Coronavirus Resource Guide

While the COVID-19 crisis is constantly changing, we are making sure to update this page regularly with the resources you may need. Please call us at 802-839-1928 and tell us how you are affected.

Critical Updates Effective November 20th 2020 Until Further Notice

By order of Governor Phil Scott:

All multi-household social gatherings indoors and outdoors in public and private spaces are prohibited. This includes all public and private gatherings including but not limited to household gatherings, parties, weddings, events, etc.
Bars and social clubs in the state of Vermont will be closed until further notice at 10PM on Saturday, November 14th. Bars and social clubs may offer take-out, curbside pickup and delivery of beverage alcohol, including spirit-based drinks and malt and vinous product.
- Premises operating under a license, other than a 2nd Class license, issued by the Department of Liquor and Lottery, Division of Liquor Control, shall suspend or modify operations as follows:
  - All “Clubs” as defined by 7 V.S.A. § 2(7) shall suspend on-premises operations.
  - 1st Class licensees who hold a Restaurant License issued by VDH for an on-site kitchen equipped to provide menu service must accompany all beverage alcohol orders with food; serve only those patrons who are seated; and continue to abide by existing health and safety guidance issued by ACCD.
  - All other 1st Class licensees, including Clubs, shall suspend operations.
  - All 4th Class licensees shall suspend operations.
  - All premises suspending or modifying operations hereunder may offer or continue to offer take-out, curbside pickup and delivery of beverage alcohol, including spirit-based drinks and malt and vinous product
This prohibition includes establishments generally held out to be a bar, tavern, brew pub, brewery, microbrewery, distillery pub, winery, cidery, tasting room, club or other place of public accommodation licensed to serve beverage alcohol, including spirit-based drinks and malt and vinous product and, if serving food, only serves snacks, pre-made food, microwaveable or other food items not required to be prepared in an on-site kitchen equipped to provide menu service.
Restaurants will be allowed to continue operation, but must cease in person operations at 10PM daily. They may continue takeout operations beyond 10PM, including the sale of to go drinks (alcoholic) as currently allowed by the state. Restaurants must provide seated dining service only and to no more than one household per table,

Updated Travel Quarantine Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

Effective Tuesday, February 23rd: people who are fully vaccinated and at least 14 days out from their final vaccine dose can travel to and from Vermont without quarantine restrictions. In addition, a fully-vaccinated person who comes in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will not be required to quarantine.

Fully vaccinated means, according to the CDC:

Has waited two weeks or longer after second shot in two-shot series
Is within 3 months after receipt of the final dose in the series
Remains asymptomatic since COVID-19 exposure

Mandatory Travel Quarantine in Effect for Non-Essential Persons

Due to rising COVID-19 case counts across the Northeast, effective on November 10, 2020, the State of Vermont has suspended its leisure travel map and implemented a mandatory quarantine for anyone returning or traveling to Vermont.

Essential Workers are exempt from this policy, find more information below under "essential travel"
Anyone returning or traveling to Vermont must follow Vermont’s mandatory quarantine policy. Vermonters returning from an out-of-state trip must complete either a 14-day quarantine or a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative test.
Vermonters must remember to follow any travel restrictions and quarantine requirements for the states they plan to visit.
Residents of other states must adhere to the quarantine guidelines:
- Travelers arriving to Vermont in a personal vehicle must complete either a 14-day quarantine or a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative test in their home state and enter Vermont without further quarantine restrictions.
- Travelers arriving to Vermont who have not completed a pre-arrival quarantine must complete either a 14-day quarantine or a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative test in a Vermont lodging establishment or with friends and family (travelers must stay in their quarantine location for the duration of quarantine other than to travel to and from a test site).
- Read more about quarantining at the Vermont Department of Health website.
All out of state travelers utilizing lodging, camping and short-term rental properties in Vermont must sign and complete a Certificate of Compliance or affirm a compliance statement via a digital check box at the time of reservation and check-in to attest that they meet the quarantine requirement or are an essential/authorized worker.
All out of state travelers are strongly encouraged to register with Sara Alert upon arrival to Vermont to get two weeks of daily reminders to check for common symptoms of COVID-19.

Essential Travel

People traveling for essential purposes, including work, do not need to quarantine. Essential travel includes travel for personal safety, medical care, care of others, parental shared custody, for food, beverage or medicine, to attend preK-12 school and college if commuting daily, or to perform work for businesses that are currently allowed to operate. For more information about which businesses may operate and how they may operate, view the Work Safe Guidance. The current State of Emergency requires employers to use remote work and telework whenever possible to avoid unnecessary work travel. Businesses and employees must only travel for work related trips when absolutely necessary. Individuals engaged in a daily commute to and from their job are expressly exempt from the need to quarantine by Executive Order.

Persons should not travel to, from, or within Vermont if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or if they meet the criteria for needing to Isolate or Quarantine.

State of Emergency Extended to March 15th

View the Full Order New Work Safe Additions as of 2/15/21 Executive Orders Summary

The latest order continues the state of Emergency to March and maintains the ban on social gatherings.

The Governor has ordered all non-essential/non-critical businesses to shut down, unless included in the current implementation of the “restartvt” phased reopening plan (see industry specific guidance higher up on this page), and directs all non-essential residents of the state to remain at home throughout the duration of the order, leaving only for essential reasons. While we cannot provide legal advice on whether your specific business can stay open, we can steer you in the right direction.

Find out here what businesses are deemed Critical and Essential.

Businesses deemed critical to public health and safety are urged to offer curbside pickup to the extent possible. We strongly encourage you to offer this service.

Governor Scott and Commissioner Levine Issue Gathering Size Advisory

Governor Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, have announced an advisory on social gatherings, strongly recommending they be limited to 10 or fewer people.

Noting that Vermont has seen an increasing number of cases as a result of socializing, and many states are now pointing to private social gatherings as a contributor to spread of COVID-19, the State is providing firm recommendations to limit these types of events.

Statewide Mask Mandate Ongoing

Per Governor Scott’s July 24th Executive Order, there is an ongoing mandate for Vermonters to wear masks when in the presence of others. This mandate has been continued through the extension of Governor Scott’s State of Emergency, and is anticipated to continue until the State of Emergency ends. There is a signage component to the order, detailed below.

Businesses and non-profit and government entities shall implement measures notifying customers or clients of the requirement to wear masks or facial coverings, which may include, but shall not be limited to, posting signage stating that masks or cloth facial coverings are required and denial of entry or service to customers or clients who decline to wear masks or facial coverings.

Recommended signage can be found here.

VSFA strongly encourages members to:

Print or request signage and post it at the front door and in conspicuous places around your business
Post the mandate on your social media to alert customers of the changes
Communicate this mandate to your employees and customers as soon, and as often, as possible to alleviate any confrontations or uncomfortable situations.

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development has published the following guidance on the mask order:

"As of Saturday, August 1, 2020, Vermonters and visitors are required to wear masks or cloth facial coverings over their nose and mouth any time they are in public spaces, indoors or outdoors, where they come in contact with others from outside their households, especially in congregate settings, and where it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet.

A person who declines to wear a mask or cloth face covering because of a medical or developmental issue, or difficulty breathing, shall not be required to produce documentation, or other evidence, verifying the condition."

Mandatory Health & Safety Requirements for all Business, Non-Profit & Government Operations

Employees will be required to complete, and employers must document, a training on mandatory health and safety requirements as provided by VOSHA, or another training program that meets or exceeds the VOSHA-provided standard.

This training is available here.

Businesses that are open to the public will be required to conduct pre-screening or health surveys to verify each employee has no symptoms of respiratory illness (fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath), including temperature checks to the extent possible, prior to the start of work each day.

The Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Agency (VOSHA) has developed training and other materials to inform Vermonters on appropriate safety measures necessary to return to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Training and other materials were developed in conjunction with the Vermont Department of Health and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.

VOSHA Resources Guidelines for Businesses from CDC and Vermont Department of Health

Stay Safe and Compliant

Go Through this Staying Open Checklist
Create a Health and Safety Plan; We’ve created this template with the help of The Richards Group.
Read this Keeping Employees Safe Document
Follow these Guidelines below from the Vermont Department of Health and CDC

All Industries

Retail operations are limited to 25% of approved fire safety occupancy; or 1 customer per 200 square feet; or 10 total customers and staff combined, whichever is greater. Operators must POST their temporary occupancy limit, and which method was used to determine it, prominently on all entrances. Posting templates are available at accd.vermont.gov.
Employees shall not report to, or be allowed to remain at, work or job site if sick or symptomatic (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell).
Employees must observe strict social distancing of 6 feet while on the job. Businesses and non-profit or government entities shall ensure customers observe strict social distancing of 6 feet while on location, to the extent possible.
Limit the occupancy of designated common areas, such as break rooms and cafeterias, so that occupants maintain strict social distancing of no less than 6 feet per individual. The employer shall enforce the occupancy limit and require employees to wipe down their area after use or shall ensure cleaning of the common areas at regular intervals throughout the day.
Employees must wear face coverings over their nose and mouth when in the presence of others. In the case of retail cashiers, a translucent shield or “sneeze guard” is acceptable in lieu of a mask. Businesses and non-profit and government entities may require customers or clients to wear masks.
Employees must have easy and frequent access to soap and water or hand sanitizer during duration of work, and handwashing or hand sanitization is required frequently including before entering, and leaving, job sites.
All common spaces (when open) and equipment, including bathrooms, frequently touched surfaces and doors, tools and equipment, and vehicles must be cleaned regularly and, when possible, prior to transfer from one person to another, in accordance with CDC guidance.
Prior to the commencement of each work shift, pre-screening and health survey shall be required to verify each employee has no symptoms of respiratory illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell). At the present time non-contact thermometers are in short supply, however employers shall immediately order, and use their best efforts to obtain, thermometers in order to conduct routine temperature checks.
Signs must be posted at all entrances clearly indicating that no one may enter if they have symptoms of respiratory illness.
When working inside, open doors and windows to promote air flow to the greatest extent possible and limit the number of people occupying a single indoor space.
No more than 2 people shall occupy one vehicle when conducting work.
No symptomatic or COVID-19 positive workers are allowed on site and any worker(s) who have contact with a worker or any other person who is diagnosed with COVID-19 are required to quarantine for 14 days.
All operations shall designate a health officer on-site at every shift responsible for ensuring compliance with the Executive Order and the Addenda thereto and applicable ACCD Guidance. This person shall have the authority to stop or modify activities to ensure work conforms with the mandatory health and safety requirements.
All business, non-profit and government operations must use remote work whenever possible. The Richards Group has provided guidance on setting up a Work from Home Guide available here
All employees, including those already working (except healthcare workers, first responders, and others already trained in infection control, personal protection/universal precautions), must complete, and employers must document, a training on mandatory health and safety requirements as provided by VOSHA, or another training program that meets or exceeds the VOSHA-provided standard. Employers who need translations of the training have one week from the release of the translated training to complete this requirement.
All businesses that have been closed for 7 or more days during the state of emergency must complete and keep on file a reopening and training plan (businesses with fewer than 10 employees at any physical location are not required to create such a plan, however, they must follow all other guidelines and employees must take the VOSHA training). VOSHA and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development have provided a template at accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/business/restart. The plan must, at a minimum:
- Adopt a phased approach to reopening which provides sufficient opportunity to operate first in a low density and low contact environment before making the incremental changes needed to accommodate more moderate density activity while?continuing to maintain health and safety. Update physical and administrative safety systems to accommodate COVID-19/VDH/CDC/VOSHA guidelines, health monitoring, including temperature checks, cleaning and sanitizing methods and physical distancing measures.
- Take appropriate measures to protect employees at greater risk of contact by virtue of their occupational role or setting.
- Businesses with fewer than 10 employees at any physical location are not required to create such a plan, however, they must follow all other health and safety guidelines above including taking VOSHA training.
For all mass transit CUSTOMERS/ RIDERS (in addition to the mandatory requirement for operators and staff) face coverings are mandatory on public transit conveyances and in stations and terminals.

Additional Health and Safety Considerations

Use of shared workspaces, desks, offices, etc. is discouraged to the maximum extent practicable.
Face-to-face staff meetings should be limited, and physical distancing must be observed.
Consider staggered work shifts, break times, etc. and expanding hours to reduce number of individuals working together and reduce contact with members of the public.
To the extent possible, provide access to hand washing and/or hand sanitizer for vendors, and customers.
Limit staff travel between multiple sites.
Ensure a safe process to receive supplies and deliveries.
Consider accommodations for employees at higher risk from COVID-19 infection (as currently defined by the CDC) to work remotely or have a job tasks that minimize public interaction.

Mask Use for Employees

The ACCD has mandated mask use for employees interacting with the public. The mandate reads “Employees must wear face coverings over their nose and mouth when in the presence of others. In the case of retail cashiers, a translucent shield or “sneeze guard” is acceptable in lieu of a mask. Businesses and non-profit and government entities may require customers or clients to wear masks.”
Current towns with a mandate that customers wear masks in businesses are: Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, South Burlington, Manchester, Middlebury, Montpelier, Stowe, Vergennes, Wilmington and Woodstock. These mandates will be superseded by the Governors Executive Order when it becomes effective August 1st.

Useful Print Outs

View this page with multiple Reopening Signage
View this page with multiple CDC Signs for your business
Read this guidance on face masks from the Vermont Department of Health
Printable Symptoms of Coronavirus
Know who is at risk for serious illness.
Educate your employees about the virus, including its transmission and prevention, print this: Stop the Spread of Germs
Hang this sign in your public/employee bathroom: Handwashing Steps

Cleaning

Read this Cleaning and Sanitation Guide for Food Retail
If needed, we have compiled a list of Commercial Cleaning Services in Vermont, VRGA is not promoting these companies, we are just compiling the information as it comes in for your benefit.

For more resources related to reopening head to the ACCD website: Restart Vermont Resources

VSFA/VRGA Webinars

In the spirit of cooperation during hard times, these VSFA and VRGA Webinars are open to all. Webinars include presentations on “Planning for Business Interruption,” “Dealing with Workplace Conflict,” “E-Commerce,” “Doing Business in these Uncertain Times.” Click the button below to access past webinars and register for upcoming programming..

Visit VSFA's Webinar page

Labor Issues

CURRENT LABOR LAW: Labor law during COVID-19 has rapidly changed and adapted to the situations that have arisen. Check the The Vermont Department of Labor (DOL) website for consistently up to date information. For specific issues you cannot find answers to, reach out to the VSFA team so we can assist. Breakdowns of major changes/additions to the labor law system are below. Associate Member Gravel & Shea, a Burlington-based law firm, has provided this overview of the expanded employment benefits that have been recently passed by the Vermont Legislature and Congress.

Refusal to Return to Work

The Department of Labor reminds unemployment claimants who have been placed on temporary layoff or furlough related to COVID-19 that they must return to work if called back by their employer. Refusal to return to work, when being offered the normal rate of pay and number of hours per week, may result in the termination of unemployment benefits and the need to repay certain benefits.

If your employees have refused to return to work and are instead continuing to draw unemployment benefits, you must report this to the state Department of Labor. Employers should complete the online refusal to work form.

Pandemic Emergency Employment Compensation

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) extends regular unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks to claimants who have exhausted their 26 weeks of benefits on July 1,2019 or anytime after. If you have exhausted your unemployment benefits any time after July 1, 2019, you may be eligible for PEUC. This program is currently scheduled to end on December 26th, 2020

Pandemic Unemployment Claims (PUC)

The Department of Labor has announced that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program (part of the federal CARES Act) is now available to accept unemployment claims from those not eligible for the regular Unemployment Insurance program (self-employed, sole proprietors, independent contractors).

More information on the PUA application process and eligibility

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance info

Watch this Vermont Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Demo: How to fill out the form

Federal Response

Temporary Small Business Window for PPP Loans

SBA will offer PPP loans to businesses with fewer than 20 employees and sole proprietors only from Wednesday, February 24 through Wednesday, March 10, 2021. All other businesses must wait out this exclusivity period before applying.

Additionally changes have been made to:

Allow sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s funding formula for these categories of applicants;
Eliminate an exclusionary restriction on PPP access for small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions, consistent with a bipartisan congressional proposal;
Eliminate PPP access restrictions on small business owners who have struggled to make student loan payments by eliminating student loan debt delinquency as a disqualifier to participating in the PPP; and
Ensure access for non-citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents by clarifying that they may use Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for the PPP

As of now, there is no specification on how or when the funding formula for small business will be revised. VRGA will continue to monitor changes and update members as new information becomes available.

CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The comprehensive aid package includes direct payments to Americans, an expansion of unemployment insurance and billions in aid to large and small businesses. We are closely monitoring the passage of this bill and will provide a summary of the final passed bill when it is available. Associate Member Gravel & Shea, a Burlington-based law firm, has provided this explanation on eligibility, terms of loans, and forgiveness opportunities.

Read the current CARES Act bill

Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act: This guidance document will help you determine if you’re eligible, how much you can apply for, and how you can use it.

CARES ACT FAQs: Small Business from Senator Sanders Office also provides significant information.

FFCRA Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act included a number of provisions related to paid family/medical leave and paid sick leave, including a tax credit for employers intended to fully cover the cost of leave: The effective date of this legislation is April 1st, 2020 and will remain in effect until December 31, 2020. The second of three bills passed by Congress in response to COVID-19 creates emergency paid sick leave along with paid family leave for individuals impacted by coronavirus/COVID-19. Employers can claim a 100 percent refundable tax credit against payroll taxes for employers and sole proprietors. Find out specifics of the leave provided by the bill in this document: Paid Sick Leave/Medical Leave/Family Leave.

Read the full FFCRA Act

Click here for a quick overview of the FFCRA

Read the FAQ on the FFCRA Act here.

Department of Labor recorded a webinar on the FFCRA. Please continue to frequent this web address regularly as the Department will continue to update the compliance assistance information available there.

Additional Resources

Process for Accessing SBA's Disaster Relief Lending - Updated 3/17/20
Business Income Insurance Information from the Department of Financial Regulation

Additional Resources

CDC Webinar 3/18/20 FDA Daily Updates The Wage and Hour Division FAQ

NRF Guidance for Essential Retail Services Small Business Administration Disaster Loans

Tips from the Attorney General and Business Leaders Guidance for Preparing the Workplace

HR Compliance Bulletin on Coronavirus Covid 19 What you need to kno Stop the Spread of Germs Printout

Employee Work from Home Guide Coronavirus and the Workplace HR Communicable Disease

OSHA COVID 19 Prevention and Information