Howdy! Friday press conference coming up. (And stay with us for a kid press conference at 1.) We are expecting more info on the Winooski cluster of COVID-19 cases, and more info on opening restaurants and tourism.
Scott starts with the cluster of concern. "We're now considering the situation in Winooski an outbreak, with a few dozen cases over the last week." Says the cluster is contained to "one network of families." This is concerning, but Scott believes this can also be contained.
Nonetheless, Scott says he feels like it's still safe to move forward with limited indoor dining and fewer restrictions on out-of-state tourism. Scott says he's taking these steps in consultation w/ the health dept.
On dining: 25% capacity, 6 feet between diners/tables. No traditional bar service. (He said on Wednesday that bars would not be included in this limited reopening.)
Municipalities are allowed to keep indoor dining closed if there are health concerns in their communities. Scott Administration is talking with Winooski about whether/how they might want to open.
Travel restrictions changing to allow people in counties in New England and NY that have low numbers of cases, less than 400 cases per million, to travel to the state and stay here w/out quarantine. Vermonters may also go to these places & return w/out quarantine upon return.
Vermonters are advised that they need to follow any local or regional restrictions in the places they travel to.
On the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program), Scott says it's being updated and expanded in Washington, extending the covered period to the end of the year and make changes to forgivable portions of the loans. More to come from @VTEconDev later today.
Dr. Levine now. Says he'll talk about Winooski and about protests.
On Winooski, Levine says he understands there may be a lot of concern. "I do want to impress upon you," he says, "that this could occur anywhere." So Vters need to remain alert and follow preventive measures. But, as more things reopen, "an outbreak like this was not unexpected."
Says state has been "listening to find out what the needs of people in the community are" and how to meet those needs. Working w/ Winooski, community health centers etc. to offer testing in Winooski all week, and next week.
34 Winooski residents have tested positive for COVID-19, equally divided between adults and children.
Levine is asking all people who have been protesting in support of black Americans to "be altruistic again, and get yourself tested."
Commissioner Pieciak now, with a modeling update, including how the state came to the decision to remove the quarantine restrictions for people in certain out-of-state counties. Modeling presentation here: dfr.vermont.gov/sites/finreg/f…
Largely because of the Winooski outbreak, the curve appears to be going up, rather than following the trend, but Pieciak says he expects to see the trendline return to it's previous trajectory once the Winooski outbreak is contained.
160,000 active COVID cases within a 5hr drive of VT borders. But many of these cases are clustered in a few areas, but 55 counties across New York and New England have low enough case counts to be considered "Step 1" counties, where travel is allowed w/out quarantine.
This new travel policy is effective June 8th.
The state is also working on ways to allow out-of-state travelers from areas with higher case counts to travel here, but they are not included in this first step.
These slides from the modeling presentation further explain which counties are safe and what the guidelines for visitors are. 
Dr. Levine says there has not been any confirmed connection between mass gatherings--including protests--and positive tests. But the state is monitoring.
Scott says visitors who come in by plane or from non-New England/New York states will still have to follow quarantine rules for the foreseeable future. (Those from northeast counties with higher case counts also still need to follow quarantine for now.)
((Most of my family lives in Cumberland County in Maine. So I'm hopeful that the Portland area case count will go down at some point so I can see them!))
Gov. Scott reminds people that at the beginning there were lots of restrictions on getting tested, but not anymore. So anyone who is worried, or just wants to make sure they don't have an active case, can get tested at any time.
"I think it's a big step that we're taking today, to open restaurants. And bars, in some respects will be open as well," he clarifies. They just can't have seating AT the bar. If they have tables, they can have people sit at them and have a drink.
There is no specific guidance for the minor league baseball Lake Monsters team and season yet. But it's on the minds of at least some reporters and Vermonters.
The 400 cases per million in any given county threshold is derived from what's happening in Vermont, says Commissioner Pieciak. 400 seems safer to the state, and closer to the disease prevalence in VT, he says.
That's it for today. And a reminder: if you want to hear what the youth of today want to know, tune in for our @ButWhyKids "Kids Press Conference" with @GovPhilScott at 1pm. Should be very interesting!
