GOVERNOR SCOTT COVID-19 PRESS CONFERENCE 4.23.21

Innkeepers are a busy bunch. To save you time, VLA attends Governor Scott’s Covid-19 Press Conferences and takes notes for you. Below is the summary from 4.23.21

Governor Scott and his team is closely monitoring the CDC/FDA meeting this afternoon on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. If the pause on the vaccine is lifted, the state will re-start J&J vaccine administration as soon as this coming Tuesday. As of today, 56% of eligible Vermonters have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Updated guidance is forthcoming for: summer camps, graduations and end of year celebrations, and outdoor mask use.

NOTES:

  • Governor Scott:
    • Watching CDC/FDA decision on J&J vaccine. If pause is listed, ready to go ahead with vaccine on Tuesday.
    • Summer camps need staffing. Check vermontafterschool.com
    • ACCD will issue full camp guidelines in next 24-48 hours.
  • Sec. French:
    • 3rd week in a row no teachers cases. Ending surveillance testing next week.
    • Feds extending school meal aid through June 22.
    • New ESSER 3 guidance released yesterday. AOE must create spending plans.
    • Issuing guidance for graduations and end of year celebrations this afternoon.
  • Dep. Sec – Jenney Samuelson:
    • 56% of eligible Vermonters have received at least one dose.
    • More than 300,000 Vermonters have had at least one dose of the vaccine, that’s more than 60% of the adult population. 210,200 people in VT have received all doses needed to be fully vaccinated.
    • 52% of BIPOC Vermonters have made an appointment and/or been vaccinated.
    • On April 29th vaccine registration will open to out-of-state college students and part time residents. Samuelson encourages all Vermonters to sign up and get the vaccine.
  • Commissioner Levine:
    • Says the state’s positivity rate has dropped significantly. And case numbers also appear to be declining.
    • Drug take back day tomorrow.
  • Questions:
    • Sometime in the next few weeks there will be updated guidance on when the outdoor mask mandate might be lifted.
    • 50% of 16-18yos and 41% of those up to age 29 have so far registered for a vaccine.
    • Re: the state motel voucher program for housing – state will be moving away from this motel program in the next few months and working toward different kinds of housing programs to get Vermonters in to stable housing situations that are not motels
    • The work-search requirement for unemployment benefits will likely be reinstated in the first two weeks in May.
    • Re: parents who decline to be vaccinated not allowed to attend school graduations – schools must work within state guidance on number of people allowed at outdoor gatherings – vaccinated, unvaccinated.
    • Businesses are allowed to determine whether they want to ask vaccine status for people coming in.
    • Re state winning appeal against closure of regional EB-5 center. Scott says he and the administration want to close down that center eventually or have someone else run it, but they want to be able to support businesses and investors who are already enmeshed in projects so it doesn’t imperil projects/people that have already gotten started. (From Jane Lindholm…)