MONTPELIER — As Vermont passes the 80% COVID-19 vaccination threshold, the judiciary is planning to reopen most courthouses, including the Orange County Courthouse in Chelsea, to the public this week.
Vermont State Court Administrator Patricia Gabel announced the reopening in a news release Friday, saying most courts around the state will open back up starting Tuesday. The courts have been closed to the public since last spring due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several other courts, including the criminal and family division of the Windsor Superior Court in White River Junction, will remain closed until state officials deem them safe to reopen. Those buildings don’t have the appropriate space to socially distance or lack proper air quality systems, according to the release.
When courts reopen, visitors and employees will still be required to wear masks, social-distance and answer health screening questions when they arrive, the release said. Gabel urged anyone with a vaccination card to bring it with them to court if they’re eager to remove their mask in the building.
Despite the reopening, courts will still hold remote hearings, and anyone who has an appointment with the court should check whether it will be in-person or remote, the release said.