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WATERBURY — Gov. Phil Scott has asked the state’s emergency management department to assemble a task force to prepare for the arrival of the coronavirus.



There are no known cases of the virus in Vermont, but Health Commissioner Mark Levine said at a press conference Friday that he expects that will change soon.



“Now is the time for all of us to prepare mentally and logistically for possible disruptions to our daily lives,” he said.



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Levine said 27 people are currently being monitored for the virus, and 15 more have been cleared after completing a two-week monitoring period.



The virus has flu-like symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including fevers, coughs, and shortness of breath. To prevent the spread of the disease, public health experts are encouraging people to engage in basic germ-prevention practices, like handwashing.



On Friday, the World Health Organization upgraded its risk assessment of the coronavirus to the highest level and warned that health systems were unprepared. The virus, which originated in China, has rapidly spread to other countries, prompting concerns about preparedness worldwide.



As of Friday evening, there were 62 confirmed cases in the United States, according to a tracker managed by Johns Hopkins University.



As the virus continues to spread, the CDC is turning away from containment strategies and toward mitigation strategies. Levine said the state is preparing for possible “non-pharmaceutical interventions” to minimize the spread of the virus, including teleworking, restricting mass gatherings, and closing public facilities — though he noted that there is “no need to execute any of these strategies at this time.”



Dr. Mark Levine, Vermont’s health commissioner, briefs reporters on the state’s preparations for coronavirus. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger

No Vermonters have been tested for the virus thus far, Levine said. As of early next week, any necessary tests can be completed at a state lab, rather than sent to the CDC, as was the procedure previously.



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Though Levine said he is confident in the capacity of Vermont hospitals to deal with the virus, it “would be nice to see the flu season taper off” before the outbreak hits Vermont, so hospitals wouldn’t have to deal with too many additional patients at once.



If the two seasons overlap, Levine said hospitals can “adapt very easily,” and are well-prepared for dealing with public health crises. All hospitals are required to have a “surge” capacity that they are prepared to shift to at any time, he said.



The Health Department has no set plan should Vermont see a shortage of respirators or other critical equipment involved in the treatment of the disease, according to Levine, but he said they’re in “constant” contact with the CDC about what preparations need to be made, and how the state should adapt to the latest information about the virus.



Erica Bornemann, director of Vermont Emergency Management, briefs reporters on the state’s preparations for coronavirus. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger

Director of Vermont Emergency Management Erica Bornemann said the state’s task force is still in its earliest stages. No members have been appointed, and the task force does not yet have an agenda, but she said the task force will create a comprehensive strategy for the state before an outbreak hits.



She said each state agency has a continuity of operations plans, or “COOP,” that lay out the essential functions of each agency and what is needed to maintain operations at a minimum, in case there need to be mass closures. VTDigger requested the plans Thursday from the Department of Buildings and General Services, which were not made available by the end of business Friday.



Levine said both he and Scott have the authority to enact closures of schools, public buildings, or other mass gatherings if necessary.



There is no set threshold for closings, Bornemann said. One of the functions of the task force will be to look at different scenarios and determine at what point the state would need to take such drastic measures.



Vermont hospitals and the Burlington International Airport have been monitoring the virus outbreak, officials told VTDigger earlier this week.



While the Health Department and other state officials are taking the outbreak seriously, Levine said there must be a “delicate balance” between taking it seriously and “getting overly concerned at a time when there’s nothing going on.”



“I think the public has heard a lot coming out of Washington,” Levine said. “That probably has created some anxiety.”



The response by the federal government to the spreading virus has generated controversy and questions about how well-prepared the country is for an outbreak.



Earlier this week, the Trump administration requested congressional approval of $2.5 billion for coronavirus prevention and treatment in a proposal that drew bipartisan criticism for falling short of the need and for drawing on funding that has already been appropriated, according to Politico. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., blasted the administration in a letter with several colleagues Wednesday for diverting $37 million from a program that provides heating assistance to low-income households.



A funding battle is expected to ensue in the coming days.



Graphic by Erin Petenko/VTDigger

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