Vermont education head: State’s schools safe

Outbreak linked to Mass. church grows to over 200 cases

Vermont state officials are stressing the importance of keeping schools open amid the coronavirus pandemic as they urge Vermonters to limit gatherings, avoid holiday travel and continue to follow the Health Department guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.

Vermont schools are operating safely during the pandemic, said Education Secretary Dan French during the governor’s coronavirus briefing on Friday.

As of Nov. 1, the state had 11 COVID- 19 cases in the last seven days in schools and a total of 39 cases since schools opened in September, he said. The availability of staff is affecting the operation of some schools, causing them to switch back and forth between in- person instruction and remote learning, he said.

“We continue to see that schools are not a main driver of transmission in this pandemic,” said Dr. Rebecca Bell, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter. “The fact that there have been a number of cases in the K- 12 learning environment that have not led to outbreaks highlights the effectiveness of the mitigation strategies we have in place here in Vermont.”

Pediatric patients say their in- person school days “provide structure, and routine and the opportunity to interact with their peers and teachers in meaningful ways.”

As the days get darker and colder and the holiday season starts, it will be more important than ever to follow guidelines around masking, avoiding crowded spaces, complying with travel guidelines, getting a flu shot and staying home when sick to keep kids in school, she said.

“By staying vigilant, and being smart and limiting our gathering sizes and travel even during the holidays we can keep schools and our economy open and we will get through the pandemic faster and on better footing than just about any other state,” said Gov. Phil Scott.

Massachusetts

A coronavirus outbreak linked to a Massachusetts church has grown to more than 200 cases, health officials say.

The cases have been traced to services held at the Community Crossroads Church in Fitchburg on and around Oct. 18, the Fitchburg Board of Health announced Friday.

Anyone associated with activities at the church should get tested, the board said. Cases and contacts traced back to the church have affected 75 businesses and 22 area towns.

“The Fitchburg Health Department is exploring moving backwards in the governor’s Phased Reopening Plan to help stop the spread of COVID- 19,” Health Director Steve Curry said.

The church, in a Facebook post, said blaming the city’s outbreak on the church is “unfair and a distortion of the facts.” It said it does everything in its power to keep the congregation safe.

Maine

Bath is creating an indoor community space as temperatures begin to get cooler during the pandemic.

Organizations including Bath Iron Works, Main Street Bath and Sagadahoc Real Estate Association got together to create the open space for up to 50 people during the pandemic.

Beacon Park is equipped with Wi- Fi and furnished with an air- filtration system, bathrooms, seating and workspace.

The shipyard will use it for job interviews and recruiting, but it’s available to the public for use, as well.

The 7- day rolling average of daily new coronavirus cases in Maine continues to rise.

The rate has risen over the past two weeks from almost 33 new cases per day on Oct. 23 to nearly 125 new cases per day on Friday, according to The Covid Tracking Project.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday reported 138 new confirmed cases and two deaths, raising the number of fatalities in the state to 152.

New Hampshire

A rising number of COVID- 19 cases in New Hamsphire has operators of nursing homes worried.

Woodlawn Care Center, a family- run long- term care center in Newport, is dealing with its first cases of the disease.

“We’re in the middle of an outbreak,” Woodlawn administrator Chris Martin told WMUR- TV. “We have 18 residents that have tested positive, and our current resident population is about 45.”

State health officials said six facilities in the state are dealing with outbreaks.

“The virus has been unsparing,” said Brendan Williams, of the New Hampshire Health Care Association. “The fact that it can march into a fivestar nonprofit facility in Dover or hit a family- run operation in Newport shows you that the virus is really on the move across the state right now.”

Williams said there is a sense of dread about what the coming months will bring as people spend time with friends and family for the holidays.

“So, we’re going to see a real increase in transmission, I’m afraid,” Williams said.

Rhode Island

The city of Coventry is closing all municipal buildings to the public starting Monday because of the state’s surging coronavirus numbers, and limiting access to some other buildings.

The library and public works office will remain open with new restrictions in place, interim Town Manager Edward Warzycha said in a statement Friday. Tax payments can be made using the white drop box outside Town Hall.