Vermont governor says decision to close schools hard, needed

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said Friday his decision to close in-person schools for the rest of the academic year is intended to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Scott said it was only a matter of time before “each and every one of us” will know someone who has died of the disease caused by the fast-spreading coronavirus.

Closing in-person schools can make a difference in keeping children and the public safe. Schools are required to come up with plans for distance learning by April 13.

“Let’s face it: It’s disappointing, frustrating and it’s just plain sad for kids, parents, teachers and all school employees,” Scott said during his regular Friday briefing. “My heart goes out to all of you. It’s going to be hard. I know that.”

He said he hoped that children would be able to return to school at the end of the year for activities such as graduation.

“But we won’t make that decision until we’re certain it’s safe,” he said.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.

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NUMBERS

So far, the Vermont Health Department has reported that more than 180 people have tested positive for COVID-19. There have been 10 deaths.

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TESTING

Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said during Friday’s briefing that he expects the Health Department will be able to expand testing for COVID-19 to include people who have mild or moderate symptoms.

The tests must still be ordered by a physician. The objective is to identify patients earlier so experts can do “contact tracing” to find people the patients have been in contact with so they can be quarantined, as appropriate.

“The experience in other countries that have successfully flattened the curve show that early and broad testing is a proven strategy to slow transmission of this virus,” Levine said. “And Vermont is still early enough on that curve that this strategy may be effective.”

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EXPECTED SURGE OF CASES

The president of a small Vermont hospital says the medical community is expecting a surge of serious COVID-19 cases around the middle of April.

Dr. Joseph Perras, of the Mount Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor, said his hospital normally sends its critically ill patients about a half-hour up the road to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

But if the expected spike in seriously ill people hits, the hospital, which has 35 inpatient and rehabilitation beds, is prepared to boost that number to almost 50. The hospital has five ventilators and the staff who know how to use them and treat the patients who need then.

“We are confident in our ability to manage a handful of critically ill COVID patients,” Perras said.

Still the hospital put out a request Thursday for donations of personal protective equipment for patients and staff during the outbreak.