Vermont reporters provide a round-up of ongoing local coverage of coronavirus for Wednesday, May 6.
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Vermont now publishing estimated "recovered" numbers
Of the 358 new COVID-19 tests reported by the Vermont Department of Health on Wednesday, two were positive, bringing the state’s total confirmed cases to 908. There were no new deaths for the fourth day in a row – the number remains at 52.
Health Commissioner Mark Levine also said Wednesday the state is now publishing the estimated number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 after testing positive for the illness. He said the data is based on people who have self-reported they are better or who have had 30 days or more go by since they were first diagnosed.
As of Wednesday, the estimated number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 in Vermont is 706.
- Elodie Reed
Burlington re-opening recreational facilities, planning for summer camps
Vermont’s largest city will re-open some facilities at public parks this weekend.
In March, Burlington closed public recreational facilities to discourage people from gathering in large groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, the governor lifted some social restrictions, including allowing people participate in low-contact outdoor activities.
Mayor Miro Weinberger said that means the city can re-open some facilities like dog parks, tennis courts and the skate park, though basketball courts and playgrounds will remain closed for now.
“We are going to be removing the closure signs, we're going to be putting nets back up, unlocking gates, and there will be some new signage going up at the dogs parks, and perhaps elsewhere with guidance about how to, what activities should look like in this new phase,” he said.
Weinberger also announced Wednesday the city is planning to run youth camps this summer.
A number of camp programs around the state have decided not to operate in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the mayor said if state guidance allows summer camps, Burlington will offer them.
He said the city is still figuring out how the camps would operate.
“There will probably be less field trips, there may be differences in the way different kids are allowed to mingle, we may try to have kids more in smaller cohorts,” Weinberger said.
- Liam Elder-Connors
Burlington mayor: COVID-19 has had "some impact" on CityPlace project
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger says the developers of a downtown mall have indicated the pandemic has had “some impact” on the project.
Construction on the long-delayed CityPlace redevelopment was expected to start this summer.
For a timeline of the CityPlace project, head here.
Weinberger said he’s had meetings with Brookfield Properties, the project’s developers.
“Brookfield has indicated to us they see the impact as more of a short-term impact than something that fundamentally changes their perspective on the property,” Weinberger said.
Brookfield did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Weinberger says the city is working with them to provide a public update this month.
- Liam Elder-Connors
Sanders opposed COVID-cancellation of New York Democratic primary
Bernie Sanders' effort to influence the policies of the national Democratic Party has gotten an important boost.
That's because a federal judge has overturned a decision by New York election officials to cancel the state's June 23 presidential primary over health concerns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sanders campaign opposed the decision.
Middlebury College political science professor Matt Dickinson said Sanders hopes to win enough delegates to influence the priorities of the Democratic National platform this summer.
“You know, Bernie is in the vanguard of a movement here,” Dickinson said. “This is the whole reason d'etre of his candidacy to reshape the Democratic Party."
The New York Board of Elections says it's likely that it will appeal the new ruling.
- Bob Kinzel
UVMMC caring for two patients with COVID-19
The University of Vermont Medical Center was only caring for two patients with COVID-19 on Wednesday. Neither patient was on a ventilator.
Six people statewide are currently hospitalized with the virus.
UVMMC President Stephen Leffler says despite the decline in cases, the hospital will maintain dedicated space to treat patients with the coronavirus.
“We’re going to less than what we could do full capacity for different kinds of surgeries in case we get a surge,” Leffler said. “But we really think over the next one to two years, that we have to be prepared at any time to see an uptick in cases.”
The state has seen a steady decline in reported COVID-19 infections and is beginning to take more steps to reopen businesses. On Wednesday, Gov. Phil Scott also relaxed some social restrictions: now people can gather in groups of 10 or less.
- Liam Elder-Connors
Vermont approved for federal "Pandemic EBT" program
Vermont is now among a handful of states approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to operate a new food assistance program.
A federal program called Pandemic EBT allows states to provide extra benefits during school closures to families whose children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
The program gives families debit cards to purchase food, equal in value to the meals missed due to school closures during the COVID-19 outbreak.
About 44,000 Vermont children are eligible, according to the USDA.
Now that the federal government has approved Vermont's application, the state has to submit a plan for how it will disburse the benefits.
Nineteen other states have been approved for Pandemic EBT benefits so far.
- Anna Van Dine
More from VPR: 'My Family Needs These Meals': How One Northeast Kingdom Family Is Making It Through
Governor, Secretary of State disagree on timing of vote-by-mail decision
Gov. Phil Scott says he does not have a fundamental disagreement with Secretary of State Jim Condos over a vote-by-mail system that Condos wants to put in place for the November election.
The Legislature recently gave Condos and Scott joint authority to decide on mail-in voting as a way to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Condos said the governor raised concerns Saturday when the two talked about it, and at a news briefing on Wednesday, Scott said he wants Condos to set everything up, but to wait to decide whether to use the mail-in system.
“I have faith in his ability to oversee elections,” the governor said. “That's his job, but from my world, it's about timing. And I am still not convinced that this decision would have to be made today other than to move forward with the plan and then just push 'go' in August if necessary.”
But Condos said it's a costly and complicated job to prepare more ballots and return envelopes. He added it doesn't make sense to do that work unless it will be used.
“We have significant expenses and significant process and infrastructure that has to be put in place,” he said. “And to then turn and say to a couple of companies, that, ‘Oh we've decided we're not going to do this,’ after they've ramped up, they've done all the printing and they've done all the work, we don't think that that's a good way to do business.”
Scott said he is not worried about voter fraud with the vote-by-mail system, but that he wants it to happen only if necessary.
- John Dillon
Farmers markets allowed to sell non-edible products
New guidance from the Agency of Agriculture will bring some added variety to farmers markets in Vermont.
Abby Willard, with the agency, said starting Wednesday, vendors can sell non-edible products.
“So that means that they can do crafts, they can do non-edible farm products, so beeswax candles, goat’s milk soap,” Willard said.
Markets had previously been restricted to selling only edible farm products. The restriction was intended to limit foot traffic, and to slow the spread of COVID-19.
- Peter Hirschfeld
Gov. Phil Scott allows gatherings of 10 or fewer
Gov. Phil Scott announced Wednesday that small gatherings of 10 or fewer people will now be allowed, including outdoor recreation activities.
Gatherings in homes are also allowed, but the Health Department is offering guidelines for lowering risks. Vulnerable Vermonters are still advised to self-isolate.
Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore said Vermonters no longer need to limit outdoor activities to a 10-mile radius. Additionally, skate parks, playgrounds, ball parks and golf courses are allowed to reopen. However, organized sports like recreational leagues not allowed.
Pools and beaches are recommended to remain closed for the time being.
As for those hoping to visit from out of state, the governor had a message: We want to see you eventually, but for now, please don't come to Vermont.
Scott frequently compares Vermont's success in stemming the spread of COVID-19 to the experience in neighboring states. He noted Wednesday that Massachusetts and New York are two places where the disease is still rampant.
“We're asking you keep your distance, first of all,” Scott said. “Second of all, if you're coming to our state, be prepared to stay for awhile, because we're asking you to stay for 14 days, to quarantine for 14 days while you're here. So, my message is to stay at home if you can, and not come to Vermont at this point in time.”
- Sam Gale Rosen and John Dillon
Federal judge reinstates New York Democratic primary election
A federal judge has reinstated the New York Democratic presidential primary, saying canceling it would be unconstitutional.
Judge Analisa Torres ruled on Tuesday. She heard arguments a day earlier as lawyers for withdrawn presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang argued that it was wrong to cancel the primary.
The judge said there is enough time before the primary occurs to figure out how to carry it out safely. The Democratic members of the state's Board of Elections had voted to cancel the primary even though New York was still planning to hold its congressional and state-level primaries June 23.
They cited the coronavirus as a reason to cancel the election since Joe Biden is now unopposed.
- Associated Press
