As Vermont again reported zero new cases out of 700 tests conducted on Sunday, Health Commissioner Mark Levine began Monday’s press conference warning Vermonters against complacency.
Levine noted that Vermont’s coronavirus curve has continued flattening since mid-April, with 940 total confirmed cases in Vermont and 54 deaths from the virus.
“We continue with minor oscillations at a very low level of new cases on a daily basis,” Levine said.
Meanwhile, the state government — in press conferences and on its COVID-19 web pages — continues to talk a lot about what people should be doing: social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands regularly, he added.
“Are these things still important when we have such great data?” Levine asked rhetorically. “Let me tell you about Clinton County, New York.”
Levine said the border county, which includes the city of Plattsburgh, had been following 46 individuals as part of its testing and tracing program.
Over the weekend, the county reported nine new cases of COVID-19, and an additional 27 people who had come into close contact with those individuals during parties in Plattsburgh.
“So they essentially doubled the number of people they are now following in that part of the state,” Levine said.
Both Scott and Levine said that the majority of Vermonters continue to make the sacrifices necessary to keep the virus from rebounding, based on geolocation data from mobile phones showing how much people are moving around and gathering.
And although Scott has cautioned against making too much out of days with zero new cases — “it doesn’t make for a trend,” he said of this Sunday — he has said the continued low numbers give him confidence in making further reopening moves, and show that there is no need for stricter orders, like requiring people to wear masks in businesses and public places.
“Again, when you look at last week, we’re the envy of the nation in some respects,” Scott said. “I have governors texting me and saying, ‘You give us hope.’ So what we’re doing is working. And when we see otherwise we’ll take action.”
The state has continued expanding testing, even as the new case numbers remain low.
Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said many of the pop-up testing sites, which can be accessed by people without COVID-19 symptoms, have quickly filled up the 408 available spots per site. Residents can see availability and sign up to be notified of new events at humanresources.vermont.gov/popups.
Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore said Monday that Vermonters are showing an “unprecedented” interest in outdoor activity, as the state considers how state parks will operate this summer. She said that 300 seasonal staff at the state parks are being trained, with an eye toward opening camping by June 26 or earlier.
Moore said that firewood would remain on sale at all state parks, but that other supplies would not, except for ice at locations where there are no stores nearby. She also said that cottages and camps in state parks would not be available this summer.
“While state parks will continue to provide innumerable opportunities for swimming, picnicking, fishing, hiking and camping,” she said, “other services, such as lawn and play equipment, camping and fishing gear, sales of merchandise, boats and bicycle rentals in concession stands are unlikely to be available this summer.”
Moore also suggested that folks looking for an outdoor adventure consider staying away from popular places and instead explore the state’s 99 wildlife management areas or find a less traveled trail online.
The Scott administration also previewed some of its upcoming reopening steps on Monday, as well as an economic recovery package that it plans to present on Wednesday.
Vermont has already issued guidance for child care centers and day camps to reopen starting in June, and retail stores were allowed to reopen starting Monday, as long as they follow safety measures and limit occupancy to 25% of their usual legal limit.
Hospitals have also returned to scheduling outpatient elective procedures and surgeries, which were not allowed for weeks during the peak of the pandemic. Smith, the human services secretary, said next steps for alternative medicine — such as chiropractors and massage therapists — would be coming on Friday.
Scott said that if the statistics continue to do well, he expects to be able to continue to announce later this week the reopening of close contact business such as hair salons, barbershops, pools and health clubs. He also expects to have news about the reopening of restaurants with outdoor seating and the resumption of more health care services, the Associated Press reported.
The governor said he would be discussing an economic aid package on Wednesday that will “provide relief, hope and initiatives to get us moving towards recovery.”
He declined to discuss the details of that package, but said it would include support for businesses across the state that depend on tourism, but added that he was “not going to get ahead of the announcement on Wednesday.”
On Monday the Health Department reported 940 cases of the coronavirus statewide, unchanged from Sunday.
The number of deaths remains at 54.