Governor Phil Scott is extending Vermont’s state of emergency for another month in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Republican is also giving localities, especially in college towns, powers to set COVID-19 restrictions.
Scott says with concerns growing about the influx of students returning to college campuses he is giving cities and towns the ability to lower gathering size limits, restrict hours for the sale of alcohol and set curfews at bars and clubs. “Looking at case growth in other states it appears uncontrolled parties and crowds at bars and clubs are a big part of the problem. So I believe giving our towns, especially the college towns, some additional mitigation measures to work with is the right thing to do.”
Scott says Vermont has the lowest number of cases per capita in the country.