MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont Gov. Phil Scott extended the state of emergency Friday to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic through May 15.
The order also extends all corresponding orders and directives issued in response to the pandemic.
Scott called the extension disappointing news but said the restrictions were saving hundreds of lives.
“We are making big sacrifices to save lives, but we cannot let our foot off the gas just yet,” Scott said in a news release. “We will continue to watch the trends, and as soon as the data shows a downward trend, we can open the spigot, a quarter turn at a time, to get folks back to work in a way that’s responsible and safe.”
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
PRISON CASES
The Vermont Department of Corrections is expected to release Friday the full results of testing of inmates and staff from one prison after 28 inmates tested positive for COVID-19.
The department said Thursday that 328 tests were done on inmates and staff at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in Swanton.
The results of the first 167 tests found the 28 positive tests from inmates and five staff members. None of the inmates with positive tests has shown any symptoms of the disease.
The positive inmates will be moved to the St. Johnsbury prison, where they will be isolated until they recover.
Staff members will stay home until they recover.
All Vermont prisons are now on full lockdown, which means inmates are remaining in their cells.
Protective masks have been delivered to all the prisons for both inmates and staff.
THE NUMBERS
Statistics released Thursday by the Health Department show Vermont now has a total of almost 630 cases of COVID-19, along with 23 deaths.
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