Thread by @JaneLindholm

Here comes your Vermont COVID press conference thread for Tuesday, March 23rd.

Human Services Secretary Mike Smith kicks things off as Governor Scott is busy on a weekly call with other governors and the White House. Smith says we could hit a milestone this week where 1 in 5 Vermonters (he may have said VT adults) are fully vaccinated with all needed doses.

Those age 60 and up become eligible this Thursday. 50+ starts Monday 3/29. The state's preferred method of registering for a vaccine is through the state website. However, the call center is also an option. Info on both can be found at healthvermont.gov/myvaccine.

"The goal is to have all Vermonters vaccinated by July 1st," Smith says. Though it would be more accurate to say all Vermont adults since children and teens under the age of 16 are still not eligible.

A contingent of the VT Natl Guard will be activated on April 5th, Smith says, to accommodate the increase in people getting eligible for the vaccine as the next several weeks progress. (There is already a contingent of the Guard working on vaccination. This would be in addition.)

Smith is going through various locations where there are clinic appointments available. "We want to make it as easy as possible for you to get a vaccine," he says. Walmart and Costco clinic locations are included in the state website.

Kinney Drugs, CVS and Walgreens have separate systems for making an appointment, but Smith says you can find that info at the state website as well. He reminds VTers to cancel their appointment in the state system if they have made one but then get an early appt. somewhere else.

DFR Commissioner Mike Pieciak, who leads the state’s modeling efforts, is offering the weekly modeling report. He begins by noting Vermont’s vaccine progress among older residents compared to other states.

Pieciak says total cases are up slightly from last week but continue to drop significantly among the older and most vaccinated cohort of Vermonters.

Here’s the case forecast through the spring, to May 1.

Hospitalizations in Vermont are down, as is the fatality rate, which continues to decrease from the peak. Vermont’s numbers in national context in the second set of slides attached here.

Nationally, the south and west are still on a downward case trajectory but the midwest and northeast are stalled or up. He highlights struggles in Michigan. Our region has seen an increase of 8000 cases. Quebec, however, has not increased.

Health Commissioner Dr. Levine offering remarks now. Notes cases over the last week and the fatalities we've seen. He cautions that we are not out of the woods yet, and asks Vermonters to stay the course so we can get back to seeing declines in cases and a return to normal.

Levine: "We know the finish line is near; we can almost see it. But it's also the point in the race where stumbles can be most risky."

Levine says news about more vaccines (like the AstraZeneca vaccine that's been in the news) are important globally but unlikely to affect Vermont's current vaccination plan for the spring.

Levine notes how remarkable it is that a year into the pandemic there are three approved vaccines in the US. Says people should feel confident with all 3. Uses the line that's circulating around the country: "The best vaccine is the vaccine that's available to you."

Levine speaks to younger Vermont adults, age 16 to 40. Asks these Vermonters to "please protect yourself." The median age for COVID infections in Vermont is now below age 30, for the first time in the pandemic.

Levine highlights concerns over long haul COVID symptoms that can affect young healthy people. And says young people should work hard to prevent contracting the virus so they can avoid the risk of long term symptoms. (Data on how many people have long term symptoms varies.)

On variants, the B.1.1.7 is 50% more transmissible than what we're accustomed to, Levine says. The B.1.427 variant, originally discovered in California, is 20% more transmissible, according to current data.

It's question time now. And there's a question from Calvin Cutler about how to reach young Vermonters with the message Dr. Levine is trying to convey. At UVM there's been a significant increase in recent cases, and the widespread appearance of variants.

Dr. Levine says that's one reason why he mentioned long haul COVID, to remind young people that this virus can have serious repercussions. He also says it's likely the state will need to improve access for young people, to include taking clinics to where college students are.

Stewart Ledbetter asks if the state will continue to require quarantine for non-vaccinated individuals who travel out of the state. Levine misunderstands the q, thinks Stewart is saying that travel itself is restricted. Says travel isn't prohibited, it's just not recommended.

There's some back and forth but I think everyone in this exchange might be a little confused about what the nut of the question is. But the bottom line from the exchange is that there should be more info from the governor in coming weeks on any loosening of restrictions.

I haven't heard much about how to reach high school students in particular, but principal of South Burlington HS is ready!

https://twitter.com/pburkevt/status/1374385503580004356

Some questions about bars and clubs, which are allowed to reopen tomorrow, with the same restrictions restaurants are operating under. Municipalities also have the right to require more restrictions. Tons of info here: accd.vermont.gov/news/update-ne…

Question about why there's a lower uptake of the vaccine in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Smith says the state has been concentrating on Essex County. Says last week the state met with local officials to see what they could do to help bring up numbers.

Road signs are going up, he says, and they might be adding clinics. They're also seeing if they can partner with Colebrook, NH area agencies to have better communication.

Governor Scott has joined the briefing. Says he got an update from Dr. Fauci, who says he's watching the rise in cases in Europe very carefully and who noted that the US is doing much better than Europe in terms of vaccination.

Says Fauci also discussed the news about AstraZeneca. npr.org/2021/03/23/980…

Scott says Fauci says he thinks the AZ vaccine is safe and effective.

Scott says Fauci also gave them an update on eligibility for children and said high school students should be vaccinated by the fall return to school.

The White House also told them there will be increases in all three currently available vaccines over the next few weeks. About 5000 more doses coming to Vermont this week than last week. Scott says he thinks that should mean 23,000 doses total this week.

Scott says he's looking forward to signing up when he becomes eligible this Thursday.

https://twitter.com/JaneLindholm/status/1373042210640424960

Scott says he thinks it's going to "be a while" before the US/Canadian border gets opened up. And he does think it's likely that there will be some sort of "vaccine passport" type of program that might be instituted for cross-border travel.

Question about whether the CDC's change to 3-foot distances for students would also apply in places like bars. Scott says no, that was guidance relating specifically to schools.

Cat Viglienzoni asks why, if vaccine uptake is so high in long term care facilities, there are still cases at these facilities. Dr. Levine says vaccination efficacy means a few people may still get the virus even after vaccination. But that most of those cases will be mild.

Levine also says the vaccination uptake among staff continues to rise.

In response to a specific question from Cat, Levine says there have been 25 documented cases in Vermont in people who have contracted the virus after having been fully vaccinated. None of the 25 were hospitalized or died, he says.

Question from Devin Bates (I think) about Scott's message to college students as cases in that population are going up in some cases, at the same time bars open and spring weather arrives. Scott reminds them "they're not invincible."

Levine says college students in VT are not "behaving like those pictures from Florida." (Where spring breakers have been photographed being...not COVID safe.)

Levine says cases among off-campus UVM students seem to reflect the spread of the virus within the Chittenden County area rather than the result of partying or socializing in wild ways.

Governor Scott says he's against the expansion of the bottle bill, including increasing the redemption amount from 5 cents to 10 cents. This bill is being considered in the legislature.

Greg from the County Courier asks about what he says is a "sweetheart deal" for Essex High School players to get tested and have results back quickly in advance of a championship game with BFA St. Albans. (I didn't catch which sport.)

Gov. Scott and Dr. Levine say the state isn't involved in this plan. Scott says he thinks it's a good idea for players to get tested. Dr. Levine says his understanding is that a hospital has possibly made a deal with the school to turn around tests, not a health department thing.

Greg says even if it's not a state thing, the optics look bad when these tests can be turned around quickly vs. other populations getting tested and having to wait on results, including correctional facilities etc.

Levine says that tests that are part of outbreak management at correctional facilities and long term care facilities are actually turned around within a day. Smith says it can take a few more hours to then analyze and confirm results in an outbreak before public announcements.

Tim McQuiston asks for an update on the prison cases. 7 staff members throughout the correctional system are currently positive. 22 inmates are positive, including 1 inmate in Southern State Correctional Facility. One inmate is hospitalized from the Newport outbreak.

Tim also asked for an update on the theories of transmission Secretary Smith talked about last week. This @vtdigger piece discounts one of the theories Smith identified in that press briefing: vtdigger.org/2021/03/22/sci…

Smith defends his remarks saying that one of the theories the state was looking at was that opioid treatment diversion might be driving transmission. He says he was clear that this was just a theory, that it could be wrong. And says he was just trying to be "transparent."

Erin Petenko asks how the state is investigating that theory, especially since inmates might fear repercussions if they were honest. Smith says he's not sure the state will ever be able to confirm/discount that theory. Says they might never know how the 1st case came in, either.

Erin also asks about what guidelines might be for children once adults are more fully vaccinated but they still can't be. Dr. Levine says vaccinated grandparents and unvaccinated children should feel comfortable visiting each other.

Levine says other types of guidelines for children will continue to be updated as the spring and summer progresses. Erin asks what about kids hanging out with their friends this summer.

Levine says "Yes, in terms of kids being able to congregate with kids, there will be evolving guidance but I can't tell you yet when and how that will evolve."

Erin asks if minor children who are eligible to get the vaccine can get it over their parents' objections. Levine says those age 16 and 17 will need parental approval/sign-off to get the vaccine.

Me here: I have lots of questions about how things will work before children can be vaccinated. Practical questions about restrictions for families of mixed vaccination status, but also philosophically about getting "back to normal" and protecting vulnerable children etc.

Questions from Mike Donoghue about when/how the state might re-institute a work search requirement for those getting unemployment benefits. Scott basically says we're not there yet, but he'll continue to look at the issue moving forward.

Guy Page asks how many Vermonters are suffering from long term symptoms of COVID. Dr. Levine doesn't have a firm number but knows of some and knows that there's a UVM study working with some of them.

Guy Page says Essex County has the lowest vaccination rate in the state and is also the county that went most heavily for Trump in the 2020 election. Wonders if the governor sees a connection.

The governor says even Donald Trump has advised people to take the vaccine. (The former president got the vaccine himself before leaving the White House.)

Scott says he values the independence of the NEK. Says he'll continue trying to convey the message that the vaccines are safe and effective and are the way out of the pandemic and a return to normalcy. He's not going to force people to get the vaccine, but thinks ppl will want to

Boston Globe reporter asking the governor questions about his recent announcement that he wants to welcome more refugees to Vermont in the near future.

BREAKING: We're getting word that President Biden is expected to address the nation regarding yesterday's mass shooting in Boulder, CO. @vprnet will air the president's comments, so you may not hear the end of the press briefing if you're listening on the radio.

@vprnet Okay, that's happening now. We're going to the president's remarks. You can continue to hear the press briefing here: orcamedia.net/series/press-c…

In the hubbub I've missed the question state officials are answering right now. But I'm focused on the state press briefing now. (And if you want to hear the president's remarks, please listen to @vprnet. We're airing his speech live.)

Question about how the CDC guidance on spacing between students will impact Vermont guidance. Education Secretary Dan French says the department is looking at it all now and should have an update around 4/1.

Question from a @VermontCynic reporter about whether out-of-state college students will be able to access the vaccine. Scott says wants to say yes but it's somewhat dependent on supply of the vaccine. Hasn't made a decision. "But we have some time...between now and April 19th."

@VermontCynic Cynic reporter Paige Fisher also asks about recently reported cases at UVM. Levine says he'll be able to say more on Friday, after he has met with university officials. Says no one is looking at shutting down the campus, says UVM has been doing well w/ mitigation.

[The President's remarks are over. Our live broadcast is back on the press briefing. This will end soon, though, and then you can tune into the weekly health update on @vermontedition.]

@vermontedition Press briefing is over. Time now for a few minutes of analysis, then YOUR turn to ask questions on Vermont Edition. Join us around 1:15.