Gov. Scott temporarily eases gathering ban, encourages recreation, says youth sports may practice
December 24, 2020 | By Lisa Scagliotti
Disc golfers retrieve their frisbees from a goal at Hope Davey Park. Photo by Gordon Miller.
With the Christmas and New Year’s holidays at hand, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott this week announced several steps to relax public health restrictions, but couched them in cautions regarding risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus.
The governor on Tuesday announced that from Dec. 23 through Jan. 2, the ban on multi-household gatherings is being eased temporarily to allow Vermonters to gather with people from just one other “trusted household” for that time period.
State health officials emphasized that staying home was still the safest way to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, however. “Gathering with people you do not live with is not recommended for people who are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 or people who care for them,” the Health Department statement said noting that those over 65, with pre-existing conditions, or those who care for vulnerable individuals should avoid mingling with others.
“While we’re providing a narrow path to very small holiday gatherings, we’d rather you not do it at all,” said Gov. Scott. “But we’ve improved our numbers in Vermont, all other prevention measures will remain in place, and we understand that mental health has to be considered alongside physical health.”
The move comes as new COVID-19 cases have registered under 100 daily although deaths, mostly among elderly individuals in long-term care facilities, continue to inch upward. On Wednesday Vermont’s total deaths stood at 117, up five from Tuesday, according to Health Department data.
What exactly does it mean to gather with a “single trusted household”? Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine reiterated the now-familiar guidelines: keep it small, wear masks, avoid eating and drinking with others you don’t live with, stay six feet apart, gather outside when possible. And of course, avoid others if you are feeling sick.
“We can do this, and still protect our communities from further spread. We just need to be constantly vigilant and thoughtful, and always adapt our activities in ways that keep us all safe and protect the most susceptible among us,” Dr. Levine said.
Recreation encouraged; yellow light for school sports
Gov. Scott also made two other announcements regarding recreation and youth sports:
Vermonters may resume outdoor recreation outdoor activities with those outside their household as long as they maintain physical distancing and wear masks.
Effective Dec. 26, youth sports may resume with no-contact practices. That applies to school-based and youth recreational programs which may practice with a focus on individual skills, strength and conditioning. Contact between athletes is still not permitted yet and distancing and masks are required. No spectators are allowed and adult recreational sports remain suspended.
Gov. Scott cautioned that this guidance is based on current trends and it could change if the virus trends worsen. “I believe these are the right steps at this time, but it’s important to remember that the gains we’ve made are fragile and we’ll only hold them steady if we remain smart,” he said.
Harwood Union School District weighs in
On Wednesday, Harwood Union Unified School District Superintendent Brigid Nease posted online and sent a letter to families explaining how the district will implement the new guidance state officials announced on Tuesday.
Nease said that winter sports, which have been on hold so far, will proceed starting Jan. 11. She noted that most districts are choosing to start after the holiday break. “Preparations, schedules, and coach and athlete training must be put into place after the break to ensure safety for all,” she said.
Her memo has links to additional communications from Athletic Director Chris Langevin and school nurse Allison Conyers, the district’s COVID coordinator.
Langevin said the governor’s announcement brought excitement, but it also came without any advance notice to school officials. “There is still a lot of planning that needs to happen before our student-athletes can safely return -- including working with our coaching staff to ensure the safe return of athletics,” he said.
Nease cautioned, however, that a shift to remote learning should virus cases shift could mean altering how sports proceed.
As for resuming classes after the holiday break, Nease said the district intends to reopen on Jan. 4 as planned as long as enough staff are well and available. The hybrid plan will remain in place with K-4 grades attending in person four days a week and older students in person two days a week, Nease said.
But parents and staff will be notified closer to re-opening day.
“So, where will we be on Jan. 4th, 2021, in regards to opening our seven campuses for in-person instruction following our existing Hybrid Model schedule? The truth is, I don’t know and cannot possibly know until we live through this pandemic holiday,” Nease wrote.
She said administrators would monitor the situation over break and she would communicate with families by Jan. 1 or as soon as possible should any schools need to switch to remote learning. “We just cannot know who may become ill, while hoping no one does,” she said. “If only we had a crystal ball, but we don’t.”
COVID-19 holiday updates
The state’s regular updates of COVID-19 data and information will be adjusted somewhat for the holiday schedules. The Department of Health announced that there will not be a daily update on Dec. 24 or 25, or Jan. 1. These are regular communications posted on the department’s website. The Vermont Dashboard with the latest key data will not be updated on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. And the map of cases by town, usually updated on Fridays, will be revised Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. Full weekly data summaries along with specific numbers related to K-12 schools and long-term care facilities will not occur again until Jan. 8, the department announced.
Local COVID-19 testing
For those needing a COVID-19 test, here is the schedule for Dec. 24 through Jan. 3 at local testing sites staffed by Waterbury Ambulance Service, according to Mark Podgwaite, executive director. The sites are: Waterbury Ambulance Service headquarters, 1727 Guptil Road in Waterbury; 3336 Airport Road, Berlin; and Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, Waitsfield.
Waterbury: Closed today and Friday, Dec. 24-25. Open Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 28-29, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday 9 a.m. to noon by appointment only (no walk-ins); closed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 31-Jan. 1; Saturday, Jan. 2, open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Berlin: Closed today and Friday, Dec. 24-25. Open Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 26-27, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 28-29, open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Dec. 30-Jan.1. Open Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 2-3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Waitsfield: Closed through Jan. 2. Open Sunday, Jan. 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More information on public health guidelines and COVID-19 data are online on the Vermont Department of Health’s COVID-19 web and data pages at