Vermont reporters provide a roundup of top news takeaways about COVID-19, the border reopening, police oversight in Burlington and more for Tuesday, Aug. 10.
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As Vermont's pandemic state of emergency has ended and coronavirus restrictions lifted statewide, we will no longer be reporting daily case numbers at the top of this post. Click here for the latest on new cases, and findthe latest vaccination data online any time.
1. Vermont Dept. of Health reports 83 new COVID-19 cases
There were 83 new COVID-19 infections in Vermont Tuesday, as the number of Vermonters hospitalized jumped to 24, the highest number of hospitalizations due to the virus since April.
State health officials note nine of those 24 people hospitalized are in intensive care.
Nearly 60% of the new cases were in Chittenden County.
Vermont also reported another COVID-linked death, bring the state's total to 263.
The vaccination rate — those who have gotten at least one dose — rose to 84.6%.
CDC data shows six Vermont counties — Chittenden, Franklin, Orleans, Essex, Washington and Bennington — are seeing high or substantial community transmission of the virus. The federal agency recommends wearing masks indoors in those areas, regardless of your vaccination status.
— Matthew Smith
2. Burlington City Council votes down proposal to add police officers to the city's force
Burlington's City Council defeated a measure to boost the number of city police officers at their meeting Monday night.
Seven Days reports it was the second time the council rejected efforts to raise the police department's staffing cap in the last year.
The resolution would have allowed the city to hire up to 82 officers.
The department's ranks have dropped from 90 to 75 in the year since the city council voted to cut the size of the force by 30%.
But police officials and some city leaders, including Burlington's mayor, say more officers are needed to respond to an uptick in calls and violent incidents.
During Monday's public forum, some spoke in favor of raising the cap.
Eric Dion, a locksmith, said his phone has been ringing off the hook.
“Everyone ... not just neighborhoods, all businesses, they're getting broken into. They need more security. They're feeling scared," he said.
But Progressive councilors, who voted against raising the staffing cap, say any changes should come only after an outside study of the department is completed. That's due at the end of September.
The city's citizen police commission had unanimously recommended increasing the department's staffing cap at a meeting earlier this month.
— Marlon Hyde
3. Outside medical institutions, few Vermont businesses are mandating vaccines for staff
Companies around the country are requiring their employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. But in Vermont, not many employers outside of the health care sector appear to be joining.
Both Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and UVM Health Network announced last week that they'll require employees to be vaccinated by the end of September.
But Erin Sigrist, the president of the Vermont Retail and Grocers Association, says none of her members have said they’re mandating vaccines.
"Members seem to be encouraging employees to get the vaccine, but there is no employer that I’m aware of within our membership that is requiring employees to vaccinate," she said.
Sigrist says she expects more retail businesses to consider vaccine and masking mandates in the coming months.
Read or listen to the full story.
— Henry Epp
Burlington's Three Needs Taproom to require proof of vaccination for patrons
A bar in Burlington is now requiring all patrons show proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
In a social media post, Three Needs Taproom said the policy would be enforced as of Monday.
The post says they hope the move will help stop the spread of COVID-19 and avoid the closure of bars and restaurants.
On Friday, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger recommended the wearing of masks in public indoor spaces regardless of one’s vaccination status until the risk of transmission in Chittenden County is reduced.
— The Associated Press
4. Canada reopened to travelers Monday, but in Richford, businesses remained quiet
After 17 months of being closed to all but essential travelers, Monday marked the first day Americans could once again drive across the Canadian border.
Visitors must show proof of vaccination and a recent negative COVID-19 test.
In the border community of Richford, some residents said they were excited to see the crossing reopen.
But Scott Boyce, owner of the Thirsty Burger, said it's not what the town really needs. His business, and many others, need the American border to open up to Canadians.
"We have great local community support here, but i think it takes a little bit more for guys like us, and Crossing [Pub & Restaurant] to stay afloat," he said
The U.S. border will remain closed to land visitors from Canada and Mexico until at least Aug. 21.
— Connor Cyrus
5. New study examines the benefits and costs of reducing phosphorous runoff into Missisquoi Bay
A new study from researchers at the University of Vermont’s Gund Institute looks at the economic costs and potential benefits of reducing the amount of phosphorous that runs into Lake Champlain’s Mississquoi Bay.
The EPA hassaidVermont must reduce the amount of phosphorous that runs into the bay by about 64%. But new economic modeling suggests going beyond that would yield the greatest return on public investment — when measured in property values, tax revenue and saved healthcare costs.
But there’s a catch: Just about any efforts to reduce phosphorous at all will likely cost more than they return for at least the first 35 years.
Jesse Gourevitch is the lead author of the study:
“When we’re only looking 30 years down the road to 2050, we see that the costs far exceed the benefits of reducing phosphorous," Gourevitch said. "But if we look out at 2100 or beyond, that starts to flip.”
The study did not look at how reducing pollution would affect private industries, like dairy.
— Abagael Giles
Abagael Giles compiled and edited this post.
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