RSSAll Entries in the "Covid 19 Coverage" Category

Ripley named GM interim principal as Fierman prepares to take helm at TRSU

Ripley named GM interim principal as Fierman prepares to take helm at TRSU GM board calls for action to meet 'dire' shortfalls, SU floats administration raises

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Green Mountain Unified School District board on Thursday approved a proposal by incoming Superintendent Lauren Fierman to reorganize the administration of Green Mountain High School with Associate Principal Michael Ripley taking on the role of interim principal.  When the board came out of the executive session […]

Banks, credit unions alter policies, hours, services during pandemic

Banks, credit unions alter policies, hours, services during pandemic

By Christian Avard ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Local businesses and residents are feeling the economic pinch from the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses are laying off workers; most are closed temporarily and some are going out of business. The Vermont Department of Labor has been overwhelmed with new unemployment claims. Gov. Phil Scott is ordering all Vermonters […]

S. Vt. gets one out of 19 members on economic recovery panel

S. Vt. gets one out of 19 members on economic recovery panel Local lawmakers: Our communities should have bigger voice

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing A 19-member “task force” to restart the state’s economy after the peak of the coronavirus pandemic has only one member who lives in southern Vermont and the group’s meetings will not be subject to Vermont’s Open Meetings Law, Gov. Phil Scott said at a press conference Wednesday. On […]

To the editor: Re-open business with safety rules

To the editor: Re-open business with safety rules

Stay Home Stay Safe Until May 15? The governor is going to bankrupt us and the state. The collateral damage and unintended consequences will be vast. Hospital visits are down by 50 percent already. People without Covid-19 are getting sicker. People will die from causes other than Covid-19. They won’t go to the hospital for […]

To the editor: Derry Rescue Squad seeks mask makers

To the editor: Derry Rescue Squad seeks mask makers

The Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad is asking for the public’s help in making cloth facemasks that will extend the useful life our current supply of N95 masks during the Covid-19 outbreak. The supply of N95 masks available to healthcare workers is still limited, and LVRS is seeking volunteers to sew cloth facemasks that will fit […]

Survey: Vermont 4th hardest hit by pandemic effect on tourism

Survey: Vermont 4th hardest hit by pandemic effect on tourism

© 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Vermont has been ranked fourth in the states hardest hit by the effects of Covid-19 on tourism, according to personal finance website Wallethub. Looking at a number of factors having to do with a state’s dependence on tourism as an economic driver, the website came up with a 100-point scale […]

During Covid-19 crisis, market-delis struggle with changing consumer demands

During Covid-19 crisis, market-delis struggle with changing consumer demands

By Bruce Frauman ©2020 Telegraph Publishing While  grocery stores such as the Londonderry Village Market and Lisai’s Chester Market continue to do steady business during the Covid-19 stay home orders, many of the smaller markets that offer not only specialty foods but meals as well have seen their sales take a dive as they work […]

Commentary: How to help a domestic abuse survivor during the Covid-19 crisis

Commentary: How to help a domestic abuse survivor during the Covid-19 crisis

By the Women’s Freedom Center If you’ve been out to run essential errands, you’ve already felt the eerie absence of almost everyone else. Grocery stores, drugstores and drive-up restaurants provide not just necessities now, but also our few remaining live contacts outside the home. They’re a welcome sight to anyone, but imagine how vital they […]

Scott extends 'stay home' order, hints at opening businesses

Scott extends ‘stay home’ order, hints at opening businesses

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Saying that Vermonters are saving lives by staying home, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday that he is extending to May 15 the state of emergency including the Stay Home Stay Safe order in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. “I know how disappointing this to many,” said Scott, […]

No Covid-19 in water: Chester among 690 Vermont systems ordered to chlorinate water

No Covid-19 in water: Chester among 690 Vermont systems ordered to chlorinate water State director says mandate aids vulnerable population

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Under state orders, Chester has begun adding chlorine to its town water supply, something that it had previously only done as a precaution after a water main break or when bacteria is detected during routine weekly testing. The state mandate, Bryan Redmond, director of the Drinking Water […]

Telegraph Pandemic Digest for April 10

Telegraph Pandemic Digest for April 10

© 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Feds OK Vermont request for disaster funds President Donald Trump has approved Gov. Phil Scott’s request for federal disaster funds to assist the state of Vermont in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The funds can reimburse up to 75 percent of the costs incurred by the state and towns […]

'First' extension of stay at home to be announced Friday

‘First’ extension of stay at home to be announced Friday

By Shawn Cunningham © Telegraph Publishing LLC Gov. Phil Scott announced Wednesday that on Friday he will announce the “first extension” of his stay-at-home orders that have closed shops, restaurants and schools and kept many people at home. During his Wednesday press conference, Scott also said that the administration would also provide an update on […]

Telegraph Pandemic Digest: Tuesday, April 7

Telegraph Pandemic Digest: Tuesday, April 7

© 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Between press conferences, daily updates, press releases and other advisories, covering the Covid-19 pandemic can be daunting for a small staff. To keep you informed without going down a rabbit hole with every story, we’ll offer you a news digest of information that doesn’t make it into regular news articles. […]

Health Dept. rolls out new Covid-19 dashboard

Health Dept. rolls out new Covid-19 dashboard More detailed demographic information available

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Vermont’s Department of Health today rolled out a new Covid-19 activity dashboard that gives the public much more detailed information than has been available to date. There are still totals of tests, infections, hospitalizations and deaths and there’s still a map, but now a visitor to the […]

Food, funds available through Black River Good Neighbors

Food, funds available through Black River Good Neighbors

As the Covid-19 crisis deepens and the economy worsens, the staff at Black River Good Neighbor Services in Ludlow continues to help the community with food and financial assistance. “We’ve closed the store, but the food shelf is operating to help anyone in need,” said Krey Kellington, Food Program director. “Several people have contacted the […]

Victim advocates unsettled by drop in help hotline calls during stay-at-home order

Victim advocates unsettled by drop in help hotline calls during stay-at-home order

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Advocates for victims of domestic violence are seeing a significant drop in the number of calls to help hotlines since the state mandated stay at home orders in mid-March. And they find that drop “unsettling.” On Monday, Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling said that overall 911 […]

Early spurt of gardens, seed sales, farm shares

Early spurt of gardens, seed sales, farm shares With social distancing regs, farmers markets remain in limbo

By Evan Chadwick ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Covid-19 crisis has spurred an early spike in sales of seeds and growing supplies as well as people signing up for Community Supported Agriculture, even while it has stymied this summer’s farmers markets. Jon Cohen, farmer and owner of Deep Meadow Farm in Ascutney, says that so […]

Signs of the Times: A trip through Chester

Signs of the Times: A trip through Chester

© 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC During the last week of March, Cynthia Prairie and Shawn Cunningham of The Chester Telegraph took a drive around Chester taking photos of signs posted by various businesses and organizations. As of this writing, several of the signs are certainly outdated, since Gov. Phil Scott has ordered continued shutdowns of […]

Op-ed: Rep. Bock on aid for small businesses

Op-ed: Rep. Bock on aid for small businesses

By Rep. Tom Bock The Covid-19 pandemic is unlike any crisis Vermont has faced. This is a very stressful time for neighbors, as public safety measures have closed many of the businesses and institutions we rely on. I am committed to working with the Scott administration and our congressional delegation to make sure our community […]

Grace Cottage addresses physical therapy needs

Grace Cottage addresses physical therapy needs

The Department of Homeland Security and the state of Vermont have identified that physical and occupational therapy are essential components of healthcare services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the outpatient rehabilitation licensed physical and occupational therapists at Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital in Townshend are continuing to welcome patients in a variety of ways: […]