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áááSAME CARE FACILITY IN BURLINGTON. HERE'S NBC FIVE'S JACK THURSTON. Vermont's largest- known outbreak of COVID-19 is inside this Burlington facility providing both long-term care for seniors and short- term rehab for people after surgeries. The state's health department reporting four deaths of nursing home residents who tested positive for the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus; one last week, and now - word of three more deaths here over the weekend. ((DR. MARK LEVINE / VT Health Commissioners: 13:08:57: we send our condolences to all of the families involved.)) Vermont's health commissioner saying Monday there were at least 14 positive COVID- 19 tests in residents and one in a staffer. Employees are now having their temperatures checked before their shifts, and the state's been working with the center to try to stabilize the situation. ((DR. MARK LEVINE / VT Health Commissioner: 13:10:50: we found no fault in their infection control practices and procedures.)) Strict rules aimed at slowing the spread of the virus have been rolling out gradually statewide - including eliminating in-person visits to facilities like this, except for in end-of- life cases. ((MIKE SMITH / VT Human Services Secretary: 1:21: this is what is the issue here is, for those who don't take this seriously. This is the seriousness of it.)) ((GOV. PHIL SCOTT / R- Vermont: 13:42:15: we know that our nursing home and long-term care facilities are something we've tried to protect, and we'll continue to do so, because they're the ones who are most at risk.)) State and city officials say short- term patients, far from the area in the building where the outbreak is who have not tested positive, will be removed from the center for their protection. ((JACK THURSTON: The health commissioner says his team is still doing the detective work to see if they can track the origins of the outbreak in the facility. Meanwhile, the governor's giving Vermonters a heads- up to expect even more restrictions on daily li

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At a briefing Monday afternoon, Gov. Phil Scott and the team leading the state's coronavirus response reported a 50% spike in positive COVID-19 test results in just 24 hours, showing the virus is now spreading in the community.Scott said more dramatic measures are needed to fight it.Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine announced three new patient deaths over the weekend. All were residents of the Genesis-Burlington Health & Rehabilitation Center on Pearl Street, the same facility where Vermont's first victim, an elderly woman, died Thursday.Watch the announcement below Levine said testing so far has confirmed 14 patients have the virus, along with one staff members but state teams have found no shortcoming in the facility's infection control policies and procedures. It was, he said, evidence of how vulnerable both elderly and immuno-compromised people are to the new coronavirus.And Levine said the total number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Vermont jumped from 52 to 75 patients since Sunday, among a total of 1,173 tested so far.Across the nation, 42,600 positive cases have now been confirmed. U.S. Rep. Peter Welch said Congress was racing to provide funding to help the states and the nation's health system dealing with the outbreak, and "funding to protect families and businesses."Scott said it is time for Vermonters to prepare, "both emotionally and mentally," for more restrictive measures to try to slow the spread of the virus."I would not describe it as 'shelter-in-place,'" the governor told reporters. "We (do) want people to stay at home when they can. Right now, people have a responsibility. If you can stay at home, stay at home."Scott said he signed an executive order Monday directing the state's employers and nonprofits to maximize their efforts to allow people to work from home.All Vermont salons, gyms, spas and other "close-contact" activities must cease by 8 p.m. Monday. Restaurants, bars and other meeting places have been closed for several days. though take-out and delivery is allowed. A new executive order will be issued within the "next couple of days," Scott said, though aides told NBC5 details were still being worked out. The forthcoming order is expected to be issued in conjunction with Gov. Chris Sununu in New Hampshire. The Vermont-New Hampshire border will not be closed, an aide said."We have a lot more to do before this is over," Scott said. "And I want Vermonters to start preparing for more difficult measures. We're now entering a new phase as we try to flatten this curve (of serious new cases of viral infection)." Vermonters will continue to be allowed to shop for food, medicine and fuel, but the strategy aims to restrict the maximum number of residents to their homes, at a critical point in the spread of COVID-19, and to practice strict social distancing."I am asking for your help, to help fellow Vermonters in their time of need," Scott said, urging neighbors to remain physically apart, while checking in with each other with the most vulnerable. "Contribute however you can," he said. Erin Sigrist, president of Vermont's grocery and retail association, pleaded with residents avoid hoarding basic supplies like toilet paper, and to respect new hours reserved for the elderly intended to protect their health. Shelves are being resupplied in usual fashion, she said. "We've implemented additional steps to ensure safety," Sigrist said. Some stores have installed plexiglass guard between checkout clerks and customers to reduce the risk of virus spread. "Employees wear gloves whenever possible. Grocery stores are doing everything they can," she said. Several large chains doing business in the area -- including Shaw's Supermarkets, Price Chopper, CVS Pharmacies and Dollar General -- are launching new efforts to hire thousands of workers to try to keep up with demand.