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Explainer: What is antigen testing?

Explainer: What is antigen testing?

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Antigen testing for the coronavirus has received a lot of attention in Vermont, when in early July more than 50 positive results came from a clinic in Manchester. This type of rapid testing was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in May on an emergency basis, […]

Total Covid-19 cases continue slow growth as Scott mandates masks

Total Covid-19 cases continue slow growth as Scott mandates masks

©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Despite Covid-19 numbers in Vermont that lead the nation in optimistic trends, including the lowest total positive case number and the lowest positivity rate,  Gov.  Phil Scott announced a statewide mask mandate beginning Aug. 1. Scott cited concerns over increased cases to the south and west of Vermont, the current tourist […]

Concern, confusion characterize Vermont's Covid outlook this week

Concern, confusion characterize Vermont’s Covid outlook this week

©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The apparent inaccuracy of many of the 59 Covid-19 positives identified through the Manchester Medical Center using an antigen test — versus the more widespread PCR test used by state testing facilities — has stirred confusion over the what appeared to be a major outbreak of the virus in the Route […]

Derry Select Board orders mask wearing

Derry Select Board orders mask wearing Board chair: Gov. Scott put small town leaders in 'untenable situation'

By Cynthia Prairie and Bruce Frauman ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Select Board of the town of Londonderry voted in a special meeting on Wednesday, July 15, to mandate that the public and employees wear masks or other face coverings in local businesses. The board was prompted to take the action, said board chair George […]

18 Derry residents test positive for Covid-19; Town Office closed; softball tourney in Chester draws maskless crowds

18 Derry residents test positive for Covid-19; Town Office closed; softball tourney in Chester draws maskless crowds

By Cynthia Prairie and Shawn Cunningham ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC At least 18 people in Londonderry have tested positive for Covid-19 at a rapid testing facility in Manchester, town Emergency Management Director Kevin Beattie said on late Monday afternoon. He added that the state is contacting those people and telling them to get retested. And […]

Pop-up test sites for asymptomatic residents

Pop-up test sites for asymptomatic residents

©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Vermont Department of Health is opening nearly two dozen additional pop-up sites statewide to test people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19 for the virus. Vermonters can find a list of the sites and make an appointment to be tested by clicking here, or by calling 2-1-1 or 802-828-2828. […]

Derry board adopts resolution asking shoppers to wear masks

Derry board adopts resolution asking shoppers to wear masks VTrans explains Route 11 repaving project, process

  By Bruce Frauman 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC After considerable discussion, the Londonderry Select Board on May 18, approved a resolution that requests that people shopping at Londonderry businesses wear a mask as the town attempts to protect workers and residents from the continuing threat of the Covid-19 virus. Board chair George Mora will work […]

Beattie: Food shortages, large gatherings of concern in Derry

Beattie: Food shortages, large gatherings of concern in Derry

By Bruce Frauman ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Londonderry Emergency Management Director Kevin Beattie updated the Select Board via Zoom on Monday, May 4 about Covid-19 conditions in the state and the local response, opening a meeting that lasted more than 2½ hours. Beattie said his biggest concern is that people are getting short of money […]

Long lines, little waiting as Guard gives out MREs at Hartness Airport

Long lines, little waiting as Guard gives out MREs at Hartness Airport

By Kelly Burton ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC With traffic by 9:30 last Wednesday morning snaking out onto Route 106, the Vermont National Guard’s distribution of boxes of Meals Ready to Eat was in full swing at Hartness State Airport in North Springfield. This is the site of the third distribution by the Vermont National Guard […]

Say Ahh? Patients, docs see place for telemedicine

Say Ahh? Patients, docs see place for telemedicine

By Christian Avard ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Since the coronavirus outbreak, doctors and patients are adapting to new ways of meeting, diagnosing and treating illnesses that don’t pose the potential health risks to their patients and themselves of in-person visits. Telemedicine for many is becoming the go-to method for conducting patient visits during the pandemic. […]

State relying on 'education' for worker compliance to 'restart' directives

State relying on ‘education’ for worker compliance to ‘restart’ directives

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Noting that social distancing and the wearing of face masks are “here to stay,” Vermont’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Mark Levine, said that people could expect them to be “part of the Vermont scene even as we reopen Vermont.” At the state’s regular Covid-19 press conference on Monday, […]

Weston board OK's paving bid for Lawrence Hill, Chester Mountain roads

Weston board OK’s paving bid for Lawrence Hill, Chester Mountain roads

By Bruce Frauman ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Weston Select Board on Tuesday, April 14 approved a bid of $290,539 from Fuller Sand and Gravel of Danby pending review and approval of Road Foreman Almon Crandall. The bid is almost $50,000 under the next lowest bid, according to board member Jim Linville. The bid is […]

Derry Emergency Management chief outlines actions during Covid-19 crisis

Derry Emergency Management chief outlines actions during Covid-19 crisis

By Bruce Frauman ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC The Londonderry Select Board met for two hours and 40 minutes on April 20 in a Zoom session mostly to hear about what work Emergency Management Director Kevin Beattie was doing to protect the community during the Covid-19 crisis. Beattie said a virtual Emergency Operations Center to respond […]

State asks Chester, other towns for economic development funds

State asks Chester, other towns for economic development funds

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC With a request from Vermont to dedicate a portion of the Chester Development Fund to a state-run loan program, the Chester Select Board on Wednesday night turned to Bob Flint of the Springfield Regional Development Corp. to help explain what’s happening. Flint said that the legislature has […]

Small biz urged to apply for SBA loan programs

Small biz urged to apply for SBA loan programs Congress, White House working to add funds to PPP, EIDL

By Evan Chadwick ©2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC With the Covid-19 health crisis continuing to cause large scale shutdowns of small businesses across Vermont, small town businesses have been compelled to collaborate more than ever before in an effort to seek emergency funding that has been rolled out as part of the federal CARES Act signed […]

S. Vt. gets one out of 19 members on economic recovery panel

S. Vt. gets one out of 19 members on economic recovery panel Local lawmakers: Our communities should have bigger voice

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing A 19-member “task force” to restart the state’s economy after the peak of the coronavirus pandemic has only one member who lives in southern Vermont and the group’s meetings will not be subject to Vermont’s Open Meetings Law, Gov. Phil Scott said at a press conference Wednesday. On […]

Commentary: How to help a domestic abuse survivor during the Covid-19 crisis

Commentary: How to help a domestic abuse survivor during the Covid-19 crisis

By the Women’s Freedom Center If you’ve been out to run essential errands, you’ve already felt the eerie absence of almost everyone else. Grocery stores, drugstores and drive-up restaurants provide not just necessities now, but also our few remaining live contacts outside the home. They’re a welcome sight to anyone, but imagine how vital they […]

No Covid-19 in water: Chester among 690 Vermont systems ordered to chlorinate water

No Covid-19 in water: Chester among 690 Vermont systems ordered to chlorinate water State director says mandate aids vulnerable population

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Under state orders, Chester has begun adding chlorine to its town water supply, something that it had previously only done as a precaution after a water main break or when bacteria is detected during routine weekly testing. The state mandate, Bryan Redmond, director of the Drinking Water […]

Victim advocates unsettled by drop in help hotline calls during stay-at-home order

Victim advocates unsettled by drop in help hotline calls during stay-at-home order

By Shawn Cunningham © 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC Advocates for victims of domestic violence are seeing a significant drop in the number of calls to help hotlines since the state mandated stay at home orders in mid-March. And they find that drop “unsettling.” On Monday, Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling said that overall 911 […]

Signs of the Times: A trip through Chester

Signs of the Times: A trip through Chester

© 2020 Telegraph Publishing LLC During the last week of March, Cynthia Prairie and Shawn Cunningham of The Chester Telegraph took a drive around Chester taking photos of signs posted by various businesses and organizations. As of this writing, several of the signs are certainly outdated, since Gov. Phil Scott has ordered continued shutdowns of […]