Vermont is now one of the first states to require health insurers to pay for the costs associated with at-home COVID-19 tests. The rule will cover 140,000 state residents who purchase commercial insurance and requires insurance companies to pay for the costs of FDA-authorized COVID-19 antigen tests.
“I thank Vermonters who have already gotten a booster, but we still have many more who need that higher level of protection,” said Governor Scott.
Williston approved a mask mandate. Selectboards in Brandon, Cambridge, Middlesex, and Shelburne all declined mask mandates. Shelburne passed a resolution recommending mask wearing. As of Wednesday morning, 12 municipalities have said no, eight have said yes.
At the governor’s weekly press conference Tuesday, Vermont’s high COVID case counts continued to dominate discussion, and the state’s aggressive COVID testing could be one reason for the spike.
Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Education announced the School Vaccine Incentive Program, committing $2 million in federal emergency funds to schools that achieve a student vaccination rate of 85% or higher.
Gov. Phil Scott and Department of Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak announced Tuesday an emergency regulation issued by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation requiring health insurers to cover the costs of COVID-19 antigen at-home tests, commonly referred to as “rapid” tests.
“As of today, we are going to announce a first in the nation measure, our health commissioner will announce a vaccine mandate for private sectors employers across the board,” de Blasio added. “All private sectors employers in New York City will be covered by this vaccine mandate, as of December 27th.”
How far would our Legislature go to reduce the transmission of Covid-19? That’s a question being asked publicly by Gov. Phil Scott, and at least one reporter. Thursday, House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Senate President Pro Tem Becca Balint responded.
Hayley Hodgson, a 26-year-old Australian woman, recounted her two-week confinement in a COVID-19 quarantine camp in an interview with UnHerd published Thursday.
Members of Burlington City Council on Wednesday night voted unanimously to impose a citywide mask mandate, but many local residents warned beforehand that the mandate would do more harm than good.
President Joe Biden lost three federal challenges to his vaccine mandates in just two days this week, with judges ruling the mandates are executive branch overreach and likely unconstitutional.
Vermont will be using federal COVID-relief funds as incentives to get schools to push vaccinations on young children.