Vermont reporters provide a roundup of top news takeaways about the coronavirus and more for Friday, Dec. 17.
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While Vermont's pandemic state of emergency has ended, the delta variant is now circulating around the state. Click here for the latest on new cases, and find the latest vaccination data online any time.1. COVID hospitalizations stay flat Friday
Vermont health officials reported another 460 new COVID infections Friday, along with three more virus-linked deaths.
To date, 451 Vermonters have died due to the coronavirus since the pandemic began.
Sixty people are hospitalized, while the state's positivity rate dropped to 4.4%.
Vermont's vaccination rate is unchanged today, with 85% of residents 5 or older having received at least one dose.
- Matthew Smith
Lawmakers approve COVID precautions for Vermont statehouse
All lawmakers and legislative staff will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test in order to enter the statehouse next month.
But that mandate will not apply to the public. Instead, visitors will be "strongly encouraged" to be vaccinated or provide negative test results.
The protocols were unanimously adopted by the Legislative Joint Rules committee this week.
Senate Majority Leader Allison Clarkson says the legislative mandate is appropriate.
"This is a model that has been rolled out very successfully and kept many places open and relatively case free,” she said.
Masks will be required for everyone inside the Statehouse.
- Bob Kinzel
COVID spike leads to Franklin County school closures
Dozens of Franklin County schools are closed Friday due to surging COVID-19 infections and related staff shortages.
Schools in the Maple Run Unified School District, which covers Fairfield and St. Albans city and town, are all closed.
In a message to the district, Maple Run Superintendent Bill Kimball says the spike in COVID cases is leading to short-staffing at multiple schools in the district. Kimball says that has left the schools unable to conduct contact tracing or the Test to Stay program.
Kimball says the number of COVID cases "makes it impossible to provide students with a safe and supported education."
The closures are being treated like a snow day; no remote learning will be offered and school events are canceled.
Maple Run will re-evaluate on Sunday if the district will need further closures.
- Matthew Smith
Quebec tightens COVID restrictions amid spiking infections
Quebec is enacting a series of new public health measures as COVID infections surge and the threat of the omicron variant looms.
All private gatherings are restricted to 10 people indoors and 20 people outdoors.
On Monday, the CBC reports Quebec will reduce the number of people allowed in bars and restaurants, gyms and many other venues by 50%. Shops will also face reduced capacity.
Certain at-risk activities like office parties, karaoke and dancing will be banned.
Quebec's elementary schools will return to in-person classes after the holidays, but students in high school or higher education will learn online until Jan. 10.
Provincial health officials are recommending people use rapid test kits before any gatherings, and to limit the number of gatherings they attend.
- Matthew Smith
North County New York teen dies of COVID
Officials in New York’s Warren County announced Thursday that an 18-year-old resident and Queensbury High School student died from the virus — one of only a handful of deaths among younger people in the state from the coronavirus.
The Times Union reports the teen was not vaccinated. Health officials say the teen died at Glens Falls Hospital after his family tried, but failed, to have him transferred to Albany Medical Center Hospital, which was already full of COVID-19 patients.
Across New York's North Country this month there have been 46 deaths from COVID-19, and hospitals in the region remain at or near capacity.
- Matthew Smith
2. Vermont GOP mulling 2022 electoral candidates
The Vermont Republican Party is putting together its lineup of candidates for the major political races in the 2022 election season.
Vermont GOP Chair Paul Dame says he isn't ready to announce any names yet.
Speaking on VPR's Vermont Edition Thursday, he says they are considering candidates from all over the state.
“Now we're got an opportunity to look down through our grassroots and lift up the voices that are saying ‘This is the direction our party needs to go to be successful,’ and echo and champion those,” he said.
Dame called 2021 a "rebuilding year" for Republicans in the wake of Trump's divisive presidency.
- Mikaela Lefrak
3. Gov. Scott says he’s undecided on reelection
Gov. Phil Scott says he'll decide whether to seek reelection in the coming months.
For now, he says his focus remains on responding to the pandemic and preparing his administration's budget ahead of the next legislative session.
Speaking at his weekly press conference Tuesday, Scott said he'll make a decision about his political future after his State of the State and budget addresses in January.
"Obviously this isn't the optimum time to be governor, but it has its rewards,” he said.
If he chooses to run again, Scott would be seeking his fourth two-year term in office.
- Henry Epp
4. Burlington looking to ease creation of more on-campus UVM housing
The city of Burlington may change its zoning rules next year to give the University of Vermont more on-campus housing options.
Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the proposal Thursday, along with several other ideas aimed at encouraging housing development in the Queen City. Chittenden County's rental vacancy rate is less than 1%, according to local housing groups.
Weinberger says UVM hopes to develop the former Trinity Campus into student housing.
“Both UVM and the city are ready to focus on a zoning change for that section of the city that will allow hundreds of new student beds to be built on that part of the UVM campus, reducing UVM pressure on the housing market,” he said.
Weinberger says UVM officials will present plans to the city council in January.
- Liam Elder-Connors
5. St. Albans Police Department may hire mental health clinician
A city board is recommending the St. Albans Police Department hire a dedicated mental health specialist.
The St. Albans Messenger reports it would be the first time a Vermont police department directly employed a mental health clinician.
If the position is funded, the city would look to hire someone familiar with substance use disorders and mental health services.
The department currently contracts with an outside mental health clinician who joins officers during crisis calls.
Police leaders have praised the program, saying specialized mental health professionals have de-escalation skill sets that can prevent officers from having to hospitalize individuals.
- Kevin Trevellyan
6. AG Donovan distances himself from U.S. House race
Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan says he won’t run for the open U.S. House seat in 2022.
But during an interview with VPR, Donovan did not rule out a bid for the governor's office.
“You know, we'll see what happens. I'm focused right now on doing my job as attorney general and I'm happy being in Vermont,” he said.
Donovan was first elected attorney general in 2016.
- Liam Elder-Connors
7. Farmers pause fertilizing fields with manure
State officials have announced that the annual winter ban on spreading manure over fields is officially in effect.
Farmers use cow poop to fertilize their fields, which the Vermont Agency of Agriculture points out “enriches the soil for crop production.”
But when the ground is frozen, that manure tends to not go into the soil, but run off of it, polluting Vermont’s waterways.
The winter ban is set to be lifted April 1.
- Elodie Reed
Elodie Reed and Kevin Trevellyan compiled and edited this post.
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