In a major milestone achievement in the fight against Covid-19, Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) announced Monday, May 24, that it will close the mass Covid-19 vaccination clinic at the Holiday Inn on Sunday, June 13. The hospital opened the Covid-19 vaccination clinic in February of this year to provide mass vaccination to the Rutland…

We all know Vermont’s dairy farmers help feed us, our families and our communities. Now they hope to help protect us from the coronavirus, with the help of a creemee! Beginning May 21 and extending through much of Dairy Month in June, Vermont dairy farmers will provide "creemee-for-a-shot" coupons, good for one small free creemee at…

Kinney Drugs, now vaccinating people ages 12+ in all its pharmacies, announced May 20 that it will help make six lucky winners’ post-Covid dreams come true with its new #VAXtoIT contest. People age 18+ can visit KinneyContest.com to share an activity they can’t wait to get back to doing after Covid— like renting a boat, buying concert…

Gov. Phil Scott announced that vaccinating 80% of the state’s eligible population is new threshold, will be sooner than July 4   Governor Phil Scott announced at the Friday, May 21, press conference that when 80% of Vermont’s eligible population — those age 12 and older — have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the…

Vermont now allows the fully vaccinated to go maskless indoors and outdoors, state expects full reopening before July 4 target By Polly Mikula Vermont continues to lead the nation in vaccinations, state officials reiterated at the press conferences, Friday, May 14 and Tuesday, May 18.  “We continue to have the highest rates in the country…

By Curt Peterson It’s been a “dry year” for Vermonters who enjoy dining out — Covid restrictions have closed some eateries, and limited the services allowed by others. Thanks to good state virus management and cooperative citizens, restaurants are opening up, and diners are emerging, seeking an evening out. Survival stories from restaurants who are…

By Mike Dougherty/VTDigger Vermonters who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks or adhere to social distancing guidelines, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday. The change follows a drastic shift in guidance announced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday. The new rules stipulate that fully vaccinated people can largely resume normal…

Appointments can be made starting Thursday, May 13   Vaccination registration will open to Vermonters ages 12 to 15 on Thursday morning, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s action late Wednesday authorizing use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for this age group. The Food & Drug Administration authorized this emergency use of the…

By James Finn/VTDigger A requirement that laid-off workers must actively seek work if they want to qualify for unemployment benefits is being reinstated, Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington announced at Gov. Phil Scott’s press conference Tuesday, April 27. The work-search requirement was suspended after Covid-19 entered Vermont last March, battering the state’s economy. But now, with a…

By Seamus McAvoy/VTDigger Vermonters can expect a return to amusement rides, fried food and demolition derbies this summer, as most fairs plan a revival after a year off due to Covid-19, including the Vermont State Fair at the Rutland fairgrounds, which will celebrate its 175th anniversary Aug. 17-21 with two demolition derbies and a rodeo, among…

Revises outdoor mask guidance, moves to Step 2 of reopening plan By Polly Mikula On May 1 the state announced that it had hit the targeted vaccination threshold of 50–60% of all Vermonters and 60–70% of Vermonters 16-plus, triggering the planned move to Step 2 of the reopening plan, Vermont Forward. As of Tuesday, May…

Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m.—VIRTUAL—Rutland Young Professionals and Castleton University’s Master of Business Administration program are co-hosting part two of the Managing in the Pandemic series this Thursday, May 6 from 7-8 p.m.  The event is free and open to all. For our second event, we’ll be joined by Eliza Leeper, mission and customer manager at Vermont…

Governor Phil Scott announced April 30 that as of May 1, masks will only be required outdoors in situations where a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained. Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said this change is based on science that shows the risk of transmission when outdoors is very small. “This is why, now when you’re…

Thursday, April 29—WHITE RIVER JUNCTION—This Thursday Vermont Everyone Eats, an innovative Covid-19 response program, is celebrating 1 million restaurant meals served to Vermonters experiencing food insecurity. The program was launched in August 2020 with an allocation of $5 million of the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund contracted by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to…

By Curt Peterson Some people aren’t fans of returning to full-time, in-class learning. Who they are may surprise you. But pro-reopening voices have echoed loudly across the country and state — nowhere, perhaps, more so than at the virtual National Safe School Reopening Summit on March 24.  First Lady Dr. Jill Biden said, “Classrooms are…