Vermont Statehouse drops Covid vaccination and testing rules

Lawmakers voted Monday to discontinue Covid-19 vaccination and testing insurance policies for public guests to the Statehouse in favor of posting indicators that “strongly advocate” guests be vaccinated.

The previous coverage, handed in December 2021, had beneficial guests present proof of vaccination to Statehouse employees upon entry to the constructing and be screened for signs of Covid. However Sergeant-at-Arms Janet Miller instructed members of the Committee on Joint Guidelines on Monday that the rule was solely adopted for “a pair weeks” into the legislative session as a result of there weren’t sufficient employees to implement it.

The previous coverage had additionally allowed members of the general public to request speedy assessments from the Sergeant-at-Arms. Miller mentioned nobody has requested for these assessments because the system was put into place.

Along with recommending vaccines, the brand new coverage additionally requires signage to specify that individuals with signs of Covid ought to chorus from coming into legislative areas. 

The brand new movement handed unanimously. Just one member appeared to query its efficacy: Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin, mentioned authorities buildings submit indicators on a regular basis and “nobody reads” them.

“Authorities buildings have indicators in every single place, you’d go blind in the event you attempt to learn all of the indicators,” he mentioned. (Brock in the end voted in favor of the brand new coverage.)

The present masks coverage on the Statehouse, which the committee didn’t talk about on Monday, recommends that everybody coming into legislative areas dons a high-quality masks. It additionally requires masking when the federal authorities charges the realm as having excessive Covid ranges.

It’s unclear how a lot that coverage, accepted in March, is being adopted. Not one of the committee members had been carrying a masks on the in-person assembly on Monday. (Covid ranges in Washington County are at present rated “low” by the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.)

Whereas most Covid restrictions within the constructing have now been lifted, capability limits stay in sure poorly ventilated and infrequently crowded areas. For instance, the Cedar Creek Room on the second flooring, as soon as a preferred location for gatherings and press conferences, stays restricted to a capability of about 30 individuals as a result of air high quality issues, Miller instructed the committee.

The Sergeant-at-Arms mentioned the state Division of Buildings and Common Providers is looking at air high quality issues across the constructing, including that air flow points doubtless wouldn’t be resolved till the summer season of 2024.

Within the meantime, the committee voted that the Cedar Creek room can be closed to giant gatherings and press occasions.