The governor of Vermont extended his state’s emergency status until May due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday that Vermont’s State of Emergency and all other corresponding orders and directives will extend through May 15. Vermont’s initial state of emergency was set to expire April 15, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
“These are incredibly difficult times, and I know this extension is disappointing news for many. But the fact is, Vermonters are literally saving hundreds of lives by staying home,” Scott said, according to the press release.
He added: “We are making big sacrifices to save lives, but we cannot let our foot off the gas just yet.” (RELATED: Northam Criminalizes Gatherings Larger Than 10, Even For Religious Services, As Part Of Coronavirus Restrictions)
U.S. President Donald Trump, followed by Vice President Mike Pence, speaks at the daily coronavirus briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on April 09, 2020 in Washington, DC. U.S. unemployment claims have approached 17 million over the past three weeks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“We will continue to watch the trends, and as soon as the data shows a downward trend, we can open the spigot, a quarter turn at a time, to get folks back to work in a way that’s responsible and safe. Please know, I will work every hour of every day, for as long as it takes, to see Vermont through this and to help rebuild stronger than we were before.”
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also extended Michigan’s stay-at-home order until May 1 in a Thursday announcement. Michigan’s order was set to end on April 13. Illinois, Indiana and Ohio have also extended stay-at-home orders, according to a local ABC News outlet.
“Michigan has the third highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, and we’re still on the upswing. We must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread and protect our families,” said Whitmer in a news release.
She added: “This doesn’t mean everything will go back to normal on May 1. But based on the data we have right now, this is the appropriate window for an extension. It will take time to safely and responsibly re-open the economy, which is why we will continue to provide critical unemployment support and assistance to our small businesses during this challenging time. We will get through this if we all continue to do our part.”
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