additional changes. “Vermont has led the nation in responding to this virus. We’ve worked together to keep each other…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Amanda Durand’s 3-year-old daughter was at child care for about an hour in September when a center worker called to say she had to go home. The toddler had a runny nose and “one green booger,” the West Rutland mom recalled. “I got lucky. I work from home, so I was able to…

Covid-19 has had an enormous impact on the lives of beginning and returning college students. But according to a survey of rising high school seniors and returning college students who completed a free application for financial student aid (FAFSA) conducted in June and then again in July by Vermont Student Assistance Corp., students’ decisions about…

By Polly Mikula At a special media briefing on Monday, Oct. 5, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said the health dept. is investigating an outbreak of Covid-19 at Champlain Orchards in Shoreham. There were 26 cases associated with the outbreak, Monday, with one more added Tuesday.  Contact tracing is now complete for those known cases,…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger The state’s K-12 schools can transition to “Step 3” of reopening this Saturday, allowing them to fully play fall sports, officials said at a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 22. Secretary of Education Dan French said the new rules “still require stringent measures” to limit the spread of Covid-19, but schools have more flexibility…

On Friday, Sept. 18, Governor Phil Scott and Secretary Lindsay Kurrle of the Agency of Commerce & Community Development (ACCD) announced the launch of the Small Business Recovery Technical Assistance Program. The program will connect small businesses in need with five technical assistance teams across the state offering resources to help to address businesses challenges…

Business owners navigate changes as lodge, bar restrictions are lifted By Katy Savage Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday, Sept. 18 that bars could reopen and lodges could operate at full capacity, but local business owners are wary of the details. “It is very misleading,” Trailside Inn owner Josh Eckler said, explaining that the state’s quarantine…

Chart courtesy dfr.vermont.gov By Mark Johnson/VTDigger Bars and restaurants with counter seating will be allowed to serve customers, under new guidelines announced Friday, Sept. 18, by Gov. Phil Scott, and lodging facilities can open to 100% capacity. Bars will be required to maintain a six-foot separation between customers and have barriers in place between servers and…