While Reopening Efforts Continue, Governor Phil Scott Extends State of Emergency (Updated)

State of Vermont
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

For Immediate Release
Monday, June 15, 2020

Media Contact
Rebecca Kelley, Office of the Governor
802-622-4047 | [email protected]

WHILE REOPENING EFFORTS CONTINUE, GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT EXTENDS STATE OF EMERGENCY
Governor emphasizes emergency powers still needed to manage response needs, future outbreaks

Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today signed an executive order to update and extend the State of Emergency in Vermont to July 15. The latest order reflects all current re-openings and eased restrictions, which have been underway since late April to account for the State’s low case counts and continued slow growth rate.

State data and modeling shows overall spread of COVID-19 continues to be limited, even as the state has seen an isolated outbreak with 83 related cases in the Winooski area.

Governor Scott also detailed how a robust testing and tracing program; better knowledge of the virus; greater public awareness of, and adherence to, preventive measures; health and safety requirements across sectors; and increased stock of critical healthcare supplies, the state is much better positioned to track, manage and box in outbreaks and slow spread, which is critical to managing this virus until there is a vaccine.

“Each of these things demonstrate why we’ve been able to slowly reopen and lift restrictions, and why when we see outbreaks like in Winooski, it doesn’t necessarily require the same drastic actions we had to take in March,” said Governor Scott. “At the same time, we have to stay smart here at home, and we have to remember Vermont is not an island and this isn’t over.”

The Governor noted that with about 130,000 active cases within a 5-hour drive of Vermont, caution is still warranted, but that the state has most sectors open to some capacity and has incrementally eased restrictions on activities. The updated order outlines the health and safety requirements and restrictions that remain in place, while authorizing the continued incremental reopening of sectors under the guidance of the Vermont Department of Health.

“I know that with every move we make, some believe it’s way too much, too fast and others believe it’s way too little and too slow. I hear and understand the concerns on both sides but there are no easy answers or simple solutions and there is certainly no road map,” added the Governor. “So, we’ll continue to move forward under the guidance of our health experts and based on the trends we’re seeing both in Vermont and around us. If we get everything open in the right way and continue to test and trace to fight outbreaks, then we won’t have to retreat.”

The State of Emergency declaration is necessary to continue to manage and respond to this public health crisis. It gives the Governor the ability to activate numerous tools for response efforts, including protection for residents of long term and other medical facilities, licensing and regulatory flexibility to facilitate response efforts, health and safety requirements, federal emergency funding, and expanded access to needed services like housing, meal delivery and unemployment insurance.

“I know this has felt like a long journey already and so much uncertainty remains. But if we continue to stay smart, committed to each other and, above all else, united together in this fight, we will get through this,” concluded Governor Scott.

To view the newly amended and restated Executive Order 01-20, which extends the State of Emergency, visit https://governor.vermont.gov/content/amended-and-restated-executive-order-no-01-20.

To view restart status for all sectors, visit https://accd.vermont.gov/news/update-new-work-safe-additions-stay-home-stay-safe-order.

For more information on:

COVID-19 health information, guidance and case data, visit www.healthvermont.gov/covid19.
The Governor’s actions, visit governor.vermont.gov/covid19response.
The state’s modeling, visit https://dfr.vermont.gov/about-us/covid-19/modeling.

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