Vermont could allow hotels to resume business at the end of May as coronavirus pandemic continues
Vermont hotels could open up for business before the end of May.
Gov. Phil Scott plans to extend Vermont's State of Emergency, set to expire May 15, according to a news release from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Lodging operations must cancel reservations between May 15 and May 22, after which they might be allowed to operate, reports the Burlington Free Press, which is a part of the Paste BN Network.
The state is working toward a phased restart for its economy in the midst of COVID-19, the official name of the disease related to the coronavirus that first started to affect people at the end of 2019.
Scott said the state isn't trying to promote tourism at this point during a news conference Wednesday.
"Effective May 22, the Governor hopes, subject to additional public health data and input from the Department of Health, to authorize modified lodging operations with specific health and safety requirements, and occupancy/capacity limits," the news release stated.
This goes for Vermonters and people outside of the state able to confirm that they've met the two-week quarantine period. Reservations for non-Vermont residents who don't meet this requirement must be cancelled through mid-June.
The state will have a process to certify that people have met quarantine requirements so they don't try to go through the process in Vermont hotels, said Lindsay Kurrle, secretary for the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, during the news conference Wednesday.
"Additional guidance will be forthcoming on Friday, including details on what the first phase of reopening lodging will look like," the news release stated. Vermont's plans could be altered "based on the data and assessment of the Department of Health."
Contact Maleeha Syed at mzsyed@freepressmedia.com or 802-495-6595. Follow her on Twitter @MaleehaSyed89.
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