Mayor Weinberger Statement on New Covid Interventions
Chittenden County has reached the CDC’s threshold for high transmission, and hospitalizations in the state have increased statewide to 12 with 8 people in the ICU, up from 3 just three days ago.
Mayor Miro Weinberger made the following statement:
“The Covid-vaccines are spectacularly effective at preventing serious illness, and by embracing them at an outstanding country-leading rate, Vermonter’s have made this region far safer than it was just a few short months ago. Nonetheless, the material increase in Covid-related hospitalizations in recent days has made it clear that, despite our very high rate of vaccinations, the contagiousness of the Delta-variant means we cannot yet fully return to our pre-pandemic routines. I am recommending that Burlingtonians and visitors wear masks in public indoor spaces regardless of their vaccination status until Chittenden County returns to a moderate risk of transmission per the CDC.
“Further, to bring this pandemic to an end, all organizations must do what they can with the tools they have to bring our vaccination rates as high as possible. I have met twice with the City’s union leaders, presented them with a draft Vaccination Policy, and intend to finalize, in the coming days, a policy that will require City staff to either be fully vaccinated by the end of September or submit to regular Covid testing.
“Further, I convened a special, urgent meeting of Burlington’s Senior Care Providers yesterday to discuss my deep concern that not all workers in these vulnerable facilities are vaccinated. While, in this area too, Vermont facilities are doing better than many others around the country, even a single unvaccinated employee can create serious risks for elderly residents. We have lost too many older Vermonters in this pandemic already, and I am gravely concerned about unvaccinated care providers working in our nursing homes. In the coming days, I will continue to work with senior care providers and regulators to see that this issue is quickly resolved.”
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