All Entries in the "Covid 19 Coverage" Category
T&G school reopening plans taking shape
By Bruce Frauman ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Taconic and Green Regional School District Board, which includes Londonderry’s Flood Brook School, heard on Aug. 11 that planning for the opening of its five schools is still a work in progress. Bennington-Rutland Supervisory District Supervisor Randi Lowe, in her first appearance in that role before […]
Schools hone opening plans as state adds to, changes guidance Next TRSU public forum to be held Thursday night on Zoom
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC As the clock ticks down to a Tuesday, Sept. 8 start date for Vermont schools, those in the Two Rivers Supervisory Union continue to work out the details of a plan to offer a hybrid approach to education this fall. But on Tuesday, Vermont Secretary of Education […]
Derry offers drive through voting option, Fire Co. signs up for state mask program
By Bruce Frauman © 2020 Telegraph Publishing, LLC Emergency Management Director Kevin Beattie told the Londonderry Select Board at its Monday, Aug. 3 meeting that Champion #5 Fire Company in South Londonderry has signed up for the state program Operation Cloth Face-Covering for Everyone, which should make available 400 masks locally. Board member Tom Cavanagh […]
State expands biz recovery grants to some owners; hazard pay grants now available
Gov. Phil Scott and agencies in Vermont announced two new programs today to help small business owners as well as front-line workers who have been financially impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the Department of Taxes have expanded the eligibility for Economic Recovery Grants for Vermont businesses. […]
Explainer: What is antigen testing?
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Antigen testing for the coronavirus has received a lot of attention in Vermont, when in early July more than 50 positive results came from a clinic in Manchester. This type of rapid testing was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in May on an emergency basis, […]
TRSU sets midweek ‘remote learning day’ as it hones re-opening plan Supt. Fierman schedules public meeting for Wednesday
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC As it continues to field questions from parents and hone its plans for reopening, the Two Rivers Supervisory Union will hold a third in a series of public forums to discuss the imminent reopening of schools. The forum will be held at 6 p.m. on Aug. 5 […]
State reports 1st Covid death in 6 weeks; Scott expands retail capacity as mask mandate goes into effect
©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Vermont Department of Health this week reported the first Covid-19 related death in more than six weeks, bringing Vermont’s statewide total to 57. Although the Health Department did not release any detailed information on the victim, data sources indicated the person was older than 80 and from Washington County. Gov. […]
TRSU moves toward hybrid reopen Sept. 8 Second re-opening forum set for Wednesday night
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC At the beginning of a Zoom public forum last Tuesday, Two Rivers Supervisory Union Superintendent Lauren Fierman told the nearly 120 parents, community members and teachers attending that due to the nature of the pandemic almost everything they would talk about was subject to change. Since then, […]
Whiting Library reopens Aug. 3 by appointment
The Whiting Library, 117 Main St, in Chester, will be reopening the library building to the public by appointment only beginning Monday, Aug. 3. Patrons will be required to call in advance at 875-2277 to schedule a 25-minute appointment slot. Appointments will be available at 11 and 11:30 a.m. and noon and 12:30 p.m. Monday, […]
Total Covid-19 cases continue slow growth as Scott mandates masks
©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Despite Covid-19 numbers in Vermont that lead the nation in optimistic trends, including the lowest total positive case number and the lowest positivity rate, Gov. Phil Scott announced a statewide mask mandate beginning Aug. 1. Scott cited concerns over increased cases to the south and west of Vermont, the current tourist […]
Gov. Scott mandates public mask-wearing
By Cynthia Prairie ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Citing the surge of Covid-19 cases around the country, Gov. Phil Scott on Friday, July 24, mandated that everyone in a public place in which physical distancing is not possible must wear a mask or cloth face covering. The order takes effect on Saturday, Aug. 1. State officials […]
GMUSD Board gets update on re-opening
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Most of the Green Mountain Unified School District board meeting on Thursday, July 17 was taken up with discussing how district schools will reopen for face-to-face learning late next month. So it was ironic that the final agenda point was a conversation on whether the board should […]
Concern, confusion characterize Vermont’s Covid outlook this week
©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The apparent inaccuracy of many of the 59 Covid-19 positives identified through the Manchester Medical Center using an antigen test — versus the more widespread PCR test used by state testing facilities — has stirred confusion over the what appeared to be a major outbreak of the virus in the Route […]
Covid retests return two positives out of 17, muddying picture of ‘outbreak’ in S. Vermont
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC More than 1,000 people sought testing in Manchester and Londonderry on Wednesday and Thursday as the extent of the Covid-19 outbreak in these southern Vermont communities grew more unclear with only two of six 17 retests coming back positive. (Updated at 11:40 a.m. Friday, July 17) A […]
Derry Select Board orders mask wearing Board chair: Gov. Scott put small town leaders in 'untenable situation'
By Cynthia Prairie and Bruce Frauman ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Select Board of the town of Londonderry voted in a special meeting on Wednesday, July 15, to mandate that the public and employees wear masks or other face coverings in local businesses. The board was prompted to take the action, said board chair George […]
After School summer camp closes temporarily out of caution
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC An outdoor summer camp run by the After School program of the Green Mountain and Ludlow Mount Holly school districts has closed for the rest of this week after a parent reported that a child was running a temperature. According to Go WILD camp director Venissa White, […]
To the Editor: Vt. needs to report all Covid positives
I am dismayed that the State of Vermont is not reporting the now 42 positive cases from Manchester on its website. All positive cases and their locations need to be reported so Vermonters can hunker down when necessary. The explanation from the state: “We hope that those people will get PCR test from the State […]
18 Derry residents test positive for Covid-19; Town Office closed; softball tourney in Chester draws maskless crowds
By Cynthia Prairie and Shawn Cunningham ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC At least 18 people in Londonderry have tested positive for Covid-19 at a rapid testing facility in Manchester, town Emergency Management Director Kevin Beattie said on late Monday afternoon. He added that the state is contacting those people and telling them to get retested. And […]
A Complex Equation: Schools, Tech Center prepare for return of students Administrators work to minimize in-person risk but prep for remote learning if needed
By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing, LLC This is the third in a series of articles on what schools will have to plan for when they open in the fall. To read Part 1 click here. To read Part 2 click here. No matter what anyone says about what will happen when schools reopen […]
Vermont Covid-19 cases up by 41 in week, none indicating state ‘hot spots’
© 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Vermont Department of Health confirmed five new Covid-19 cases on Friday, for a weekly increase of 41 cases, up slightly from last week’s 38-case hike. The largest single-day increase was 16, recorded on Thursday, July 9. During the Friday, July 10 press conference, Vermont Department of Health Commissioner Dr. […]
