Easing of some hospitality restrictions may come this week

DUXBURY, Vt. (AP) - Republican Gov. Phil Scott says if the number of cases continues to remain low at Vermont colleges, universities, and schools, he may announce the easing of some restrictions on the hard-hit hospitality industry this week.

“But again, it all is reliant on the data and the science, making sure that it’s safe to do so,” he said.

Hotels and other lodging businesses are now limited to no more than 50% of capacity and restaurants, arts venues other entertainment establishments are limited to 50% capacity for a maximum of 75 customers inside and 150 outside.

State officials have said that lodging and food and service industries are down about 90% from previous years.

“We’ll be taking a look this week and if everything continues to improve, those are the areas that we’d be looking at,” Scott said Friday.

In other developments related to the coronavirus in Vermont:

SCHOOL CASES

A Vermont middle school in Duxbury is closed for the week and has switched to all remote learning after two students tested positive for the coronavirus.

The students are in fifth and seventh grades at Crossett Brook Middle School and attended the first day of in-person classes on Sept. 8, according to a letter from the superintendent, mynbc5.com reported.

The district is working with the Vermont Department of Health to do contract tracing, Superintendent Brigid Nease said.

The rest of the schools in the Harwood Union Unified School District remain open this week.