Vermonters will be able to enjoy more outdoor activities and small get-togethers as part of the state’s gradual reopening, but the state of emergency imposed in March to confront the COVID-19 pandemic will be extended, Gov. Phil Scott said Wednesday.
While the stay home order will remain in effect, it is being modified so small gatherings of 10 or less among trusted friends or families will be allowed, Scott said. He also urged people who have preexisting conditions such as diabetes or heart disease that makes them more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 to stay home.
“There is no specific set of guidelines or enforcement measures we can put into place, so we need Vermonters to use some common sense during these visits,” Scott said during his regular virus briefing.
During the briefing, Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore provided details of some of the outdoor activities that are now allowed.
Businesses and other organizations that support low- or no- direct contact activities may resume operations. She cited skate parks, ball fields, trail networks, golf courses and tennis courts.
Organized events such as recreation leagues and spectator events are not yet allowed. Campgrounds, marinas and beaches are not yet open.
Moore urged Vermonters who want to get outside to go to less-crowded areas to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.
“We need to redefine our routine in light of the new normal,” Moore said. “I challenge you to find new parts of Vermont and all that our state has to offer.”
Details for businesses can be found on the website of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and other outdoor suggestions can be found on the website of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Despite the easing of the restrictions, Scott said the state of emergency in place since March will be extended beyond May 15 even as some additional restrictions are eased.
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BROADBAND ACCESS
The Vermont Department of Public Service is proposing a plan to provide broadband internet service to everyone in the state.
About 23% of the state, or 70,000 homes and businesses, doesn’t have access to high-speed internet services. That’s defined as speeds of 25 megabits per second for download and 3 megabits per second for upload.
The cost estimate is approximately $300 million. The plan assumes that Vermont will receive an additional infusion of federal aid to support recovery from the pandemic.
The estimated amount of public funding ranges from $122 million to $293 million, depending on the method used to disburse the funding.
Tim Wilkerson, of the New England Cable and Telecommunications Association, said broadband service providers would work with Vermont policymakers to help construct critical internet infrastructure through public-private partnerships. But he said programs “to connect unserved areas must be inclusive of proven providers, technology neutral and include a fair process that maximizes consumer benefits and taxpayer money.”
In other developments:
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INMATE DENIED RELEASE
A 73-year-old man accused of killing his wife in South Royalton will stay behind bars after a judge rejected arguments that he should be released from prison because his age puts him at a higher risk of serious illness from the coronavirus.
Attorneys from the Prisoners’ Rights Office of the Vermont Defender General argued that Frank Sanville should be released because the prison system is “ill-prepared to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus or treat inmates infected with it,” the Brattleboro Reformer reported.
Sanville is accused of shooting Wanda Sanville in March 2018. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and is being held at the state prison in Springfield awaiting trial.
In a decision released Tuesday, Judge John Treadwell wrote that denying Sanville bail amid the pandemic “is not excessive in light of the regulatory goals - protection of the public, protection of witnesses and ensuring Defendant’s appearance at trial.” Treadwell also said in his decision that the Corrections Department has tried to protect inmates from the virus.
“While the Department cannot guarantee social distancing for all inmates, it has taken substantial steps to mitigate the risks associated with contact with potentially infected persons,” Treadwell wrote.
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THE NUMBERS
On Wednesday, the Vermont Department of Health reported two new positive cases of the virus that causes COVID-19, bringing the total to just under 910. The number of deaths remained at 52.
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AP reporter Lisa Rathke contributed to this report from Marshfield, Vt.
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