Cavendish Update 1/1/21: Happy New Year/News/Covid/Events
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HAPPY NEW YEAR! Cavendish Connects wishes you and yours a healthy, safe and joyous New Year.
1/1/21
1. Cavendish Info
2. Covid Update
3. Events
1. CAVENDISH INFO
• Thank you Cavendish Town Crew: Between 4 feet of snow on Dec. 17 and close to three inches of rain on Christmas, all sorts of records have been set. Unfortunately, the heavy snow and flooding has required the town crew to be working long hours in harsh conditions. They’ve managed to keep roads open and passable. Our thanks to them and town manager Brendan McNamara for a job well done.
• 3 GM board members eschew re-election, annual meeting in flux: All three positions from Cavendish to the GMUSD board are open. Both Fred Marin and Kate Lamphere have stated they will not run again. Unlike previous years, you do not need to collect signatures to be on the March ballot. Please call the town clerk, Diane McNamara, 226-7291 If you are interested in running for the GMUSD board. Chester Telegraph
• GMUSD Board Decides to Hold Annual Meeting in Person: During a special meeting Monday, Dec. 28, the Green Mountain Unified School District Board determined that they would hold their upcoming annual meeting in person at the Green Mountain High School auditorium, adhering to all Covid-19 health and safety protocols including social distancing and mandatory mask usage.
• Recycling Christmas Cavendish Style: Your holiday greens (trees, wreaths, swags etc.) can be recycled at the Cavendish Transfer Station, cut up and used for mulch in a garden, placed in the yard for the birds to enjoy, or cut up and saved for an outdoor fire pit. DO NOT BURN IN A FIREPLACE OR WOOD STOVE. Pines, firs and other evergreens have a high content of flammable turpentine oils. Burning may contribute to creosote buildup and risk a chimney fire. Learn more ways about recycling items, including food compost at The Dish.
• Cavendish Library’s Spoiler’s Club: Do you love to read books, watch movies and binge on TV series? Are you dying to talk about them? This is for you. The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library's Spoilers Club will meet via zoom on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 to discuss the modern western "Yellowstone" starring Kevin Costner. All three seasons of which are available to borrow from the library. Once you start watching you can't stop. Once you finish it you will want to talk about it. Contact the library at 226-7503 to borrow the series or for a link to the Zoom meeting.
• Stimulus will support vaccination, broadband, performing arts in Vermont: Vermonters will see changes to broadband investment and to higher education funding as a result of the $900 billion in Covid-19 relief coming its way next year. VT Digger
• VT’s Minimum Wage increased on New Year’s Day: Starting on Jan. 1, 2021, the minimum wage in Vermont is set to go up $.79, from $10.96 to $11.75 an hour. "Tipped employees" minimum wage is also increasing to $5.88.
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance extension goes into effect Jan. 2
2. COVID UPDATE: Yesterday’s Governor’s press conference marked the 100th media briefing since the start of the pandemic. The lead off message wasn’t what anyone wanted to hear-the government is sending less vaccine than originally allocated. Expecting 5,850 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the allotment was cut to 3,900 for next week and the Moderna vaccine from 4,000 to 3,900. As of Thursday, 14,000 Vermonters have been vaccinated. This includes 21 of the state’s 37 long-term care facilities. The plan is to have all facilities vaccinated with the first dose by January 8 and the second by the end of January.
December was the deadliest month on record from the pandemic. Almost 70% of those who died were in long term care settings.
Town Map: For the first time, on Dec. 24, Cavendish appeared on the state’s table of towns with 6 or more cases, the majority of those cases occurred in the prior two weeks. As of Dec. 31, Cavendish is registering 8 cases, which means in the last week alone, two more residents tested positive for the virus.
Modeling: The state’s modeling, presented on Dec.28 shows that for the second straight week, Vermont's case growth and positivity rate are dropping and there's a slight decline in regional case growth. However, it’s too early to see the impact of holiday travel and gatherings. Air travel was significantly down through Christmas Eve, but cellphone data indicates that visitors to VT increased. Dah, as if we didn’t know that, particularly since Shaw’s has had a line around the block through the holiday season.
Vaccinations: The VT Department of Health (VDH) launched a new Vaccine Dashboard, which is updated on Wednesdays.
While both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations require two shots given three weeks a part, the research shows that strong protection occurs as early as 12 to 13 days following the first dose. However, to ensure longer term immunity the second dose is required. The efficacy of the two shot regiment is 95% for Pfizer and 94.1% for the Moderna vaccine. Both vaccines are now being given in VT.
As the state nudges closer to completing phase 1A, the second phase will be implemented based on age groups, with anyone, regardless of age, having a pre- existing/chronic condition going to the head of the line. The state is in the process of defining who will qualify as having underlying health conditions, e.g. people with transplants and COPD. The CDC has issued guidelines for “People who have Weakened Immune Systems.
With the availability of sufficient vaccine, distribution will occur at primary care offices, pharmacies, the state’s 12 health department sites, and mass vaccine sites. The notification system is still being developed, but it will most likely be by the media, social media, and the state’s website. Note: The Ludlow Health Center keeps Cavendish Connects informed about various community health issues. We will make this available via our various outlets-Facebook, update, website-as soon as we receive it.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health recently released a “School House Rock” style cartoon “I’m a Vaccine,” to help explain how a vaccine goes from an idea to reality.
Schools: Cavendish students don’t return to school until Jan. 11. However, at Friday’s press conference the Governor went over the protocols:
1. Winter sports teams may begin practicing as long as they follow the guidance, and we’ll continue to watch the data with hopes of restarting games as soon as possible.
2. Schools do not have to include a question about multi-household gatherings on daily health checkers.
3. Regular testing of school employees continues, with almost every staff member having the opportunity to get tested each month. Since this program launched, a 0.26% positivity rate (for comparison, the general population is about 10 times that rate at 2-2.5%). This shows that the risk of transmission is lower in schools than the general community, school-based cases are not driving outbreaks.
Mutating virus: A mutant strain of Covid has now occurred in three states (Florida, California and Colorado) and is expected to spread throughout the country in the coming weeks. VT’s Health Commissioner Dr. Levine noted that while B117 is more contagious, and will continue to spread, symptoms and severity appear to be about the same. Indications are that the current vaccines will be effective against the new strain.
Disinfecting: The risk of getting infected from touching a surface contaminated by the virus is low. "In hospitals, surfaces have been tested near COVID-19 patients, and no infectious virus can be identified.” What’s found is viral RNA which is akin to the “corpse of the virus”- what’s left over after the virus dies. "They don't find infectious virus, and that's because the virus is very fragile in the environment — it decays very quickly… all the evidence points toward breathing in the virus from the air as being the most important route of transmission." Bottom line: To avoid infection, follow the VDH recommendation of 6 foot spaces, masks on faces and avoid crowded spaces. Only “swap air” with members of your immediate household. Note: There are other diseases you can get from surfaces such as norovirus. Frequent hand washing is important, spraying down your groceries, not so much. Read more.
Local Resources: If you need to quarantine either from exposure or because you have Covid, local resources are available to help you:
- CHS Cares Closet: Masks (cloth and disposable), books, toys, craft supplies. Open 24/7. All free. Located next to the steps of the Cavendish Historical Society Museum.
3. UPCOMING EVENTS:
JANUARY 1 (FRIDAY): HAPPY NEW YEAR-Town office closed
JANUARY 11 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board meeting via Zoom
JANUARY 15 (FRIDAY): Municipal Utility Payment Due
JANUARY 18 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day Town office closed
FEBURARY 3 (WEDNESDAY): The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library's Spoilers Club. will meet via zoom on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 to discuss the modern western "Yellowstone" starring Kevin Costner. All three seasons of which are available to borrow from the library. FMI: 226-7503
FEBRUARY 15 (MONDAY): President’s Day, Town Office Closed.
CA❤︎ENDSH-A SAFER SIX COMMUNITY
Covers mouth & nose
Always masks in public & washes hands
Vermonters keep each other safe
Elbow coughs
Never socializes with those outside their immediate household
Disinfects common surfaces
Is alert for symptoms
Stays at least 6 feet apart from others
Has respect for personal space
