Gov. Phil Scott

State urges increase COVID testing, calls for insurance coverage

MONTPELIER- The state will emphasize COVID-19 testing as well as vaccination as a means of preventing the spread of the virus, officials said at Gov. Phil Scott’s briefing Tuesday.
As part of the testing initiative, Gov. Scott announced an emergency rule requiring commercial health...

Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine File Photo

State scanning for new variant

No sign of Omicron in Vermont, for now
MONTPELIER- Omicron, a newly-identified COVID-19 variant said to be more infectious than previous variants, has not been identified in Vermont, state officials said at a press briefing Tuesday.
“We continue to obtain genomic...

Governor signs mask ordinance bill

MONTPELIER- At his COVID-19 press briefing Tuesday morning, Gov. Phil Scott announced that he had signed a bill, passed by the Legislature on Monday, that allows municipalities to mandate the wearing of masks in places open to the public. The authority sunsets at the end of April 2022.
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Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine File photo

Pandemic not over, top doc says

MONTPELIER- “The pandemic is not over,” warned Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine at Tuesday afternoon’s COVID-19 press briefing. Levine and other officials urged Vermonters to take steps to avoid spreading the virus over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
Levine said the...

COVID rate takes a big jump, state says

MONTPELIER- Administration officials at Tuesday’s press briefing said COVID-19 cases increased by about 42% over the past week, with an elevated number of cases in Bennington County. Current COVID modeling doesn’t anticipate that cases will fall over the next four weeks.
Gov. Phil Scott...

State getting ready for youth vaccinations, numbers dropping

MONTPELIER- The state is gearing up to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds and administer more boosters, as COVID-19 rates continue to decline, administration officials said Tuesday.
Reporting on his discussion with White House officials and governors earlier in the day, Gov. Phil Scott said the...

Governor urges “personal responsibility”

MONTPELIER - At his weekly press conference, Gov. Phil Scott urged “personal responsibility” to control the COVID-19 pandemic, now in its 19th month. Officials at the press conference discussed rising cases in the state, vaccinations for children under 12, the prospect of mixing and matching...

Officials say case rates climb in Vermont, but drop in nearby states

MONTPELIER- Vermont, still the most vaccinated state in the US, continues to see its COVID-19 case counts rise while cases in surrounding states are falling.
Department of Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak said the COVID-19 new case and hospitalization trends appeared...

Agency of Education Secretary Dan French File photo

Scott calls for employer virus vaccine mandates

MONTPELIER- Gov. Phil Scott said booster shots are on the horizon, urged employer vaccine mandates, and announced new school guidance at his COVID-19 press conference Tuesday.
Gov. Scott said booster shots were a topic of discussion at his meeting earlier in the day with governors and...

Agency of Education Secretary Dan French at Wednesday's press briefing by Gov. Phil Scott and his administration.

State extends school masking plans

MONTPELIER- Gov. Phil Scott announced a change in the state’s masking guidance for schools, a new school vaccination incentive plan, and pleaded with Vermonters to be civil in their discourse at his press briefing Wednesday.
Gov. Scott said the administration’s school mask guidance had...