Governor Scott kicks things off. Missed the first few seconds of the presser, but as we're coming into the audio, Scott's imploring Vermonters to take a few minutes this Labor Day weekend and fill out your census forms. If you don't have a form, go to my2020census.gov
He also asks VTers to "stay smart and stay safe" this holiday weekend. Have fun, he says, but please continue to follow health dept. guidance. "Don't travel to areas that have high case counts." Schools really pushing this message as well, hoping for a successful start on Tues.
Speaking of a return to school...Scott aims to reassure people that work has been done to create the most successful start possible. Thanks everyone who's been working on this. Acknowledges anxiety many feel. "We're here to work with you as we take this big step forward," he says
State epidemiologist Patsy Kelso offering the health update today. She starts with an update on the fact that college restarts have largely gone well, with only a few cases detected. Health dashboard has also been updated, she says, with more info.
Now offering context into her role in the presser and the response to COVID-19 (and Dr. Levine had a conflict, she says). Lightens the mood by saying she's giving the cameras a break from tilting up to focus on (the very tall) Dr. Levine.
Update on Killington outbreak now. I didn't capture everything, but think she said that out of 49 total guests at that original party, tracers have been able to reach 36. Struggling to contact some of the outsof-state guests, and they've notified these people's home states.
And I think she said there are now 17 cases. 11 from people who were at the party, and 6 who were close contacts of guests who were at the party. (I need to get verification that those were the exact numbers she used. @vprnet, was that what you heard?)
Modeling report coming now from @MikePieciak.
Here is where you can find the full report: dfr.vermont.gov/sites/finreg/f… First slide shows new cases on the national level. Says cases often grow after holiday weekends, reminds people to be safe. 
On the Vermont scene, here are the updated stats. And the “restart metrics.”
Turning now to data that can help us contextualize the reopening of both K-12 and higher ed. Note the relatively low rate in the northeast. Also note the forecast for cases w/ and w/out schools reopening.
On colleges, these tests results are pretty remarkable if you look at them in the context of some other large colleges around the country with significant outbreaks.
Regional data and the updated travel map here.
Kelso says all of the cases that are known to be associated with the Killington party are in Vermont residents. But there could be some cases that become known later on from people who came from out of state.
Thanks to @healthvermont for confirming the numbers we heard earlier in the press conference:
"We can't as a state, as colleges and universities, rest on our laurels. We have to remain vigilant," Scott says about the early success in the higher ed restart. Says his biggest concern is that visitors to campus will come in and bring the virus with them.
I've passed through a few campuses this week. Striking signs alert visitors that campus is closed. In Middlebury, at the gateway to campus, a big digital sign (the kind you sometimes see on the highway warning of inclement weather) warns interlopers not to come on campus.
AHS Secretary Mike Smith giving an update on the child care hubs, which he stresses are designed to be temporary for when schools are in hybrid session.
Here's the slide Governor Scott showed as he asked people to take precautions this long weekend.
Scott is asked about the D+ grade given to the state's reopening plan and the preparedness of schools. vtdigger.org/2020/09/03/as-…
Scott says he hopes the Vermont NEA isn't prioritizing politics over working together to the benefit of VT kids. Asked if he thinks that's what is happening, he hedges, doesn't give clear yes or no. "I hope everyone can put the politics aside. Let's do what's right for our kids."
Second question about vaccine dates and readiness. Scott says he's not at all convinced we'll have a vaccine by November, which is what the federal government has indicated. Patsy Kelso says Vermont is and will be ready whenever the vaccine is ready. npr.org/sections/coron…
Greg at the County Courier asks the governor if he will attend one of the Thursday community meetings in Richford. Scott says he's always interested in hearing from constituents, but he's getting a lot of requests and demands on his time. But says maybe he can send a surrogate.
Mike Donoghue returns to the question of what he says is inconsistency and lack of transparency in AOE not offering COVID data for every single VT school. On Tuesday Ed Secretary French said the smallest schools won't have COVID data broken out. Donoghue says this is "shocking".
Mike from True North Reports brings the focus to protests in Burlington, and the request to fire 3 BPD police officers. Listen to @TheHenryEpp's interview with the acting BPD chief, and other linked @vprnet reporting here: vpr.org/post/protester…
.@EricBlaisdell13 asks if the governor worries that Americans might lose confidence in the CDC if they feel its become too politicized. Scott says VT has gotten good info from the CDC, but that the Vermont team is really who he relies on for the accurate local information.
.@EPetenko inquires about a rumor of COVID spread at UVM. Scott says he hasn't heard anything official about spread, and Kelso says contact tracers work very closely with colleges to make sure there's no community spread from a campus to the community, and hasn't heard of any.
@EPetenko Erin says she understands rumors aren't official data points, but also that students may feel scared, and may be worried that they won't necessarily be informed if there is a case near them, like in their dorm.
@EPetenko Scott says we need to acknowledge fear, but not let fear dictate policy or take over. He and Kelso offering reassurance that the contact tracing teams do this well, and that the state is working very hard alongside schools to make sure any cases are contained.
.@PeteHirschfeld asks for clarification on the test results for college students. Scott says the 33 positive cases do not include students who tested positive BEFORE coming to VT (and then didn't come to campus).
@PeteHirschfeld asks about this slide as well, wondering about the forecast for a near doubling of cases from today, whether K-12 students return or not.
@PeteHirschfeld Pieciak says the return of college students is part of why there could be a rise in cases whether younger students are in their buildings or not.
Missed @AnneWallAllen's question, but I'll embed if I see Anne or anyone else tweet about it.
Now conversation is about sewage overflows.
Now conversation is about sewage overflows.
Phil Scott asked about policing issues, says he issued an executive order a few weeks ago but hasn't put out a press release. Press release should go out today, Rebecca Kelley says. Here's the order itself: governor.vermont.gov/sites/scott/fi…
It includes sections on community conversation, hiring/promotion practices, data collection, body cameras, use of force policy, training and improper conduct allegations. Plus a section on proposals to the legislature for 2021.
.@RKelleyComms, can you shed any light on why no press release issued when the executive order came out? Just curious about what might be behind the lag.
An opening here for Governor Scott to comment on the allegations that President Trump has disparaged those who died in war. Scott says he has the utmost respect for those who served and takes great exception to those who disparage them. Says he hasn't read the Atlantic article.
Says he takes great offense to the remarks President Trump made a few years ago about Senator John McCain, a POW.
