BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - With college students returning to Vermont’s largest city, the Burlington mayor has proposed new emergency rules for the city’s bars and for gatherings to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Mayor Miro Weinberger proposed that bars stop selling alcohol at 10 p.m. and that outside gatherings on residential properties be limited to 25 people. Indoor gatherings would be restricted to 10 people, with families excluded.
Weinberger called for a special City Council meeting on Thursday to take up the emergency resolution.
Police plan to inform residents in neighborhoods around the University of Vermont of the changes, if approved. Violators could be ticketed or bars could be fined.
Weinberger said Tuesday that he hopes the regulations are only needed for a short time.
“If virus transmission levels in Burlington remain very low after both the public schools have opened and we’ve gotten through this transition of the colleges reopening and getting into the rhythm of their new testing rhythm, we will happily reevaluate the necessity of their regulations and consider lifting them,” he said.
Nearly 12,000 UVM students have decided to return to campus, said UVM President Suresh Garimella. They are being tested before they arrive and upon arrival. He said 8,700 pre-arrival tests were ordered and of the 1,150 results that have come back, two were positive. Since Aug. 7, 955 students have been tested on campus and two of those tested positive.
“These students are being pre-tested, re-tested, quarantined and if necessary isolated. All students will undergo continuous screening and testing. If they break the rules they will face consequences,” he said.
Five students who were living off campus before the move-in date and one staff member have also tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.
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In other coronavirus-related news:
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER-PROFANITY
A school board member who uttered a profanity against teachers during a discussion about schools reopening has resigned.
Mount Ascutney School District Board member Beth Carter apologized for “inappropriately expressing frustration on the data regarding school opening from teachers’ perspective,” the Valley News reported.
Carter failed to mute her audio during a video meeting last week, and the mic captured her using the F-word in reference to teachers.
More than 70 people were streaming the meeting. “Nobody likes to hear comments like that,” said Catharine Engwall, president of the teachers’ union and a teacher at Windsor High School.
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OVERDUE UTILITY BILLS
Grant funding is available to help Vermonters who are struggling to pay overdue utility bills and may face disconnection of service because of economic hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Republican Gov. Phil Scott said.
The assistance program includes federal coronavirus relief fund money appropriated by the Legislature. Scott says the program through the Department of Public Service will provide 100% of the eligible outstanding payments that are more than 60 days overdue. Residential and nonresidential account holders are eligible for help with payments to electric, natural gas, land-line telephone or private water companies.
Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30 and grants will be awarded on a first come, first-served basis.
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THE NUMBERS
Vermont reported three new cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, for a statewide total since the pandemic began of just over 1,530. The total number of deaths remains at 58. Two people were currently hospitalized with COVID-19.
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