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Citing Need to Not 'Let Up Yet,' Scott Extends Stay-at-Home Order Through May 15

by Colin Flanders Posted on April 10, 2020 at 2:01PM

Vermont has seen hundreds of cases since Scott first declared his state of emergency declaration a month ago. Figures released Friday showed 51 new positives, bringing the state’s total to 679 cases with 24 deaths.

Senior UVM nursing student Kathryn Calisti

UVM Nursing Students to Graduate Early to Help During Coronavirus Crisis

by Sasha Goldstein Posted on April 9, 2020 at 9:27PM

During the event, which is usually held at the Ira Allen Chapel on campus, a special person in the nursing grad’s life pins them with a UVM nursing brooch. Typically, about half of nursing grads stay in Vermont and the rest leave for jobs elsewhere, according to Prelock.

A flier advertising the event from Sen. Bernie Sanders' Facebook page

Leahy, Sanders, Welch and Scott Hold Virtual Town Hall on Coronavirus

by Colin Flanders Posted on April 9, 2020 at 8:45PM

"We are going to have to do everything we can at the local, state and federal level to get through this in one piece," he said. For its part, the state's Congressional delegation remains focused on ensuring that the $2.2 trillion relief package is rolled out "as well as it possibly can" be, Sanders said.

Testing Reveals a Major Outbreak at Northwest State Correctional Facility

by Derek Brouwer Posted on April 9, 2020 at 7:46PM

Like nursing homes, prisons have proven to be especially susceptible to coronavirus outbreaks, and inmates and their advocates have been pushing for drastic measures to reduce prison populations. Earlier Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont called on Gov. Phil Scott to use his executive authority to furlough elderly and medically compromised inmates, citing the single inmate case known at the time, at the Swanton facility.

Former State Rep Dies From the Coronavirus

by Colin Flanders Posted on April 9, 2020 at 12:13PM

A former Vermont legislator has died after contracting the coronavirus. Bernie Juskiewicz, a Republican lawmaker who represented the towns of Cambridge and Waterville in the Vermont House from 2013 to 2018, died Wednesday after being hospitalized with the illness, WCAX-TV first reported.

Death Certificates Reveal Demographics of Vermont's First COVID-19 Deaths

by Andrea Suozzo Posted on April 8, 2020 at 10:20PM

Preliminary death certificates provided by the Vermont Department of Health reveal new information about 19 Vermonters who died with COVID-19. In total, the state has reported 23 deaths from the novel coronavirus.

Former State Rep. Kiah Morris Joins Rights & Democracy

by Sasha Goldstein Posted on April 8, 2020 at 5:47PM

Morris started a few weeks ago but intended to take things slowly as she transitioned out of a position with the Vermont Coalition for Ethnic and Social Equity in Schools. That all changed as the coronavirus hit the state.

Senators wearing masks discuss the remote voting proposal

Vermont Senate Approves Remote Voting Measure

by Colin Flanders Posted on April 8, 2020 at 12:41PM

Disclosure: Tim Ashe is the domestic partner of Seven Days publisher and coeditor Paula Routly. Find our conflict-of-interest policy here: sevendaysvt.com/disclosure.

An Inmate in Swanton Is Vermont's First to Test Positive for Coronavirus

by Sasha Goldstein Posted on April 8, 2020 at 12:20PM

One had no contact with prisoners, while another potentially did while contagious, according to Smith. A third definitely had contact with prisoners while sick, he said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders making his announcement online

Bernie Sanders Suspends His Presidential Campaign

by Sasha Goldstein Posted on April 8, 2020 at 11:41AM

“As I see the crisis gripping the nation, exacerbated by a president unwilling or unable to provide any kind of credible leadership, and the work that needs to be done to protect people in this most desperate hour,” Sanders said, “I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win.” Sanders did not completely bow out of the contest.