“As we prepare for a surge in COVID-19 cases expected in the coming weeks, it will require each and every one of us to do our part to ease the burden on our health care system, the struggles of those less fortunate, and, ultimately, to save the lives of our friends and neighbors.”
When the imminent threat of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, we will undoubtedly be dealing with an economic situation of high unemployment and businesses in flux. Government policy will have a significant impact on how quickly the economy recovers — or not.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a surge is coming in the spread of the novel coronavirus that has infected more than 160,000 Americans and killed more than 3,700, but urged everyone to follow federal guidelines so the country can end the pandemic.
There have been several models used to inform public policy, including grim, worst-case projections, and newer models based on empiric observations from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
“The priority of Planned Parenthood health centers is ensuring that every person can access essential health care while conserving needed resources,” said Planned Parenthood acting president and CEO Alexis McGill-Johnson in a statement.
In this update, a multi-trillion federal relief package is enacted, Education Secretary Dan French testifies in House education committee, essential business determination guidance is issued, and unemployment insurance changes advance.
While Vermont is with the majority of states that have chosen to shut down restaurants, bars and close-contact businesses statewide in response to the coronavirus, some states and governors have gone in a different direction.
Gov. Phil Scott and Attorney General TJ Donovan said Monday’s ban on all online booking of lodgings are absolutely necessary to limit deaths from the virus. The ban expresses concern that visitors from hot-spot states like Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey are attempting to come to Vermont.
If it is deemed necessary to do budgetary work or matters that address the COVID-19 pandemic, that should be the limit of legislative action. The other stuff can wait. Vermont should postpone such other lawmaking until safe.
The big explosion last week in the House made for splashy news coverage, but the real story was far murkier than the headlines suggested. But if detailed machinations of politics intrigue you, then I wrote this for you.
This new temporary law also creates emergency powers to allow the Secretary of State’s office to enact the necessary measures to enable Vermonters to vote safely during the 2020 COVID-19 health crisis. Such measures could include the mailing of ballots to every registered voter.
I do not know why you were removed from your committee assignment, but you appear to have been attacked from someone behind the shield of the COVID-19 crisis — perhaps a safe haven for those who would tread on individual rights and personal liberty.